The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-21
MUSIC WORTH HEARING.
The Methodist Con ference and Wal
lack Testimonial

NEW YORK, May l9.-By all odds the big
gest local event for the past week has been
the Methodist General Conference. | saw
the assemblage on Sunday afternoon at the
Metropolitan ODera House-there must
have been 5000 Methodsts packed into
that enormous bui ding-surdy, orthodox,
psalnl-singing, God-fean1g pioneers from
all parts Of the country. When they stood
up and sang, 80 for a thousand tongues to
sing" the building shook with tie volume
of sound. | have heard Wagner's operas
sung with high art in tha6 edifice, but
never heard anything like this. There is
only one word in the English language that
exactly describes the volleying of that old
hymn, and that word is thunder. The
tune issued from 5000 lusty throats with an
efficacy of deep, sincere religious feeling.
IL swept up in surges from tho great par
quette, and rolled down from the enormous
gallery in monster waves of sound. |
look I'd up and the boxes where late the Ian
guld listeners turned their ears in the in
tervals of small talk to the inwrought
strains of opera, now stood close together a
dense mass Of men and women, every one
pouring out Of his and her soul a contribu-
ton to this magnificent oratOriO. The
crowds i'll the stone Hobbies and corridors
that could not get into the auditorium
caught up the strain. There wasn't Moth
odist widow in bombazine that was too
poor to add her mite of vocalism.
1 have heard a good many vocal festi-
walls, but | never heard anything that was
weighty with tde simple grandeur of SIN
certify in unison as this-except once, at the
Boston Peace Festival, when the enormous
audience stood up and sang "Old Hun
dred"
To sing is a part of the Methodist's re-
ligion, and if you want tC know how in
describably majestic and subtle sincerity is
on vocal wings, let me advise YOU to attend
a general conference.
1t is worth noting that there is a small
side as well as q grand side to the collec-
ton Methodist. The small side shows it.
self annually on the tobacco question.
Fancy this august body pausing for one
moment TO consider if bishops should chew.
But there will be a few old women and
fussy old provincial men, too, who insist
that there is no salvation where there is
tobacco, and they stick the anti-tObacco
plank into convention and creed alike. OF
course l can understand that if all Metho-
dists chewed and all sang as Justify as they
did on Sunday, it would hardly be re-
ligious atmosphere; but even then it would
be matter of taste and not of discipline.
The testimonial to Lester Wallack has
taken on huge proportions. [ am told that
every seat in the opera house has been sold
at $40 a seat, and that up to date $50 900
udNo D6SL BudIduuebl.
Mr.. A. NJ Palmer, the manager of the
Madison Square rheater, has engineered
the whole affair. He had Mr.. Angustin
Daily associated with him, but that gentle
man went to Europe with his company and
the whole task fell upon Mr.. Palmer
1t will be notable dramatic event, but
it does not follow that it will he a notable
dramatic performance. The event will be
too big for the acting. | have seen these
star combinations trieI before Curiosity
is gutted but Shakespeare is not honored.
There is tendency in the start to swallow
each other up. They feel that their per-
sonality is lost in the grand ensemble.
Still, Lester Wallack will get at least
$25, 900 to retire on, and he will pocket his
vanity and the check at the same lime.
1t is thus the profession aud the public
tip with gold these relics of departed worth.
Buffalo Bill and Miss Helen Barry have
appeared in the swim here, both fresh from
the other side. Miss Barry is rather the
more stalwart of the two. She went
straight to Boston to see Mr. Hills Henri
eta and Matt Morgan's picture, and then
came straight back to see the new opera of
Nadjy. Meanwhile the new Union Square
Theater is being rushed up for her.
Buffalo Bill is writing his views of Eng
land whicl | dare say will off ct Matthew
Arnold's views Of America.
NYM CRINKLE