The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-24
SERMONS ON THE, WIRE.
The Use Of the Telephone Is Being
Discussed in New York.
Successful Tests in England Net
ropolitan Clergymen, as Rule,
Do Not Favor the Plan - The
Scheme Perfectly Practicable.
From the Pittsburg' Dispatch.


Scheme Perfectly Practicable.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch
New York, Oct. 14.-The introduction
of telephones into our churches for the
benefit of the sick, and others who cannot
attend service, is receiving serious consid-
GRAFTON in New York. A system has
been evolved by which not only the SER
mons, but the music, can be reproduced
BY this means one can sit in his bedroom
or parlor and hear the whole service as
well, almost, as if in his family pew.
The system has already been intro
duced in England In Bradford there are
three Instruments Esta blished, a
Wesleyan and a Unitarian church. The
parish church at Chcs terrified has a tele-
phonic communication with some fifty
subscribers, but the most elaborate of all
is set Just finished for the Eitchfield
cathedral with the full Endorsements of
Canon Wilcox. At the end of the choir
stalls on the top of the lictern and the
reading desk of the pulpit, are placed
small metallic cased transmitters so ar
ranged as to be invisible to members of
the congregation. The sounds are gathered
in by the transmitters without requiring
bHG NOlCC 10 NC uIIBCbCu III CIOSt COLI
tiguity upon the plate of the transmitter.
DECIDEDLY SUCCESSFUL TEST.
This was successfully used for the first
time at the harvest festival commemora-
ton. The listeners at the receivers heard
not only the sermon and the service, but
a basso and tenor solo by two of the wears
choral
In order to test the feeling in regard to
the use of telephones in our churches,
the writer interviewed the Rev. Father
Arthur Ritchie, the leader of the High
Church Eplscopalians in the diocese of
New York, or as they call themselves,
the Auglicans; the Rev. Father Cotton,
the successor of the once deposed and
now indicated priest, Father McGlynn;
the Rev. Dr. ParkhurSt, the celebrated
Presbyterian who is trying to suppress
vice, as well as other distinguished di-
vines. Assn -tE 7
From these interviews, which will be
seen later on, it is clear that there is, a
wide difference of opinion among the
leaders of the various religious beliefs in
relation to the matter under discussion.
Naturally many people will object to
application of the creation of the human
mind and genius to things spiritual, as in
the use of the telephone; but may not the
same objection be urged in regard to the
use of the multiplication of religious
works and sermons by means of the print
ing press2 The pope's blessing has been
sent by telegraph and cable, then why
not sermon by a Potter, a Corrigan, a
Richie or a Hobart, or a Co!lyer, be
heard with benefit through the phone
OF course no one will contend that a
sermon could be heard so satisfactorily in
this manner, as, of course, the glance of
the eye, the gesture of the speaker and
the tone of the voice would be absent.
hvr fs.ln Df
the listener will see the swayiug of the
congregation by the words of the
preacher whom they are meeting face to
face. Again it may be argued that the
listener over the wire will hear every
word of the sermon, for his attention will
not be attracted by outside influences,
such as the coming and going of people,
the latest new bonnet and the many noises
that distract from time to time the at
tention of worshipers in public.
OPINIONS OF LEADING CLERGYMEN.
The following are the opinions of some
of the leading clergymen of the me
tropolis upon this question:
Rev. Father Charles II. Cotton, pastor
of St Stephens Roman Catholic church:
"Can a person receive the full benefit of
the presence in the body of the Divine
presence at a mass through a telephone!
Oh, no, it is necessary for a personal at
tendance at church and for the eye to see
as well as the ear to hear the priest when
he celebrates mass, if person is to re
ceiye the full benefit, In cases where the
church was too crowded to admit persons
desiring to attend mass and when they
stood on the steps and in the street it has
been held that they secured the full
benefit for they were physically unable to
see and hear, but did their best keeping
their eyes upon the persons nearest the
officiating priest" '.-.
''How about inyalids?n
"Well, you see. they are not obliged to
attend mass, and of course if they go to
the trouble of having telephone com
municatiOn with a church their action is
meritorious, andI have no doubt it would
not 90 unrewarded before Cod. They
would receive the benefit of hearing the
sermon and the mass, but I hardly think
they would receive the full benefit Of the
Divine presence; yet l am not prepared
to say positively that they would not.
certainly can see no reason why tele-
phones should not be used with good
effect by persons not able to attend mass"
PERSONAL ATTENDANCE NECESSARY.
The Rev. Father Arthur Richie, rector
of the Protestant Episcopal church of ST.
Ignatius, said by all means | should
recommend the use of telephones in our
churches to be connected with the houses
of parishioners who are sick or otherwise.
absolutely prevented from attending the
services Of the church, Just | believe in
the church taking advantage of all the
advances of science in preaching the Cos
pei. OF course, under no circumstances
do think the possession OF a telephone
connected with a church and its use
would relieve auY one Of the obligation
10 attend Divine worship. be
liove. too. that the fun benefit
OF the Divine presence at lnaas
could be received through a telephone, oil
course where personal attendance,
which is required, was absolutely i'm
ossible. Others will probably hold a
different view upon this point, for you
know even in the church we DO not
always agree. although some day / nope
and believe we will all dwell IN unity;
but upon the point. that % person unable
10 attend the public worshipo Of God can
obtain benefit from hearing the beautiful