Daily globe., 1882-11-09
TIE 4GNOSTIC ON THE STAGE.
The Appearance of Ex-Rev. George {
Min as Hamlet Tonight,

The Appearance of Ex-Rev. George C..
Min as Hamlet Tonight,
If Mr.. George G. Mia, who is to appear
at the Opera house tonight as Hamlet,
had been a policy man, he might to-day
have been the admired and beloved pastor
of Unity church, Chicago, drawing stipu-
lated salary of $4,000 per annum, and re-
ceiving at least half as much more in per-
quisites. Henry Ward Beecher will no
doubt be at the head of Plymouth church,
Brooklyn, to the hour of his death,
and yet he is as much of an
agnostic as Mr.. Min. But Mr..
Beecher does not care to tell his
parlshioners all of his beliefs as soon as
they are matured. Every few months he
promulgates, as new, an advanced idea in
t.eclogy or ethics which he himself has
secretly entertained for years, and as soon
as that has been we'll digested, another
still more radical is forthcoming. Mr.Miln,
however, did not see fit to work by gradual
approach. Having become thoroughly
convinced in his own mind that many of
the recognized dogmas of the church were
not entitled to credence, he boldly an
nounced his belief to his church in a series
of three powerful sermons, and
then asked the members what they
proposed to do about 1t. If they could
consistently retain him in the pastorate.
he would remain; if they could not, then
he wished to be set free. His action pre-
cipitated crisis. Caucases and meetings
were held daily and nightly. Although
the liberal element was at first numerically
the stronger, the othodox element was
the more active. By degrees the former
were won over to at least tacit adher-
ence to the opposition, until at length a
majority was secured and Mr.. Minis res.
ignation was accepted. Being an iu-
tensely active man, he Immediately cast
about him for some new field OF
labor, and soon purchased a controlling
interest in the Alliance, weekly journal
which had formerly been the organ OF
Prof. Swing. Placing at its head the
motto, 'Free Discussion; the Aim, Truth ,
he revolutionized the paper at once and
published number of scholarly editorials
that attracted the attention of the think.
ing people of the world.
About this time he matured plan fo,
going upon the stage. Shakespeare, ano
especially that authors sublime creation
Hamlet, he had studied from his youth
and during his hours of recreation he was
wont to entertain his friends
with recitations of the Ichoices
passages. Being an accomplished reader
and finished and powerful elocutionist
he attracted much attention, and s'what
SPLENDID actor he would make" was the in
voluntary comment made by all who heard
him. No doubtsthis had much influence
in determining his future, after he was ou
of the pulpit. At all events he determined
70 make the venture, and met with sue
cess from the very opening that astonishet
the critics and confounded the doubters
He will appear as Hamlet tonight and a
the matinee Saturday, on Friday night a
Nthello, and Saturday night propably a
Macduff.
Col. John L. Burleigh, Mr.. Minis col
league, will play the ghost to Mr.. Min
Hamlet, and the press has generally &C
kuowledged that his rendition of the ghos
is faultless. Col. Burleigh's two grea
roles are Othello and Macbeth.