The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-17

II the enthusiastic acceptance by a
large audience, and the rendition OF an
excellent programme without a hitch
count for anything, then the first per-
Torrance OF 1.-THE Life and Times Of
John Wesley" given under the auspices
Of the Zane street 81. L. church, at the
Opera House last night, may be called
splendid success. And, indeed, 1t was
a success in every way and the big au-
dience testified its appreciation Of the
entertainment by rounds OF applause,
which must have been very gratifying
TO those who participated, and who had
worked so hard to make themselves pro-
fcient in their various parts. Those
who had speaking parts in the scenes
depicting the work and incidents in the
career of the Wesleys acquitted them-
selves In a manner which showed care
full training and disclosed, in several in-
stances. surprising dramatic ability. =,
The music was at once impressive and
inspiring, and the lectures Of Mrs. II. u.
Monroe, which came between the parts
and were illustrated by beautiful colored
instructive In the highest degree. Mrs.
Monroe has a pleasing manner which at
tracts the attention from the start, and
as she relates the remarkable story of
the lives of John Wesley and his brother
Charles and the early struggles OF the
Methodsts in England and America, she
receives the closest attention OF the au-
dience throughout, She has the faculty
of enlisting the sympathies of her hear
ers and holding them. There is no at
tempt at oratory, but there is simple,
unaffected, but eloquent recital OF
great deeds and remarkable results, de-
hvered as only woman with deep re-
ligious feeling can talk,
When the curtain arose on the first
part and the allegorical procession, the
chorus Children of the Heavenly King"
was sung by the 100 voices. The scene
was impressive, The historical accura-
cy OF the costumes worn by the young
ladies and gentlemen Of the chorus,
made mlngllng OF colors which, as the
procession proceeded during the render
ing OF the chorus produced splendid
effect on the audience.
In the Holy Club scene. which repre-
sents the formation of the first organ
izatlon by the Wesleys, among the OK
ford students, from which grew the
great Methodist church Of to-day, the
fifteen gentlemen who took part acquit-
ted themselves so well that 1t was hard
to believe they were not trained actors,
Mr.. Bentley Jones as John Wesley, and
Mr.. s. Elson Brewster as Charles Wes-
ley, were true to life. Their acting and
speech were natural and showed con-
ceptiOn OF the characters that marked
them students of the roles. The same
can be said OF Prof o. Dochn MS George
Whitfield, and all the others, though of
course the chief interest was conferred
In the characters of the Wesley5 and
Whitfield.
Real dramatic power and effect were
exhibited In the scene depicting an ins
formal trial OF John and Charles Wes-
ley on a charge of disturbing the peace
by holding oDen-air meetings, and 1t
carried the audience back $50 years, be-
fore the days OF religious tolerance in
England. Judge Cranmer was at home
on, the bench as Sir Marmaduke
Gwynne who presided at the trial and
looked every inch the old English Judge
with wig and gown j. p Rogers, as
Judge Pershouse, and Col. Robert
White as Judge Laue, who conducted
the prosecution, were inlmitable and
true to life Robert Darrah, as the
vicar on whose complaint the Wesleys
were arrested, carried ibis part naturally
and well and won applause. The Wes-
leyB (Messrs Jones and Brewster) had
Opportunities to display their dramatic
ability and We're equal to the occasion
Mr.. Brewster. as Charles Wesley, sang
with effect the beautiful hymn COM
posed by the great character he was
impersonating Jesus, Lover of my
Soul" Lord Bohlingbroke, by c. u.
7 ~ nrI
Brenneman. and all the other mobiles,
witnesses. preachers, students, &c, and
q company OF soldiers by the Elklns Ca
diets In the uniforms of that period,
made UP an assembly OF talent which
delighted the audience. The scene con-
cluded with beautiful chorus well
sung.
part three, depicting missionary
meeting by the primitive Methodlsts, at
which John Wesley presided. was one or
the most interesting features Of the en-
tertalnment, and was the only part be-
side the professionals in which ladies'
took part, and they were not behind the
gentlemen in point OF ability TO repre-
sent the characters assigned them, while
In the quaint costumes OF ye Olden time
they lent a variety and charm to the
scene which was more than pleasing. In
this scene Mrs. Frank Stanton sang the
beautiful solo. Go Forth We Heralds,"
In most impressive manner.
Tho conclusion of the entertainment
was the procession, parliament Of Ma
tons" the ladies' and gentlemen COM
prlslng the chorus singing, 10, He
Comes In Clouds Descending"
The ladies' and gentlemen OF the chorus
were: Misses Carrie Frame. Bessie
Sweltzer, Lizzie SpargO, Emma Conrad,
Mamie Cowl. Minnie Wlncher. Maggie
Cunningham, Nellie q. Henry, Beulah
Hunter, Hattie Lunan, Clara Horner.
Anna Dunnlng, Bertle HaZlett, Martha
Serig, Ethel Hahn, Grace RuOng, Daisy
Flanagan, Bessie Hazlett, Edna Baird.
Emma McNash, Lizzie Krebs. Alma
Barber. Carrie Reed, Blanche Shafer.
Martha Ncsbitt, Ella Thes, Louisa
Wheeler. Mary Metzner. Jessie Bennett.
Messrs. Newton Imbody. william Bye,
Harry Kllnker. Benz Honecker, Grant
Jones. Roy Crago George MckOwn,
Bert DonOway, Robert SillIman, Chester
Lewis Harry Hazlett, Earl Donaway,
Walter Thornburg. +. Clohan, Eugene s.
Wells. Edward Londerman, Benjamin
McCluskey, ]. II. Carroll, Frank Grafton.
Frank Jones, John Greer. Joseph ARM
strong Harry Hess, w. NJ. Johnson.
Frank Barger H. X. Fair. Harry Cald-
abaugh, II. NJ. Connor W. @. Hayes.
Few entertainments Of religious
character In Wheeling have been more
successful more attrnctlvcly presented
or more deserving Of patronage. The
entire effect Ia inspiring and wholesome.
Mrs. Monroe and Miss Stewart were
much grntincd with the result
The entertainment will be repeated
this evening and seats for to-morrow's
matinee will be on sale this afternoon.
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