Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-14

| church Sunday night on "Theaue-goins.
| 1t was the first OF a series OF sermons
\ on worldly amusements. The minister
4 text was from Ephesians ", ii: nav
no fellowship with the unfruitfui WORKS o.
darkness" After abiding to an ihciu. ~
| illustrative OF the excessive drain on ~
/ purse that frequently attaches 10 'hs
practice of patronizing the theatre, AND
more especially that in connection WIZ
/ men OF moderate incomes, the speake'
| made the assertion that the majority o,
| actors and actresses were OF iinmors
| character This assertion, he said, "d'
| sustained by the testimony Of the mos'
| distinguished actors and dramatsts. nif
| immortality. he continued. stenihes ths'i
| spiritual undoing. and by pstronizlhs tn'
| theatre men tempt their fellows Tor pc
| cuniary gain 10 lead bad lives More
over. for the sake of personal grauhcation
| this patronage Is extended, which is ex-
i tremely wrong.
Rev. Mr.. Hunter asserted that this prac-
tice OF theatre-going Injured the moraiS
| Of those addicted TO IL. In support OF 'his
assertion he introduced the testimony ana
| oplnions of prominent historians, Writers.
and other authorities. including a promi-
nent actor who would not suffer his own
| children 10 darken the door OF play
/ house The moral atmosphere or inca
tire, ne continued. was contaminating.
! Again. IL had the tendency 10 destroy the
| finer ssnshilit.es Of nature. The double
| illusions, indecent expressions, gestures
1 pastures, and costumes were not condu-
| Give TO edihcation The spice OF sin rs
the attractiveness OF the playhouse. Gene
| rally there were 20 be found bar-rooms
| In close proximity TO these houses that
draw patrons between the acts.
| The contention Of some that they attend
| only the best plays" was untenable. In
| the first place, he averred there were
very few clean plays. and the temptation
is fostered TO see others, just as man
who at first drinks the best liquors is
satisfied with the worst after be is well
drunk.
FaIschood and Truth.
| Rev Mr.. Stickneys two sermons at
the Monumental church on Sunday were
upon "FalsehooG" and Truth" suggest
ed by the lesson Of the day concerning
the sins Of Ananlas and Sapphira. The dis
courses were of exceptional interest TO
| all who heard them. Perhaps, since his
advent In our city. Mr.. Stickney has
never spoken with greater earnestness
| and power.
In the morning he presented most To-
gically and succinctly the evil Of the de-
ception attempted in the newborn church
by these the first hypocrites OF
marked that hitherto the infant church
had seen veritably a garden Of the Lord
in the wilderness Of the world, and said
that Satan had set himself deliberately
10 capture some within the sacred en-
closure, and poor Ananias told his bold.
stupid lie. The rector showed most vi
wildly the sin Of lying. and cited the words
Of David. who said i'm his haste.
IAN men are liars" lie said that lying
was regarded by many of the classics
as an establishment Of life and the
Spartans cultivated 1t as an art. II
was the first impulse of children. who
have TO be taught to tell the truth as
their duty TO society. Gods people Were
somewhat exceptional in the Orient. so
much so that when they lied IL was COM
mented upon. The literature art. sci
ence. and history Of the Chinese
were all tainted with this disease. Lying
followed them TO their graves, and
the collins in which they are buried
were made of thick. hollow plank. All
was done for appearance. Their guns
were often painted wood and their am
munition sod; their Notifications shams,
Their histories would lie about the pres
ent war. and say that the ia
parese were forced TO give up
the fight. Many people. Mr.. Stickney
declared spent their time trying to de-
ceive the world, pretending TO be what
they were not
. The latter half OF the subject-"Truth''-
was the afternoon theme. and was a
quel TO the morning discourse. 1t was
indeed worthy sequel listened 10 by
a vast concourse of people.
There will be no service at this church
on Wednesday evening, as Mr. Stickney
will attend the council. at Charlottesville.
Meeting of the MinisteriaI Union.
The Ministerial Union of Richmond and
Manchester met at the Young Mems
Christian Association rooms yesterday at
noon. Rev. J. J. Gravatt. was in the
chair and Rev. j. T. Whitley recorded.
The attendance. for various reasons. was
rather slim.
After prayer by Rev. w. A. Laughon.
reports were received in tabulated form
from the Brook and Fulton districts.
on motion the secretary was instructed
to ask the chairmen Of districts that have
not yet reported TO do so as soon az
possible and 10 distribute the cards 70
the respective pastors.
on motion OF Dr. Fair it was decided
that the monthly meetings In July and
August shall be omitted. The June meet
ing will therefore be the last
before September. and IT is desired that
O. very full meeting shall be held at that
time. After prayer by Or. Fair the
| meeting was declared adjourned.
Children = Day" was observed a Cen
Unary Methodist church Sunday morning,
and the programme as arranged al Nash
| Vile was carried out. The Sunday-scho0l.
| in charge of Superintendent Morton. re-
| presented one CORPS Of the Grand Army of
| Methodism. The corps was divided into
| three divisions, representing respectively
missions. education. and church extern
| sion. Each division marched up TO the
| pulpit and. gave statistics showing the
| work being done I'm each department.
| The children acquitted themselves most
| Handsomely, and the service was intensely
interesting
| The bi-monthly meeting of the Christian
| Sunday-SchoOl Association of Richmond
and Manchester was held Sunday at
| West-End Mission, and the rooms were
| crowded almost to suffocation by an
| interested gathering of young people.
| This association gives banner 10 the
school that has the highest percentage
| In attendance for every two months
| West-End Mission had the banner for
January and February, and won II again
! for March and April. The reports show
| li2 new scholars. against 20 in January
| ard February. The school winning the
! banner for January and February made
/ an average Of 81 per cent.
| The next meeting of the association
| will be held with Marshal-Street school
| the second Sunday In July. Til schools
will hold their annual reunion iicnic on
| June 2lst at Providence Forge. they have
engaged two long trains 10 take the large
| crowd that goes with them every year.
Among the Catholics.
The usual services were held at the
| Cathedral on Sunday. The Rev. Father
Ahern preached practical sermon at
| the high mass on the Gospel Of the day
| The music was OF the usually high order.
| The general communion OF the Sodaiity
| Of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place
at st. Mary's church at ! o'clock last
| Sunday. An able and powerful address
was delivered by the Rev. Father
| Gregory. Al 3 O'Clock the children's mass
was said by Rev. Father John, who de-
| l,vered an appropriate address. Father
Willebald was the celebrsnt at the high
mass, when the music was very fine,
being reproduction. In part. or the
Easter programme. The pastor preached
| an eloquent sermon on the honor and
veneration paid the Blessed Virgin.
The May devotions took place at 3
o'clock l.. NJ. after which the young
| men OF the sodality met and elected the
officers for the ensuing year. Mr. w.
Sorg was raised TO the presidents chair.
whilst Messrs. Il. Grassberger and q.
Bucker will be first and second vice.
presidents respectively. and Mr.. Frank