The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-30

Are Married and Buried, and
Whose Pastor is Always Ready to
Give Them Spiritual Help.
In all the United States there is no
church more widely known than 1.-The
Little Church Around the Corner" says
the New York World. This church has
come to be identified closely with actors
actresses. The disciples OF Thespis. as
rule not religious class, have here re-
ceived spiritual ministration; they have
here been married, and from here they
have been buried. From these intimate
associations with. stage folk, living and
dead, 1.-THE Little Church Around the
Corner has occupied unique position
among the churches of New York.
Forty-seven years ago the Rev. George
Ii. Houghton, young then in orders, or
ganized the Episcopal congregation Of
the Church of the TRANSPORTATION. Six
people met with the young pastor in
back room of Twenty fourth-s ten
ement house. What they lacked in num-
bers was made up in earnestness and
true religious feryor. OF the founders of
the church Dr. Houghton alone survives.
Tom" Holland, an actor, who had
caused many a smile In the world, died
one day, and Joseph Jefferson was one OF
the friends who took charge OF the obse-
quies. Holland, in many respects, was
like Jefferson himself DR.. Sabine OF
Madison avenue was asked by Mr.. JEFF
ferson 10 say few words over Hol-
lands body. He replied: mo! we do
not bury actors from this church, but
there is little church around the corner
where | have no doubt you can get the
service read"
SO Holland was buried from "The Lit
tie Church Around The Corner" and
from that day the shrine became famous
throughout the land. For years visitors
sightseeing in New York have hunted up
the little church on Twenty ninth street,
between Madison and Fifth avenues.
Joseph Jefferson, 4. A. Sothern, A. NJ.
Palmer, Thomas w. keene of the Ameri-
can stage, and Henry Irving, +. s. Will
lard and Wilson Barrett of England are
pew holders in this church. Lester Wal
lack, Dion Boucicault and Harry Mon
tague were buried from it,
1t got out some years ago that the Little
Church Around the Corner was $500 in
debt to the rector. No sooner was the
news nOised abroad than there were
series of benefits tor the church. The
clog dancer danced and the contortionist
tied himself into bow knot, all for the
Little Church Around the Corner.
1t was at this time that George Cooper,
then celebrated song writer. wrote the
following, and IL was sung in the music
halls ana on the stage everywhere in the
United States:
God bless the Little Church Around the Cor
ner,
The shrine OF holy charity and love;
Its doors are ever open unto sorrow,
\ blessing fall upon 1t from above;
The rich and poor are equal meath it's portals
And be our path III life whate'er II may
No heart that needs comfort In affiiction
Was ever turned uncontrolled away.
God bless the Little Church Around the Cor
No matter what the creed that it may bear,
However we may differ in opinion,
The warmth OF Christian sympathy is theret
word of nope and kindness awaits us,
When clouds OF sorrow hover overhead
With needed words of pity for the living
And reverence for the cold ana silent dead
God bless the Little Church Around the Cor
ner
And keep its halow'd memory ever greenl
o. like lily growing by the wayside
1t smiles upon Lies ever busy scene! :
1t points the way to realms OF JOY unfading.
And bears OF love mover ending store,
GOd bless Inc Llttle Cnurch Around the Cor
ner,
God bless the little chur en- forever more!
The Church of the TRANSPORTATION is
very high" There is an altar with
lighted candles and surplced choir
The services are very elaborate.
The west wall OF the church is covered
with paintings to illustrate "the way of
the cross" There are several memorial
windows. one of which cost $500, but it
was not the gift Of an actor.
There are no millionaires in DR.
Houghton's congregation, but some of
the best and greatest men of current his
tory have attended its service. Harry
Ward Beecher sat in a pew near the
lectern on the occasion of Dr. Houph-
toms thirtieth anniversary. The Kew.
DR.. r. De Witt Talmage unannounced
entered DR.. Houghton's tabernacle one
Sunday. When DR.. Houghton had I'm
lshed his sermon DIR. Ialmage arose and
read the Coronation. AT this the congre.
CATION sang the grand old hymn with all
most Methodist enthusiasm.
DR.. Houghton writes his sermons and
does not commit them TO memory. His
manuscript is placed on the lectern. His
gestures are few and simple. He is never
impassioned. He could NOT be theatrical.
sincerity" is the comment of the man
who hears him for the first or the thon-
sandth time.
"a strong man armed keepeth his
COURT WAS the theme of his sermon last
sunday. This Is the great lesson of
avoiding the occasion OF sin - and il ia n
test upon which many great sermons
have been built. When Dr. Honobton
elaborated the idea that men were sinners
by choice, when he drew contrary mic
lures and then quoted Hamleps words to
his mother In the closet scene: .Could
nn fai
and batten on this moor" something
like thrill swept through the congrepa-
ton. The 'proiesslon," which is ALWAYS
present In force on SUNDAYS. were
pleased with the neat manner OF the doc
tor in bracketing St. Paul and Shake
speare.
But here is a strange fact. DIR. Houob-
ton, the actors friend, has not been in a
thealer for forty years. Still he "a a
Shakespearean scholar. When Ipnatius
Donnelly exploited the theory that bran
els Bacon wrote the plays that the world
comedies to Shakespeare, DR.. Houphton
eutered the lists, and his defense of tho
Bard of Avon was only equaled hy that
of Robert q. Ingersoll.
Edwin Booth called on DIR. Houpbton
one afternoon and asked him to ACCENT a
box that night, My dear Booth said
the minister, II know that | would eniov
,nvself but while | am AWAY from M
little study here, some poor fellow NAV
come in that wants word of encourage-
ment or direction towards the light.
thank you. Mr.. Booth. but my time il
not my own. | have dedicated il TO God
and humanity.
AS showing DIR. Houghton's own idea
of his relations with the theatrical pro-
fessiou, this letter is cited which he
wrote TO the editor of newspaper re-
garding o matinee benefit performances
the proceeds OF which were 10 li.t the
debt of the church. The venerable doc
tor said:
II cannot for one moment think of