New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-29
PUBLIC ADJUSTMENTS
PUBLIC MORALITY.
AN ADDRESS
REV. HENRY w. BELLOWS.
Delivered Last Evening at the Academy Of Music,


the Academy OF Music, before audience Of perhsps
two thousand people. Jas. T. Brady esq, President
Of the Dramatic Fund Association. in whose behalf
the address was given, occupied the chair Mest o.
the actors whose engagements would permit wose
present some of them on the stage.
Mr.. Brady in little speech, the complimentary rs-
erences of which to the speaker of the evening ~ero
received with subdued applause introduced the rev.
erend vindics,or of the drama.
DR. Bellows received with intense attention Ra8
expectation. People leaned forward in their seats.
with their lips parted. as though every word VS.
nrecous and remained in that position for two hours
and half. He said:
As am about to ask the attention Of promiscuoas
audience to long DISCOURSE mus, at the outset guard
you from disappointment by stating distinctly the OBJ
iects and nature Of my address. II is the argument Of
a serious man, whose aim Il the pubic good, WIN
serious people. the claims Of public amusement N
general and the thea;er in particular; and this Ggu-
ment is conducted in the presence Of the dramass
profession. and in their behalf My purpose would b
greatly misunderstood If were supposed to be recson-
ing with society in general with men and women o.
the world II is the sober and religious portion Of the
community address. II is their opinions and prsju-
dices controyer shall venture to speak Of the re-
licious community as class not intending TO claim o.
in its keeping; not pretending that all members Of {
share its characteristic opinions and preudees; but
with the assumption that it characteristic opinions
in regard to amusements and the theatre which need
investigation.
Into this argument with the religious class propose
to weave criticism of the stage and such hints to the
dramatic profession, my poor wisdom can suggest
Having then the double object to accomplish, of ad-
dressing serious people in the presence Of actors ana
actors in the presence of serious people shall doubt
less sometimes say what is pertinent only to one o.
| these classes without always intimatng which It is
must beg the audience 10 keep the difficulty Of my
task in mind while throw myself their discrinna-
ton, indulgence, and patience.
shall be little dull at the start but boldly promise
to grow more interesting as proceed.
begin then, with asserting that there Is nothing
essentially wrong in the stage, in the players voca-
ton: nothing which should necessarily place the thea
ter under the ban of the church. or the dramatic pro-
esson aside from other honest calings or which de-
mands their suppression radically injurious and un-
christian.
In saving thus much say what thousands of sei-
Gus and thoughtful Christians, both teachers and dis
cipcs, in short what the class particularly address.
will utterly repudiate. The stage with them. IA tho
most essentially wrong of all institutions because u
amusement and all public amusements-not to say
amusement in general-fall under their sincere and
earnest suspicion and Christian jealousy; how much
then, the theaterl
1t is then with the defense of amusement prin-
cple that the defense of the stage must begin il the
Glars arguing with is to be reached. IL amnse-
ment be wrong in principle; if to forget care. duty.
DEATH the future for any hour OF the day. be danger
cuff not to be unineTuptedly engaged IN contem
and
of life il culpable and offensive TO Christiantyis fun
iroic, laughter jest, humor wit, the excitement OF
social intercourse and the indulgence OF the lighter and
gayer tastes of human nature have no legmae times
and places, and no important and indispensable oices
them of course, it is useless to talk Of defending the
most amusing of all Gmusements. But now stand
here to maintain and to show that amusement Is noe
only privilege but duty indispensable TO health OF
body and mind and essential even To the best de-
velopment of religion itself For what it IL s tho
play of nature, when temporarily released from
toll and anxiety. its very essence is absence OF PAIN
full effort and serious thought, absorption In the pres-
ent TO the forgetfuness of the past and the future
Nothing amuses which does not make a man forget
himself by calling into controlling activity pleasursbo
thoughts and emotions. Now life rs essentially tolng
and anxious II is made 10 by outward circumstances
and inward constitution. Ii is our glory that we aro
made TO work and to think anxiously and sobery Tho
burden which nature puts upon our shoulders IN CALI
ing into world that does not spontaneously pro-
duce IL fruits, and into crowded and compehtory 80.
ceiy il that presses into action the energies and
what is this burden compared with that which God has
laid upon in rational and moral nature, in our
appetite for knowledge love Of power sense OF night.
fear Of death hope OF heaven The vast stimulus
which our ply sic al and moral wants, our bodily and
mental passions give to nature makes ie To most
men, toiliul, anxious, serious and sad Ana TINS
what lie must be and ought to be. This Is whaf
Christianity labors to make it, For, by'cearing up tho
duties and obligations Of humanity placing new aud
graver hopes aud fears before it, calling man to q
higher and more difficult ain it multiple. the labor
think more feel more deeply. work harder, IN view OF
hi- new obligation 10 God and 10 men. And In this
cgrnest work and deep emotion, and wider sympathy,
h. finds the real dignity and glory OF his being. lie
WHO deer not work think feel is degraded Pst aud
miserable soul The man. the rule and order Of whose
life il not work. anxiety, seriousness, IL poor crea-
tue his way TO nonentlty or, worse 10 moral rum
and future misery.
Now, the true question is, how shall humanity DO
most work support most anxiety, have the most gem
une seriousness Experience has taught US that
neither body nor mind stand unbrokep straln
and we are learning by degrees that the conscience W.T.
and aspirations require sleep and rest ~ much as IN
telect and muscle The Creator has accordingly en-
bowed us with various faculties, tastes and sen.oi-
ties which have spontaneous activity, whose OBJECT
seems 10 be chiefly to delight and amise indie
pendently Of their more serious uses he has indeed
attached pleasure 10 the exercise Of all our iacueS
but some Of them 10 have for their manifest cru
pleasure to ourselves others. Laughter me IRE
ristble propensity Of youth Is we KNOW Pnysio.ose
ay euipently conducive to the health Of the bo0y
which il exereises in pOten. and useful manner Snd,
| unquestionsby humor, which II the inner sac OF
LAUGHTER is equally important to health OF mind eaf
.,use OF the beautiful, the ridiculous, The witty on
taste for music flowers, spectacle our enloymsn
food A,eety motion our love Of sport OF the beio 5,
~ Games an these able evidently bs
mi,sisr nav several Offices; rst and chiefly. Per.
| haps 10 confer positive and unspsaksoie s9m OIL