The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-29
REV. DR.. BELLOWS ON the DRAMA
Great Muster Of Actors, Actresses and
Managers.


"The Relation Of Pubic Amusements with Public Aora-
ty, at the Academy Of Music last evening Tie audience
was not so numerous had been expected, and est
mate Of fifteen hundred persons in attendance 10 liberal
Among this audience observed many of best known
| cuzens The stage chiefly occupied by persons
nected with the theatres We noticed Mr.. wsllack Mr.
Stewart, the lessee Of wsllack's theatre, Mr. Blake Mr.
Thomas Pacide, Miss laura Keepe, Mr.. and Mrs. w. J.
| Florence, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Charles Howard, Mrs. John
Buckand, and many other wen known actors and act
resses and managers. t... Dad.
Nr. James T. Brady, the President Of the Dramatic
Fund Association, presided and introduced the Rev. Dr.
| Bellows, who proceeded to address the audience
The address, which occupied two hours in it, delivery,
listened 10 with profound attention, only broken by
frequent bursts Of applause At iss close the reverend
gentleman received hsart,sst congratulations and
thanks from persons for whose especial benefit
| delivered.
The following is the
ADDRESS or rHE REV. DIR. BELLOWS.
As am about to ask the attention of promscuous
deDce 10 long DISCOURSE must at the outset guard you
from disappointment, by stating distinctly the objects and
nature Of my address. II Is the argument VI serious
man whose aim the public good, with serious people
the claims OF public Amusement in general and the theatre
in particular and this argument s conducted the
presence Of the dramatic profession and In their behalf
NY purpose would be greatly misunderstood IL were
supposed 70 be reasoning with society general or with
men and women OF the world Is the sober and rel-
gious portion of the community address II Is their OPT
| Mons and prejudces controvert ! shall TO
speak Of the religious community a class; not intending
10 claim admit that AL the pety and scrupuosty Of
eiey in It's keeping not pretending that all members Of
IL share It's characteristics opinions aud prejudicss but
with the assumption that has characteristic opinions
regard % amusemens and the theatre which need invest
| CATION
Into this argument with the religious class propose
to weave criticism Of the STAGE and such hints N the
dramatic profession as my poor wisdom can suggest.
Having them the double object to accomplish of address
ing serious people in the of actors and actors in
the presence Of serious people shall doubtless sometimes
what is pertinent only % Of these classes without
always iDtima,ng which Is. mus. beg the audience
keep the difficulty Of my task in mind, while throw my
self on their discrimination Indulgence and patience.
shall be little dull at the start, but boldly promise to
| grow interesting as proceed.
begin. then with asserting that there IL nothing essen
tally wrong in the stage in the players VOCATION moth
ing which should necessarily place the theatre under tho
ban OF the church. the dramatic profession aside from
other honest eangs; or which demands their suppression
| n radically injurious and unchrisian.
In saying thus much, say what thousands OF serious
and thoughtful christians, both teachers and dscplesn
short what the class particularly addressw III utterly
pudis,e The stage With them is the most essentially
Of all Institutions because is the most attractive,
dazzling and complete Of public anusements and all pub
lie aInusemcnts-not TO say amusement In genaralsll
under their and suspicion and christian
| jealousy. How much, then the theatre2
1t is d. with tho defence Of amusement the princi
pc that the defence OF the stage begin II the class
arguing with IN % be reached. Ii amusement 10
wrong in the principle If 20 forget care, duty, death,
the future, for any hour Of the day, be dangerous
If not 20 DO unnterTuptdly engaged in contemplating
and advancing the moral and serious interests Of lie, Is
cuiIabs and offensive to Christanty-if fun, froic,
1
and the indulgence OF the lighter and gayer
Of human nature have legitimate times aud places, and
no important and indispensable Offices them Of course
Is useless 80 talk Of defending the most amusing OF all
amusements But now STAND here 20 maintain and TO
show that amusement Is not only privilege but duty
dspenssbe "a health Of body and mind aud essential
oe best developement Of religion Itself For what
10 i IL is the play Of nature when temporarily
ceased from toll and anxiety IT. very essence is absence
OF painful effort sndJ serious thought absorption In the
Present. to the forgeuunes Of The past and the future
Nothing which does make a forget him
self. by calling into controlling activity plessurablo
thoughts and emotions. Now, life is essentially tohng
and ANXIOUS II Is made so by outward circumstances
| and inward CONSTITUTION. II IL glory that
made ~ work and b think RnTousy and soberly. The
burden which nature puts upon shoulders In calling
world does spontaneously produce ia fruits,
and crowded and oonpettory society, s one that
presses tho energies and faculties Of body and
soul as nothing else could But what Is this burden,
pared with that which God has laid upon us In
| roual and moral nature, in our appetite for know
ledge, love Of power OF righgt fear on death,
| hope of besvenf lie vast stimulus which our ply
steal and moral want, our bodily and mental pas
s,ons give b. nature makes life b. toful,
anxious serious and sad And this Is what life must be and
olgbt he This Is what Christianity abors 20 make IT,
For by clearing up tie duties and obligations of humanity,
placing and grsvtr hopes and fears before IT, calling
man 70 a higher and difficult aim, mulupies tho
labor the anxiety, the rousnsss and sadness Of e He
must think more feel deeply, work harder In view
at his new Obligation 20 God and 10 men. And In this
earnest work, and deer earuon ana WIDER symIaty, he
finds The rcal dignity and glory OF bis being lie who
does no, work think, fool is degraded lost and rnsera
bic soul. The man, The rule and order Of whose hfe Is
moi work, anxiety, sorouneSs II poor creature on hs
way " noDentty, N wone " moral ruin aud future MI
sery.
work support most anxiety, have tho genuine
rousnes2 Experience has taught that neither body
nor mind can stand an unbrosen strain are Iearr-
ing by degree a' the conscience will and aspirations
require El,sp and ret much intellect and muscle
The Creator has accordingly endowed us with various
faculties, and asrhllues which have spontaneous
activity whose object 10 be chiefly 10 delight aud
Independently Of their more serious usos be has
indeed attached pesure u the exercise Of all facul
ues: but some OF them have for their manifest
end pleasure 70 ourselves or oher Laughter the ire
sble propensity q youth is, we know physclog cny,
er.nenty coadpcive health o. body which Il
IN Itsnt and universal manner; and, unqucsora
bly, huinor which T. the inner side of laughter Is equally
important "a health VI rnnd Our sense OF the beautiful the
ridiculous, the witty; taste Tor music, flowers, sTcca-
Gle; enjoyment of food, society, nclon; our love
q sport Of 1o fields, Of games ali these ineradclhe
txcs evidently have mission, nay, several Offices tryt
ana chiefly, psrhaps, 10 confer positive and uuspoak
| able sum 81 pleasure, substantial bcnefactc a
Providence which would be tmpicty not 70 recognize
and gratefully but ssoondy, 60 qualify, correct aud
irurrove IN orrioa and product Of the more cold and
yutar an fanciors a tufaaty but thirdly o. rst cheer
ami nvgofa's mind and heart that may abun-
dainty and successfully rursue the toll aud boar the anxc
To- ~ LIE, and ACHIEVE IT, moral and spiritual ends.
Thus 90 WORK bot. NUT play due portion q the
tfno: % bear heaviest burdens, he have he
be must %, think Coz epsaily When The tie world on
any plea q yudeoo~ wisdom. conscence has
lacked these rriprple religion aud morality have srfer
Cd In former times norasteres and nunneries caves
srd parS he'd ths yars fanatics and ulrass, the idiots
Hio nyTpcr'ts win,u SoeAVu ns'ere 10y. ruW 70,
ylauD and hos lia-s shelter The victims furnished
or their cells ~ o-e hesdong sriety and mad -srne
| nes a bssneSs, shioh knows no pleasure, or, a
| .fudy vhich ALLOWS NJ c<-xs;ion, az coz
s1ionos end sosy Witch fro-p smIsemcei; while os
morbid morality, ts thin ssAdon, the taund,eed sao.os
TIE wre,ch~d dysT~sia Tho wreck and defeat q BODY
oud eoul which community deficient In outdoor or's,
genial society iegnse rety exhibits " the Thought
fol eye Il hardly ies ssdas1ns tf de ho pisal % usd
Anuseusai lhon, Il po. merely tesensible. The
want y " csi4aty snd ~ hsry 70 me ,oosT s sod
resseddd they know eir duty aud policy LIN seeing
.se COMMUNITY r-op~iy amused, than 'he crsso.,cd