PREACHING IN THEATRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 57, 20 July 1868, Page 2

PREACHING IN THEATRES.

TO THE EDITOR OF TOE STAB. Sir,—Will you nll>w me a few words on the loiter of your correspondent" Delta," in the insuo of this evening's Star? I do not wish to cut nny insinuation up in hi-» sin* c^ity, but merely to ivMse him to think the •uaudic w»>U ov..r on which he writ** before ho rushes into print. As " Dtiiu' Hs.itiinc3 a Grecian letter for Ills signature, I am left in the dark us to the real writer of the letter, I am al^o equally in the dark, from hU style of writing, us to what class of religionists homay haveatuehetl himaolf. In tho flrst place, notice his pious horror when ho txclnlnis, 4 * Why I you do not mean 10 say that that'house will be open on the Sabbath day? I thought it was only in France that it was upon, mid i.ut iv any tingliah settlement." In the second place, ha states that" we hare three good squares and a marketplace," and very innocently asks if: ono of thoio would not do equally 113 well for the purpose } drawing the conclusion that by no doing, iustend of ojifiiUng the theatre, •• two birds might ho killed with one stone," i.e., good obtained for the body na well as for tho soul. Now, flwr, with regard to ha supposition that it is only in France that thwtra am open on tho Sabbath ihiy, let me remind hiaj Hint in that country tho.se places were open some years ago, not fur religious purposes, but for amusement. Ido not know that such U tho ease now ; but, whether or not, it is not inueh to the purpose. The writer m»rely cannot hare been in England for some years, or read English newspapers rcry attentively, or ho would not hare committed himself as he lift* done. It U a well known fact that in Lon.ion, and many of the large towns At home, religious services are held in theatres on Sundays; many of tho worthiest nnd most talented miniitcrsof nil d nominations mkinff purt in them, and worklngamicably together. I a •» tolii that these services hare be«n productive t o( much good amongst tho claw they were originally intended for—those who wcro not in the habit of attending places of worship. Wilh regard to tho iquarca nnd market* pUei», I need say little, Your corre*pondent says, writing UII3 stormy day, •• Now thiit wu have such fun weather, it would bo no hardship to the people to be in the open nir." AH very wed, but I am inclined to think that neither he nor any of his way of thinking would reli4h being in the optn Air Nuehadayas this has been, wet above iwa& wet below, to hear an address from even tho most eloquent minister in all the Australasian colonies," On this point I must give " Delta" •lib credit that, if he is a worshipper At all, he is ono of that class who " wonhip God ia the great templo of creation," and not in " a houao mado with hands." Trusting that the effort mado by Mr Habcns «nd hla frlcinb nmy i>roYo a tmcce^a, I remain, Your obedient servant, UNSKCTAIUAN. Christchurch, July 18,1363.