New-York tribune., 1902-08-06
LONDON NOTES.
NEW CENTRE FOR JOHN WESLEY'S
paRISH-THE LYCEUM THEATRE AS
AN INSTITUTION-BADF FORM
IN THE ARMY
IN THE ARMY.
London, July 26.


The Royal Aquarium. now destined TO be re-
nIsced by a Wesleyan House. has always been
IN anomaly. Originally planned as fashion
able resort for the West End in winter and sum-
rner il had brief career temple Of music.
science and art, with an orchestra conducted by
Sir Arthur Sullivan, promenade concerts di-
rected by Sir Julius Benedict, picture shows
arranged by Sir John Millais. and fisheries
bibitiors ordered by Mr.. Frank Buckland: and
when its fortunes languished with a lack Of
support from Vanity Fair it was converted into
catchpenny variety entertainment for the
masses. Marvel succeeded marvel; Blondin
danced on a tight rope and Oriental fakirs swal-
lowed swords with ceaseless voracity: the Lab
rador whale and the manatee disported them
selves in tanks, and Zulus appeared IN thin war
paint and feathers; women shot out of
cannon and slung from catapults. and divers
leaped from the roof into the waters; there were
tricks with the boxing kangaroo and likely
bouts and turns with lions, elephants monkeys
snakes. cockatoos and dogs. and there were
swimming races and roller skating matches for
women. bioscope representations of prizefights.
forty day fasts mesmeric frances Sandow trials
Of strength, aerial flights of cyclists. and cir
cults with rider and machine looping the loop
upside down All these devices for, drawing
popular audiences and entertaining AIRY and
'Arriet were employed within a stones throw Of
Westminster Abbey, with its storied antiquity
and mighty dead; and the Aquarium itself. with
fits cheap Jack advertising and ever changing
sfdeshows looked out upon Broad Sanctuary
where stood for centuries the ponderous square
keep where refugees from justice or tyranny
were safe from arrest and prosecution and free
10 hear mass in the fortress chapels. and TO re-
ceive bread and water from the Benedictine
monks Of St. Peters.
With the close OF the year these anomalies
to cease The Aquarium -after being for twenty
years the haunt of jugglers and acrobats and
the exhibition ring Of Zuila, Zaeo Luker. Peart.
Baume. Fuller. Succi. Jaques. Christina and
variety talent Of every order IS TO be torn down,
and on the cleared site will rise cluster OF
Wesleyan buildings opposite the Jerusalem
chamber Of the Abbey. Wesleyan architecture
is seldom picturesque, and invariably prosaic
and simple; but the environment of the Abbey
viii be materially improved by the removal OF
the vulgar and hideous structure which now
Haunts its matinees and sideshows in the his
tcric precincts OF Broad Sanctuary. The Wes-
leyans will not be outside the range of their
own traditions when they transfer their relig-
ious headquarters from John Wesley's home, in
City Road. to Broad Sanctuary. for Charles
Wesley a Westminster boy and captain of
the school. living in Little Deans Yard and
learning TO love music in the Abbey. where the
memorial to him and to his brother is now seen
If wesleyanisn has become a powerful rival Of
the English Church in the affections of the
middle and lower classes, it has been largely
due TO the fervor and heartiness Of the hymns
written by its sweetest singer, whose soul was
attuned TO music by the daily services Of the
Abbey The Wesleyan service retains a large
part Of the liturgy Of the English Church, so
that when the Methodist house has taken the
place of the Aquarium and the Rev Hugh Price
Hughes is preaching there Sundays, and not
In St Jaues's Hall. there Will be an approach to
harmony in the undertones either side Of
Broad Sanctuary. Indeed. Canon Henson Of St.
Margaret's. who has recently been fraternizing
with the wesleyans. may easily lose his way
and find himself in the Methodist chapel in place
Of the historic Abbey.
The Wesieyans like the Roman Catholics. who
have built their cathedral in Ashley Gardens,
with high tower visible from long distances
up and down Victoria-st- and across St Ja1nes's
Park have made a close approach TO West
minister Abbey They have intention of aban-
doning their natural headquarters in City Road,
where John Wesley lived. worked and died; nor
is there any evidence Of decline in their working
power among the poor and the outcast in the
East End. While Wesleyanism is nohly carry
ing out in the most benighted regions OF the
maze Of metropolitan London the ideas or It's
founder in systematic organization work ana
consecrated zeal for the evangelization OF the
masses. il has also taken up WITH NisOE anu
ardor during recent years work among the edu-
Gated middle class in the West End. and the
purchase of the Aquarium is fresh proof that
the spirit Of John Wesley's own words, repeated
in the memorial at Westminster Abbey, I look
upon all the world my parish" still aninates
powerful religious communion. The wesley
ans at Westminster will be at the religious
centre Of the United Kingdom. They will have
two halls one for three thousand and another
for one thousand auditors; they will have ample
accommodation for their missionary societies
and committees, and publication centre near
the traditional home Of Caxton; and they will
have not only a UNIQUE site but also a good
business investment for Mr.. Perks. who has
conducted the negotiations, is one Of the shrewd-
est men in England The price is S330000 but
il includes the Imperial Theatre and several
houses. as well as the Aquarium Itself
The fate Of the Lyceum Theatre has been
hanging in the balance this week. and is still
undetermined. The London County Council has
required such extensive alterations that 1t is an
open question whether it may not be more eco
nonnical to rebuild the theatre than TO make
them, and incidentally, the financial position or
the shareholders. who have been supporting Sir
Henry Irving since his REIMBURSEMENT OF the
management. is involved, and il is debatable
matter whether. the site is row a favorable one
for q ternple of dramatic art, or whether the
building cannot be reconstructed aoVahtageously
and reonened as a music hall. Whatever may
be the tsspe of pending negotiations and consul
tations. .he past a least. is secure. The Lyceum
Theatre has aeen since its erection in 1884, a
source of ,nsnratiou for dramatic art, well
as place of pleasurable entertainment Charles
Mathews Mr. and Mrs Keeley, Mime. NestIls'
Buclxstone Charles Fechter and Edwin Booth