The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-15

tom had been to present oratorios in
the London theaters during Lent, be-
fore Exeter hall was built. But de-
parture came about when the Sacred
Harmonic society was established in
1881. The theaters were then abandon
ed, 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 to 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, 1880
Throughout its career Exeter hall
has been reflective in its associations
OF the characteristics of the age. And
religion and philanthropy have been
characteristics Of every age since
Christianity began. No change in pro-
prletorship imperiled the ideal set forth
when the initial brick Of the labyrin-
thine pile was laid. When the Young
Mems Christian association took over
the building in 1880 $4,000 was spent
TO: the property and on restoration,
with the express object of carrying on
the noble work And records contain
accounts Of meetings held there that
have never been surpassed for glowing
hcpefulness. Tie great meetings which
Spurgeon and other dlvines continuous
ly conducted on Sundays did not Guido
in impressiveness that memorable
gathering which inaugurated the new
era when Shaftesbury and Cairns and
the archbishop of Canterbury poured
out their eloquence before a mighty
congregation Of men and women who
had launched an undying movement.
Yet it is not among the great gath
erings Of a strictly religious character
that we shall find the events that have
stamped deepest the fame 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 resolute
protest. One meeting of the abolition
lists, held in June, 1S4O stantSJ out in
the forefront of that long and bitter
strife. It's central figure was the ven
cradle Thomas Clarkson. This patri-
arehal father of philanthropy was the
chosen president. The hall had filled to
the doors when the tottering old man,
accompanied by his daughter-in-law
and tiny grandson, moved to the
platform, and gazed with dim eyes up
on an audience that burned with fierce
resolve, yet watched his faltering
movements with tender solicitude. He
began in feeble tones with apologies
for the failing memory which made
Strangers of many lifelong friends Sit
ting around him, then with the solemn
earnestness which is the strength of
the aged he urged unwayering perse-
verance 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 are not only the hearts
but the intellects of men-may, He, in
His abundant mercy, guide your coun-
sells and give His blessings upon your
labors."
Those were simple, commonplace
words, but never did sentence pro-
duce prolounder effect. There was a
momentary pause, as the feeble figure
Sc nix into the chair; the audience was
hound up in emotion. Then there leap
ed from the tongue of every man and
every woman present a heart-lifting
amen, Amen, from some, indeed, to
whom the word seemed strange, and,
urtil then, expressionless. That scene