RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THEATRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 60, 23 July 1868, Page 3

RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THEATRES.

TO Till', HDIToH OJ,' Till', ftT.VK, Hut,— lf it in desired to do good upon a largo scalo, It Is often found necessary to depart from the beaten track of routine, and to strike out new and original paths. Although lt Is no longer unusual in the present day to hold religious services in Theatres, yot the inillvMuul who first initiates nny charitable or religious movement, tbo bonefleial effects of which experience has established, is fairly entitled to tho thanks and sympathy of all tliono who des Iro tho amelioration of tho human raco, and this the Kov, W. J*. Ilabens has fairly earned, by his attempt Inst Sunday to uucum an audience at the Theatre out of tho ranks of tlioso who do not ordinarily attend plaeunof public worship. Whethor tho movoniont Is lo bo continued or not, lam Ignorant. X'crhans it may bu con* sldered tho samo need docs not oxlst In Christchurch as iv largo and populous towns; but lean-bear testimony, ns an oyo witness, to the success and bonefleial ellects which followed tho Initiation of tho onmo movement In Melbourne, under tho auspices of tho Novs, J. Tnylor nnd J, llcmlorson, It would havo cheered the heart of a christian philanthropist to havo witnessed tho Theatro Royal, Melbourne closely packed, on a Suuduy evonlng, by an audlonco of about 3000 pooplo, evidently largoly consisting of tho ofiiss for whom these services were specially designed, attentively listening to tho plain, enrncst, and affcotlonato counsel of tho Roy. Jamoß Taylor, whoso discourses woro admirably adapted to tho purpose, being freo from any dogmatic utterance of a paitlcular theology. And

that tho efforts of both thoso rovorend gontlo* mon woro not fruitions, was manifested by the numbor of letters of thanks and gratitude rceolvcd by them from many who acknowledged to have derived benefit from thoso fIOI'VICCS. I know thoro nro pooplo who object to tho holding of religious norvlcea In any building not specially conseoratod to tho purpose; but nurcly the Gospel ennobles ai d const-crates any placo wherein It In Introduced, and If tho original purpose for which thoattes aro erected novor appears to bettor odvantngo than when it famlllarinoß tho pcoplo with the glorious worka of our national poet, It mny justly bo argued It In turned to a mill higher purposo, when tho pathos of tho story of Lear, or tho profound philosophy of Hamlet, In followed on Sunday by tho deeper pathos of tho lifo of tho Son of Man, and the more solemn philosophy of tho lUble. Your obodiont servant, W, IL Christohuroh, July S2,