The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-25
(From the Cicinnnati Gazette of Feb. 16.)
Rev. DIR. Pratt in Cincinnati.

Rev. DIR. Pratt in Cincinnati.
Surprising Success of the Popular Ser
0eceS-OUer Three Thousand People
PreSemt-A Miscellaneous Conqreqa-
tio''-Magn5fcemt Effect of the Sing
1ng-Iert Of the Sermon.
1t is questionable whether the most
sangulne expectations of the originators
of the Music Hall Sunday afternoon
meetings even approached the magnitude
OF the reality as it was exhibited at the
inaugural meeting yesterday. 1t was,
indeed, surprise to everybody, and to
account for it satisfactorily would be a
difficult task. 1t had not been sensa-
tionally advertised, the only announce
ments being in the daily newspapers oftwo
Saturdays and on the street cars of the
Elm Street Line yesterday, and yet when
DIR. Pratt began to discourse he had be-
fore him congregation larger than ever
greeted minister here before. The
people began to come shortly after Q
o'clock, and it was found necessary to
open the doors of Music Hall earlier than
was first designed, because of the crowd
gathering in front of the building. From
this time on until after half past 8, the
people poured into the hall in an unin-
terrupted stream. The balcony and
ground floor were occupied almost to
their utmost seating capacity, while many
remained standing all afternoon, and
over hundred found places in the gal
lery. Making liberal allowance for the
vacant chairs distributed all over the
house, an estimate that the conprega-
ton numbered 5000 persons. about
evenly divided as to sex, is more likely
to fall short than to exceed the truth.
AS to the character of the assemblage, it
can best be described as representing all
classes of the community. A glance
around the auditorium. showed many
faces familiar to church goers, and thew
were usually those of men prominent in
church activities and that many were
well acquainted with religious worship
was further proved by the splendid vol
ume of sound rolled up in the singing of
the hymns. But after all the majority, as
they passed through the vestibule and
lRto. the auditorium, seemed to be of a
class seldom seen In the churches. ONLY
lew, surprising few, were evidently
actuated by pure curiosity, for they came
IN, looked around them and left within q
few minutes; the rest took their seats de-
corousl y, arose during the singing. listen
ed to the sermon attentively, and bowed
their heads when the benediction was
pronounced
The religious exercises proper were
preluded by two pieces of music PLAYED
by Mr.. Henry Carter on the grand organ :
they were the Offertoire Saint Gaelic in
ID. major, by Edouard Batiste, and the
Ottertolre In G.. by Lefebure Wely. To-
ward the close of the last Rev. DR.. Pratt
appeared upon the stage and proceeded
to pulpit in the centre that had been
placed upon small platform so as to
raise It about six inches higher than the
stage floor. Back of him, occupvinp the
chorus seats, were forty ladies and gen
tlemen, who assisted Mr.. A. B. Darby
and Mr. ii. Wilson Brown in leading the
singing If there was any expectation
that the services would be in any respect
sensational it met with disappointment.
The order Of exercises and their char
aoter was ike that common to all non
rltual1stlc churches There was no pre-
lude to the sermon, and nothing In the
discourse itself that would indicate
whether it was being delivered in
MUSIC Hall before a multitude or in a
sIpell church before an organized congre-
CATION The reverend Doctor announced
ana read hymn, and the 5000 arose in
their places, and, TO the tune Of the Old
iHundredth, sang six stanzas Of Addison s
beautiful hymn, beginning:
I,t.9 spacious armament on high,
with all the blue ethereal sky
And spangled heavens, a shining frame.
Their great Original proclaim,
The effect Of the multitude of voices
united IN the imposing melody and sup
ported by the monstre organ was insnir-
ing. A prayer followed then the read