New-York tribune., 1907-08-04
END OF EXETER HALL.
FaresceU Meeting Held an Famous
Meeting Place an London.

Meeting Place an London.
Exeter Hall as two generations have known it
no longer exists. The last meeting within its
precincts has been held says The London Tele-
graph and the doors closed. The demise Of the
famous gathering ground of evangelists and
phiIanthropists has been brought about by the
County Council. At its behest many hundreds
/ Of pounds have been spent in alterations within
/ very few years Recently II made further
demands which the tenants felt themselves unable
/ to comply with, and Exeter Hall in its old his
toric character has ceased to be. For some time
4 the dark lofty. narrow portico, framed IN with
Greco-Corinthian columns. Will continue to max
! out the place. Possibly ii may remain perma-
rertlv but the interior bound 10 be transformed
in the restless reconstruction of the Strand for a
well known firm of restaurauteurs has acquired
the building. and its Encouragement VIII De neces-
! sary- -. ~,
The famous hall built at cost Of 10000
sixty-six years ago. when the Strand was more
decorous and austere perhaps. than Il now IS
There need for such building, where the
. forces Of religious and benevolent life could CON
/ Centrate. The TO which 1t was put quickly
earned It the description "a temple OF modern
philanthropy" But II gained an even greater dis
tinction. II came to rank among the national
buildings and was better known than that
come appropriately within the category.
There are thousands OF proVincials now living
certain Of the whereabouts OF Exeter Hall
than many people born and reared in London 1t
has been their Mecca Of annual visitation for dec
AIDES, ernbodying the spirit which keeps alive and
tnvgorates their social ambitions. That spirit was
always spoken OF with respect. There
when the phrase the Exeter Hail spirit
used derislveIy IN some quarters. II was meant
to imply surfeit OF cant and dogmatism. But
the period Of harsh criticism ended years ago.
People were driven OF necessity TO ADOPT more
liberal phraseology. for the hall somewhat changed
and broadened its associations time progressed.
though Il never surrendered It's primary function
the religious and philauthropic effort
Il IN this perplexng building-perplexing be-
cause Of its rnarvellously deceptive size when its
narrow portals have been passed-that music was
brought TO the aid OF religion in e way hitherto
unknown. In Exeter Hall people once gathered
T.<Fz- 0E <Sa ma S-a-S of
Oratorio. The change of home was drastic. The
had been to present oratorios in the London
theatres during Lent. before Exeter Hall was built
5ut departure came ABOUT "hen the Sacred
Harmonic Society was established in 1881 The
theatres then abandoned, and the great hall,
lying back from the Strand, resounded with the
glorious harmony created under the guidance OF
Sir Michael Costa, oratorio has since taken 70
other fields. but the memory Of many fingers on
those great days. and recalls the delights Of that
last representation OF Israel IN Egypt IN April
Throughout its career Exeter Hall has been
fective in Its associations OF the characteristics
Of the age. And religion and philanthropy have
began. No change in proprietorship irnperiled the
ideal set forth when the initial brick OF the Iaby-
rinthine pile was laid. When the Young Mems
Christian Association took over the building IN
1880 s50Goo was spent for the property and
the noble work And records contain accounts OF
meetings held there that have been
passed for glowing hopefulness The great meet
rgs which SDurgeon and other d!viaes continu-
ousy conducted Sundays did outdo IL i'm
preSSiEeleSS which
augurated the new era when Shaftesbury and
Cairns and the Archbishop OF Canterbury poured
out their eloqueuce before a mighty congregation
OF men and women who had launched an undying
movement.
Yet it is not among the great gatherings o,
a strictly religious character that shall find
the events that have stamped deepest the faIne OF
Exeter Hall There have been meetings there OF
a social and national character that will never
fade from memory. The evil Of the slave trade
drew thither men and women IN desperate and
resoute protest. one meeting Of the abol!tionsts
= II a
that long and bitter strife It's central figure was
the venerable Thomas Clarkson. This patriarchal
father OF philanthropy the chosen president
The hall had filed TO the doors when the totterinG
old man, accompanied by his daughter-in-law
and a tiny grandson, moved 70 the platform. and
Eazed with dim eyes upon an audience that burned
with fierce resolve, yet watched his faltering
movements with tender socitude. He began in
feeble tones with apologies for the falling memory
which made strangers Of many lifelong friends
sitting around him, then with the solemn earnest
ness which IS the strength OF the aged he urged
unwaverIng perseverance in the noble cause OF
freedom, and finally lifting up a hand with a
trembling finger pointing upward. he delivered
the exhortation: May the Supreme Ruler of all
human events at whose disposal not only the
hearts but the inteIlects OF rner-nay He in HIS
abundant mercy, guide your counseiS and give
His blessings upon your labors."
Those were simple. commonplace words but
never did q sentence produce profounder effect
There a Inomentary pause, as the feeble
figure sank into the chair; the audience bound
up in emotion. Then there leaped from the tongue
OF every man and every woman present a heart
lifting Amen, Afnen"-from some, indeed TO whom
sionless. That scene Of indesCrfbable emotion was
seized upon by the artist Hayden, who was in
search Of a subject for his brush, and he thus
describes #: Il have the affecting
tragedies, initiative and real. but I did
Fitness in life or in drama deep. touching,
pathetic effect produced any great
senbly by the few unaffected. unsophisticated.
natural and honest words OF this aged and
agltated person The women wept the men shook
off their tears, unable TO prevent their flowing
For myself ] affected and astouished
that 1t was many minutes before recovered sum
cienty to perceive the moment of interest I had
longed for had come to pass-and this the
moment I Immediately chose for the picture
There were other anti-slaye meetings in Exeter
Hall, at Of which the Prince Consort
his first appearance at any public meeting, but
none approached this IN power.