Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-27

swered z" there are pious persons who del
not 90 to the theatre, and who condemn
it, and therefore it rs very ilnmora
place of resort" But our conduct vii
be tried, not by the maxiras and practice
of men but by the unerriDg standard OF
Gods word. To the lasc and to the tests-
mony if they forbid this practice, the
private opinions of men will not render it
innocent, though it obtain the sanction OF
the pieus. ;,
g But the play house never injured
me,o another advocate of the theatre may
Plead -" my principles are SO firmly hx-
ed, and my mind so well balanced, that |
can attend upon it, without the smallest
Injury. In me, therefore it can be no
sin; especially as / go but seldom, and
then only to see good play" AS ge-
neral rule, we are never SO much In dan
! ger of moral mischief. as when we pre-
sumptuously imagine that we are totally
! be yond it's reach. There is scarcely any
principle so strong but it is possible to
break it down by constant attrltlon
BuAallowing that goa can venture into
the theatre with safety, there are others
who cannot. If you have no reason to
,'apprehend danger, you encourage. by
your example, others, who have reason to
Iapprehend the utmost danger. especially
the young, whose principles are un1xed,
land whose characters are uniformed, and
who 60 at the peril of their perdaion
THE truth is, whatever may be the harm
,lessness ofthe theatre to particular lndi-
,viduals who frequent it, they encourage
Iby their example, aid supporYby their
money, that, which is source of corrup-
ton to thousands. No person can contri-
butte, in the smallest degree, to the sup
port of the stage, either by his presence
or his purse, without being, more or less,
a partaker in all the sin, and an accesso-
ry to all the mischief, which may be there
transacted.
;. But, it is further said, attending the
theatre is not so criminal as some other
practices, in when the mass of mankind,
and particularly the inhabitants OF great
cities, will always indulge. Is it not adj
vlsable, therefore, tn countenance this as
less evil than many others; especially
when it is recollected that there is some
thing in theatrical entertainments more
refined, more intellectual, and more e'e-
vated than any other g This is precise
iy, in principle, as it any one were to say,
s. swearing, lying and drunkenness, are
not in their nature so atrOciOus as murder,
and therefore to keep men frosn commit
ting murder, we ought to eudeaV@r to d.
vert them from it, by persuading them to
iengage in the practice of the former sins.
But need not say that such reasoning
land such counsel would be abhorred by
every correct mind. 1t is not for Us to
balance known sins against each ether.
Whether attending the theatre be, IA us
own nature, more Or less criminal in the
sight OF God, than many other gross SINS
is question which | cannot decide, be-
cause | do not know. This, however, |
know that if it be sin at all, it ought to
be abhorred aud avoided. Is it ever JUS
tltlable to make compromise WITH SIN,
or to do evil that good may come
With respect to the plea, that theatre
cal ente tainments have IA re6ned AID In
tellectual charao: er, which recommend
them to the more intelligent part Of So
ciety, it may be observed that, tins nli-
micry Of the art of orat ry may certainly
form an amusement less gross and trivo-I
lous than many others, from the appeal
it makes to the intellectual powers and
literary taste; yet, if the theatre IS now,
always has been, and from the nature ana
design OF it, must ever be a system Of
deep, wide spreading and incalcolable
corruption is it not tie duty OF every
one who values the welfare OF society. to
ldeng himself favorite qualification, ra-
| ther than to encourage so great all evil :
Nay, the more plausible and fascinating
the amusement, the greater its danger,
when it draws such consequences in It's
train /; and of course the greater guilt IN
giving it encouragement. And let that
person who acknowledges the theatre to
be corrupting and criminal Eusement,
and who, at the same time, suffers HIM
self to be drawn thither by the fame of
celebrated actor, or by what he calls
taste for the exhibition oftalents; let him
know, AMI trembIe at the thought, that be
{ is practically declaring, that hrs taste is
I to be INDUCED at the expense of the most
lprecioRs Interests of society. and at theI
irisque of the everlasting displeasure Of
his God
have now need to ask pardon for my
long trespass on your patience but fhat
| | may eXtricate the sentiments / hlCh have