Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-03
Resolution Of the Episcopal Convention.
NO. g.

Nio BIZ ION flNUED.)
Resolution Of the Episcopal Convention.
NO. 3.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.
In further compliance with my undertaking,
viii, MIR. Editor. now attempt 10 shcw TO The
satisfaction OF every unprecedented mind that
a Christian cannot consistently with his profes-
sion be freqnentcr of the iheaire.-1hat il
Is practice unworthy The Christian character
Before do this, will endeavor To rescue
the Convention from the uHmerted charge OF
an attempt TO force people TO De religious. l
can undertake 10 assert that no Christian feels
such wish, because he knows no man IAN be.
coerced into religion. And I am well satisfied
tat no advocate of the resolution, wished TO
sustain the character of the Church upon a
principle 80 Inconsistent with the spirit of
christianity-FoT no one is so free as the true
chriStian-He is no slave TO the desires of the
flesh, the pleasures or censureS OF the world.
OIL TO the fear OF man.
The Convention intended, il is believed TO
inform the members OF their Communion that
certain practices which had stained The cha
racter of the Church. in the eyes of all serious
and rejecting men, were inconsistent with the
holiness and purity of life which the Commn-
meant ought 10 observe. The Convention
agrees with the principle contained in the rules
of the Presbyterian Church lately published
IN the Enquirer OF the fifth of this month that
The civil authority has no right Ia cont,ou the
coDsciences of men, in matters OF religion
Those rules also shew that that denomination
assert the right to advise and direct the mem
bersof their society as 10 the conduct which
becomes Christians.
return TO the main subject that is the The.
atre.--i have understood That ont of forty odd
members of the Convention, not one was found
WHO had the confidence to palia,e, much less
to advocate the Theatre. Ii must be admitted
by all who are capable Of rejecting and who
possess parti OF real Christianity. that the
spirit and sense of the divine law, prohibits MS
from spending our time unprofiiaby. Ii com.
nfla ..lNr t...,
TO avoid every thing by which we may be led
Witiioutnecessity to expose ourselves 10 tempta-
ton, aud be drawn into sin.
Ii will be well to take short view of the orr.
GIN and progress of the Theatre. History in.
forms us that the Theatre owes lis origin TO
the reVery which accompanied the celebration
of the feast OF Bacchus, who in the Iicentious
ages OF heather id0iatry, was called The god
OF WINE. Dramatic representations formed
apart of that worship which the Athenians
offered TO that false god: and were per-
iectly in character with the worshippers them.
selves, and the object of their alteration The
actors initiated whatever the poets thought
properto ieign of their idol. Men and women
III masquerade, appeared night and day before
the pnblic practising the most gross immoraIi-
ties aNd ndnl3ing iii every species of de bauche-
ny. me goat, winch is so injurious TO the vine
vas tie animal SacrihCed TO Bacchus. Hence
eVeiry itself was called Tdgedy So GRATIFYING
did these shows prove to the taste of Athens
| that they were demanded more frequently than
the season TO which they originally belonged
REQUIRED. Ihespis, about five hundred and
| thirty.SiX years Before the Christian ara. en-
bodied company of actors and carried Them
about with him in his cart TO perform tragedies
wherever an audience could be assembled and
| afterwards under the direction of Rschyius a
pubic Theatre was erected and appropriated
| TO dramatic representations. Comedy which
| was al first, a mmicry and abnse of living and
well known characters, for the amusement and
| qualification of the idle and the pyoAipate soon
a np 2 L.,
According TO this account Of the origin of
! theatrical performances, from the name of the
| idO'-it was an heathenisb amusement accom-.
| panied VIII obscene iestiVity, drunkenness and
music. In other words, il was a place for riot
| ing q revelliugs. According 10 what the Thea.
tire originally was, has been, Il ever will he the
| wautou amusements Of il are expressly probi
bited by Scripture. In 18th chap RoInans
18th v. tie Apostle Panl cxhorts lie Romans
to walk honestly as in the day, not in riofiRe
| and Drunkenness" Also in 5th Galatians from
18th 10 Dist verses inclusive In the same effect
| Again; Peter 4th chap. Sd verse, the ApostIe
ranks righteousness, lusis, excess Of wine, re.
yeillngs, banqnetings, among The works of The
| flesh and as unworthy the followers of Christ
lie stage Is truly described iu these passages
OF Scripture FOR, only such sentiments as are
calculated to excite the feelings and which are
cOndeinned III the preceding passages of Scrip-
| ture, viii draw an audience sufficient TO com
| peBsdte the actors for their labour
The wisest and best men among the heatheu
/ tnelI philosophers and magistrates, deprecated
| the hcentious tendency OF this school of scan
| ddl, ana gave warming OF its danger. Both in
| athens and Rome the stage was not nnfre-
| quently suppressed by positive statutes. The
| primitive Church could not be supposed to
| abet a system OF IcentioHsness of which the
| sensible Pa@aus were Themselves ashamed
| CHRISTIANS were then as veil as now exposed TO
| seduction from the common vices of society,
| but they resisted temptation with characters.
| tic iirnness. The Theatre was given up as
| well Is the other denominations Of the lCatheBs.
| Tie revelation Of the will Of God should he the
| Christians support against the seductive iu-
| fiuence.
| Can the Christian rise up from the werd Of
| inspiration, AID 20 10 the obscene entertain
ment ct lie playhouse; That word says " whe-
" ther therefore ye eat, or drink or Whatsoever
| " sou DO, 40 an TO the glory OF Ged. For the
tine past OF our life may suffice us to have
/ . wrought the viii Of the Gentiles, when we
. walked 10 lasci, iousuess. iusts reyellings and
| "abonnabie idoidtfies. BE ye therefore fol
lowers Of God IS dear children; and walk in
| love as Christ also loved us. But all mclean
! " Iiness- Let "a not be once named among you
AS bccOmcth saints, neither 6ithiue.s nor
| foolish taking, nor testing, which are not
convenient la correspondence with these
| directions. tie primitive Church ordained that
! 10 play actor should hc admitted ~ the COM