The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-18

been evolved by which not only the
sermons but the music can be repro
duced
By this means one can sit in his bed
room or parlor ana hear the whole
! service, as well, almost, as if in his
family pew
| This system has already been intro
duced in England. In Bradford there
are three houses of worship fitted up
with these instruments, an Estab-
lished, a Wesleyan and a Unitarian
church. The parish church at Chester
field has telephone communication
with some fifty subscribers, but the
most elaborate of all is set just fin-
ished for the Litchfield cathedral with
the full Endorsement of Canon Wilcox.
At the end of the choir stalls. on the
top of the Iictern and the reading desk
OF the pulpit ara placed small metallic
cased transmitters 50 arranged as to
be invisible to members Of the con-
gregatiou. The sound IS gathered in
by the transmitters without requiring
the voice to be directed in close con-
tiguity upon the plate Of the trans
mitter.
This was successfully used for the
first time at the harvest festival com
memoration. The listeners at the re-
ceivers heard not only the sermon and
the service. but basso and tenor solo
by two of the wears choral
In order to test the feeling in regard
to the use of the telephones in our
churches, the writer interviewed Rev.
Father Arthur Ritchie, the leader of
the High Church Episcopalians in the
diocese of New York, or, as they call
themselves. the Anglicans; Rev. Father
Cotton, the successor of the once de-;
posed and now vindicated priest, Fa-
ther McGlypn; Rev. DR.. Parlshurst, the
celebrated Presbyterian who is trying.
to suppress vice by visiting the dives
and Maison de joie, as well as other
distinguished divines.
From these interviews it is clear that;
there is wide difference of opinion
among the leaders Of the various re-
ligious beliefs in relation to the matter
under discussion.
Naturally many people will object to,
the application of the creation of the
human mind and genius to things spir-
itual, as in the use of the telephone;.
but may not the same objection be
urged in regard to the use of the multi
plication of religious works and SER
mons by means of the printing press?
The pope's blessing has been sent by,
telegraph and cable, then why not a
sermon by a Potter, a Corrigan, a
Ritchie or Hobart, or a Collyer, 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 alb
sent, yet by little stretch Of the i'm
agination the listener will see the
swaying of the congregation by the
words of the preacher whom they are
meeting face to face. Again it may bei
argued that the listener over the wiret |
will hear every word of the sermon.
for his attention will not be attracted
BY outside influences, such as the conf |
ing and going of people, the latest
new bonnet, and the many noises that
distract from time to time the atten-!
ion of worshipers in public. 4
That there will be many clergymeni
who at first will refuse to preach or
pray over the wire is quite certain. A