A NEW YORK PASTOR'S INNOVATIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8345, 30 January 1907, Page 3

A NEW YORK PASTOR'S INNOVATIONS.

Undeterred by the criticisms passed on the whistling solos given by a young lady from the pulpit of the Baptist Church on Forty-second Street, New, York, the pastor, Dr Goodchild, again stood down before the sermon and made way for a professional performer, on the musical glasses. The professional arranged his wine glasses along the pulpit, and then, by rubbing the rims with his | . lingers,.. produced the : notes required for the performance of several wellknown solos. The church was crowded, and the performance was a . success. The following ' Sunday the performer was to be a well-known violinist, and Dr Goodchild saya he is convinced that he has hit upon a plan for reaching scores of those wtio would not attend church under ordinary conditions. He will therefore continue in the course he has taken -up, so that these laggards in church attendance will no longer be able to excuse themselves on the score that the services are dull; So encouraged has he become, indeed, that he has-evolved a plan for " the leasing of the Majestic Theatre, which will seat over'2,ooo people, so that every Sunday' he may reach a larger audience, and compete! more closely with the concerts which are held at the same time in the adjacent • theatres. Criticisms are less sharp- ,' of j,the pastor's methods ; after . this , : secund performance, for it has been seen that the innovation is a success, and Dr Goodchild is known to have no personal ~ liking for sentimentalism. \ The present attitude of the religious people of the city is more of a watchful one, and if the experiment in the ' church proves to have. the elements of . success it is likely that other ministers will risk similar changes in i their service