The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-09
IN STAGE GARB
HEARD SERMON
Players Sat III Orchestra While
Or. Torrcy Preached From
Stage.
SERVICE APTER The h SHOW
Several Members Of Company
Turned Out to BE Old Ac-
quaintences Of Evangelist.
SERVICE APTER The SHOW

(spccinl to The Dispa tcl,>
PHILADELPHIA, PA, April $50 far
from placing theatrical folk without the
pale Of redemption. as has been frequent-
nv reported, DIR. Reuben A. Torrcy late
yesterday afternoon, at the conclusion
of the matinee performance OF a yam
kce Circus on Mars at the Grand Opera
House, Broad Street and Montgomery
Avenue addressed the members of the
Theatrical Women's Sabbath Associa :
tion. This organization Is composed OF
the several hundred performers and
chorus women engaged In the various
dramatic attractions cnanating from the
New York Eippodrome.
Clad in the gittcrng costumes Of the
stage Or. Torrey's singular audience
thronged into the orchestra, surrender
ing the stage to the evangelist. who had
been patiently waiting in the private
office OF the theatre most Of the after
noon for an opportunity to respond to
their request for words of spiritual adj
Vice ~,
Met Many Old Friends
Here. however time did not hung idly
| on his hands. To his apparently glad
surprise several members OF the big COM
pany turned out to be acduaintes, some
of them intimates. whom the evangelist
had met during his long trip around the
world.
Particularly did he welcome Captain
William Woodward, the scalion tanner,
who subsequently introduced him to the
Sabbath Association. The Snowman,
himself personally Interested at times in
! evangelistics work. met Messrs. Torrey
| and Alexander in Bradford a few years
ago. where he was regular attendant
at their revival meetings, becoming one
Of the most enthusiastic converts.
Another old friend proved to be Peter
Barlow, the elephant trainer, with whom
the revivalist first became acquainted
in Melbourne. Australia, the former's
! home. Then Miss Hclliot, who performs
daring feats with lions, tripped Init
was payday. and I; constant stream OF
performers flowed In and out the office
received a warm reception from DR..
Tormy They had met In Leipsc, Ger
many. The impulsive Miss IIelliot
| pressed upon the doctor Il large photo
graph of herself in costume. She wished
| 1t presented to DIR. Torrey's daughter.
! Robert Cottrel, the equestrian. too, was
recognized as one OF the regular attend
ants at the Torrey- Alexander meetings
in London
A Hating Introduction.
Doctor Torrey was nervous as he came
lS,ipon the empty stage. Captain Wood
ward. also embarrassed, made a brief nd
dress of Introduction, in which he said
[ that The cvangelists Of to-dny comet ned
themselves with many missions. l,, ,
gissies and canal-hoat people received
their attention, but there wla not .nioll
interest displayed In the salvation ..
theatrical folk. lie heard that some Of
hish hearers might be- smnrtl@ over he
reports that Doctor Torrcy was inlmical
to their profession, bus his presence on the
81 ngc proved how false such reports were.
q vigorous round Of applause greeted
Doctor Torrcy at tho conclusion of this
hating speech
There was ne mistaking the passiyely
hostile attitude OF many OF Doctor Tor
rcy's hearers ms he paused moment be-
fore beginning his address, and also It was
noticed that manylof the young women
gave him their rnpt at tcntion. But as tho
evangelist becnpc thoroughly interested
in his preamble his undoubtcd personal
charm wrought its usual results and drew
to him the interest of all In the motley
audience.