Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-07

Hesitation ef the Episcopal Coarensiom.
NO (.

~ ih: EDITOR OF 1 HE ENQUIRER.
A2reeaby TO the plan proposed, nm in this
number 10 Shew from the opinions @ Intelligent
and good men III all ages since the existence
nf theatrical ainnsements, that they are incon.
slstent wish christianity, thar even mere mora
sisiScousider them rs dangerous 10 the virtue
of society.
Plato informs us, that nnys raise the pas
sons, and pervert the use of them. and of
" consequence are dangerous to morality"-
For this reason he bauished them from his
coHmonw eath.
Aristotle lays il down as a rnle I" that SEEING
I" OF comedies ought TO be forbidden to Young
'people, such indulgencies not being safe mn,
= iii aye and discipline have confirmed them
:. in sobriety, fortified their virtue and made
" them proof against debauchery." This was
direct admission that tue play house is place
where the principles of these who visit ii are
in great danger of being seriously coniaminat.
ed.
Tacitns informs us that The German women
were guarded against danger and preserved
their purity by having no play houses among
them.
Even Ovid, in his most Iicenious poems,
speaks OF the theatre as " fayorable to Cisso.
" !rteness OF principle and manners - and at
terwards IN graver work addr essed to An
gustus. advises the suppression of This amuse
nent as great source of corruption.
The infidel philosopher, Rousseau in onpos-
ing the establishment of q theatre at Geneva
speaks of i iii the following manner: IL is
impossible that an establishment so costtary
10 our ancient manners can he generally Il 81
'piauded. How many generous citizens wiu
< see with Indignation, this monument Of lwaury
" and efeniinacy iaiSe itself upon the ruins OF
= our ancient simplicity do You think thcv
- will anthorise this innovation bv their prc-
sencc, alter having loudly dSaDproyed in
he assured that lr'ny so without scrnpIe
" To tho theatre at Paris WHO will never enter
that at Geneva, because the good OF their
" couuityiS deTCr IL them than their amusement
Were would he the inprudcur mother Who
u tn carr t,ar dan. IT, ~
dangerous school? aud how many respecla.
bic women would think they dishouoreL
themselves III goin" there, 1t some persons
" at farIs abstain from the Theatre il is simply
" ON the principle OF reiIs iOn and surely this
principle will not be less powerful among MS
" who shall have iic additional motives Of mo-
rails, Of virtue aud of patriotism, motives
which VIII restrain those whom religion
wonid not restrain"
Read the character the same Rousseau eiyes
OF player. lie says, IL observe in general
HAT the situation of an actor is state of IL
centiousness and Dad morals. That the men
Z" are abandoned to disorder, that the women
- lead scandaIous life. In all countries their
profession is disi0no,able, those Who eAer-
else IL are every where cOntemned."
Ae9ophon, man OF letters aud a general,
| commencing the Persians for The discipline Of
! their education, says, -" they will rot so much
| as sniIer their youth 10 hear any thing either
amorous or tawdry; they were afraid that
! want OF ballast might make them mscarry and
il was dangerous TO add any thing 10 the bias
| OF natHre."
Livy reports the origin Of plays among The
| Romans q" they were introduced ON the score
| of religion, to pacify the Gods aud to remove a
| pesti!ence" hut ic adds. the motives are
| sometimes good, when the means are abonina-
| Tile the remedy in this case was worse than
| the disease and The atOnemeut more infections
| than tho plague" Valerius Maximus con.
firms the account of them, and says, they ere
| the occasions Of civil DISTINCTIONS, aud that
" the state first blusEcd, aud Then bled for the
! " entertainments
Seneca complains of the dobauchery Of fi,e
| age in which i.e lived. " tnat few persons weuld
| "appiy themselves 10 the study of u,ot,tity
except when the play house was shat ~
! q" that there were none TO teach philosophy
| " because there were none TO learn IL; bat that
| " the stage had company enough and that by
| " such means wee made anirSensi BILE approsc6
| " stoie on The people under The disguise of plea
| " sure.
Admitting. as in candor we ought. tl,at the
| theatrical exhibitions Of The Pagans, were if
some instances more ian moral than ours yel
these siiOug testimonies of HeathcHs against
tie stage, as dangerous to the cause Of rirfUe
ought TO have great weight with us who DTo
fcss aud call ourselves christians.
II their natural light discovered such diugej
| in the play house, surely the splendid beams o
tie hOly gospel must discover Infinitely more
and obiiEe as 10 have no " fellowship with il,
" uufruitinl works of darkness"
The almost universal maNimS Of the theatre
ate that " lore is the grand business of life
" that present qualification H. TO nc preferred "a
Suffering virtue; thai JmtiiIon is To DC pre-
" fcrrcd 20 conIcnlment; ibat gride is necessary
o. - cGrrS man with dc, cncy through the
" world that ftNcnge Is mAniiHcss al spirit
| Is that p1fi.Hre Is menuess tIiat huniil,fV ..
90 dee. addition that JgrgiCeneSs Of injuries &.
" beneath a gentleman; that human opinion d,
" tie strongest motive Of action that human
Do yrtise Is iu" highest reward thu human
| DO cfp.are Is 10 te deprecated more caretuIi,
81. a.. "a al. q
80 yOiaablc thai eeif Eirder MAY he lasfifed
- HAT coHigga iHfie'iy - a veniai if not au
am,atle irai.ty and laat provided man b,
fraak, gsHerous and brare. he may he iiber
These qroisos- tassa iiom Golfers view o. n,
Engiisb stage. chap. Q.