The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-21
The Theatre and the Church.
You've singled me, sir, out, for this hard question,
As II twere started only for my sake.
Am | the thing you fears

You We singled me, sir out, for this hard question
As IL 'twere started only for my sake.
Am the thing you fearS
OrwAY-(For the Bowery Theatre)
The Rev Dr. Hatfield asks in speaking of theatrical
entertainments, Should you and encourage and sup
port such SYSTEM Should lend it the encourage.
ment of our persons and our purseS'
We unhesitstngy and boldly answer yes 1t is that
very support and that encouragement most needed to
do away with every Objectionable feature in theatre
the clergy would at theatres and places of public
Amusement mingle with their congregations and parake
Of their rational amusements their presence and the
respect voluntarily paid at all times their sacred Office
would restrain all improper conduct a theatre or in
ball room. and prevent the exhibition of any such
RIGHTEOUSNESS he aludes to- lie. him remember the
origin OF theatrical representations they religious
mysteries and date long before his professed faith
of Christianity had existence. Priests themselves
the first actors or whom have any record They
awaited themselves of this method impart religious in
strucon to the unIetered ses who unable to read
write, were only capable of receiving il orally and
made TO comprehend its importance by the of their
and their eyes.
That there bad plays as well as bad sermons none
Of US viii deny but every good play has good moral
what objection be offered to good moral sermon
thus publicly pronounced by twenty capable orators d.
vding the labor instead Of being preached by one and
sucE look upon good play well acted as uphold
ing virtue in all her true coIors and showing vice in all
its hideous deformty Is this picture to iii the mind
OF the rising generation with gross centiousnessS Is it
not rather calculated 10 impress upon the mind Of youth
the necessity Of pursuing the path recttude and honor
and avoiding that which must lead to shame and misery
few short weeks have only elapsed since under the
gaows, the prisoner Saul openly declared with the hal
ter round his neck that had he taken warning by what
he had at the BoEery Theatre in the performances
OF Six Degrees OF Crime he would never have stood
where he didaddressng Mr. Clarke long favorite actor
at that theatre Yet the Rev DR.. Hatfield asserts in
the mild spirit of Christian clergyman that could the
history Of the Bowery Theatre be written what bloody
dark and dreadful history II would be in the history OF
mankind"
1t is easy to say this, but even for clergyman to
avouch b no proof and strong proof should surely be
uttered in church built for the worship Of God: but
the theatre, in this reverend gentlemsns opinion, is
built for the worship of the devil whom If for argument
we allow 70 be patron saint he is also the greatest
friend OF the parson Remove him and the fear Of his
eternal power hereafter as the instrument OF punishment
TO erring mankind and the clergymans vocation disap
pears with him.
a. Again ne says Ths players art is dernorazng from
the nature OF hs performance &c Miserable sonhis
try Why, the very Of his constant readng the
highest GLASS of literature known and recoonzsd ~ I'LL
lied society, tends to mend his heart ana mnrovs ~ T.
tellec and that It dees not H. rpinS n' IN
boldly appeal to the criminal OF our courts ~ %
cs for our proof how few actors ever brought be-
fore them charged with crime that might il guilty con
Aonn them to the cells of that peaitentiary built for
NE correction Of criminals" Can accuser refer TO
the same records, With the result behalf those
OF bis calling Yetar be IL from 10 say that the
ture OF clergymans studies is demoralizing. Why do
ministers of the Gospel assail frequently sndwith
sush hliberahy, the theatre and the actors reAsing
In some eases to the latter burial in consecr stcd
ground-followng him with the anathema of the rch
beyond the grave, and sonsgning his immortal soul to
everlasting perdtonp Then for Christian charity for
bear and do not force carry this war into Aries
ana srck your assembled congregation with tales Of
p,snops under trial OF bishops under suspen sion Of
nying from the outraged laws Of their country
OF cie,gmen on trial for murder and for rape But
enough as We commenced with quotation from PLAY
SO VIII We hnsh by quotation from the sacred volume
which forms the constant study on the Rav IN uatsia
Ts Apostle James says in his general And tba
tongue hre, world Of niquty but the tongue can
no man tame u Is an unruly evil, full Of deadly Dol
son. BoWERY THEATRE