The sun., 1897-02-01
WANTED NOBOBINGERSOLL
HIS PICTURES TORN DOWN BEFORE
ST. TH0MAs's BESEFIT.

Bishara Croker ana Ex-Msyer 0t1rey
Anous Thsse Frese.t-Ms. sesr Biums.-
thai Expinins That No Hsrr was Meant
s.a Takes Down ths LADDERS Portraits.
The members OF 81. ThomAs's r. c. Church,
who are erecting . church NJ St. Nicholas ave-
nue. and Il sth street. have been raising money
In every way that they could think Of TO increass
the building FUND. The basement for tho church
IL finished. and the congregation meets thcre for
service every Sunday. Arrangements had been
made for benefit vaudeville performance, to
DO given at the Harlem Opera House op 125th
street last evening. for the church. and the sale
OF tickets was large. The performance was to
begin at 9 o'clock, and whom the hour came
there was crowd Of about 100 people waiting
IN the street for the doors to open.
In the crowd were several Of the mon who had
been active In arranging the show. and they
found condition of affairs IN the theatre lobby
that shocked them. The opera house had bscn
rented for noxt Sunday night for Col. Robert @.
1nRersoll's lecture on Tho Bible" and the
walls of the lobby wcro covered with pictures OF
the lecturer and announcements Of his topic.
followed with press notices and placards urR-
Ing every one TO be sure to hear him talk.
The members Of the committee concluded
that this was an attempt TO drive away the
dsvout members Of St. Thomas's. They sent .
committee to Manager Blumentbal Of the the
atre to tell him the theatre would not be &C.
cepted unless the portraits OF the famous inndel
were removed.
This committee consisted Of the Rev. Father
]. J. Keogan. Andrew J. White. aud ex.Mayor
GilrOy. They went to Mr.. BlumenthArs house
and pulled him out Of his library. They laid
their grievance before him, and no expressed
great surprise At the way In which they had
taken offence at the pictures. which he said had
been put up on Saturday night In the regular
course Of business and with no Intention OF
hurting any ones feelings. II the pictures
were not accep pta BILE he felt very sorry he sad
The COMMITTEES told him plainly that the
pictures were not acceptable. and said that they
were 30 offensive that tho opera house could
not DO used for . church entertainment whie
they remained op the walls.
Mr.. Blumenthal agreed TO remove the po-
lures. He hurried TO the theatre, and set hi.
employees At work taking In the movable bill
boards. tearing down the loose posters In the
lobby. and hanging sheets and white pApsr oveI
those OF the pictures that could not be removed
from the wall. IL took time to do this. and I,
was nearly y O'Clock before the performance DO
| gun. There wss not q picture Of lneersoll In
| sight and the show went along smoothly.
Among the performers were Chauncey Olcott
! Ross and Fsnton. Lillian swain. Z, Edgar bod
| son, Mime, Anita Lloyd. George fuller Golden
| and the viiona sisters 1u tho box~s wer'
| Richard Croker. ex-Msyor Gilroy. ex-Mayo
| Edward 4. MAher Of Albany. President Of th'
| Union Railroad Company; John Quinn. Charles
| OConnor. William II. Chase, Lawrence Win
| terp, Isaac A, Hopper. Frank ID. MurthA, A. J
| white. and Justice J. Henry Mccarthy.