Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-11-13
nOVEMEATs OF THE r.


.sLET IT BE GRANTED.'-This is the cap
ton of a weIl-meaning but wrongly con-
strued article in yesterdays Pdfriot, about
which an immense misunderstanding has
brokenOut between several of our readers aud
ourselves We intend to explain the thing
away so handsomely that everybody will &c
satisfied that there wasn't the least cause for
the slightest misunderstanding in the case.
In the first place, it is charged that in the
article in question We drew an impious paTal-
lei between the church and theatre, bringing
out the theatre ahead of the church by at
east half length. We did Mt do anything
Of the sort We simply said. or meant to be
understood as saying, that many people went
to church when they had much better HAYES
gone to the theatre instead; not by any
means that we regarded the theatre as bet
ter place than the church, but simply ne
cause there Is infinitely more harm in going
to church merely to see and be seen, than in
going to the theatre for the same purpose
We never enter house devoted to the wOr-
ship Of the Almighty without feeling OF
awe and reverence. and we have always
thought, and shall probably always think,
that church manners at the theatre are far
less Objectionable than theatre manners at
church. In short, unless We 80 to church
with proper motives and conduct ourselves
in = becoming manner while there, it is per-
baps better for us in the end if we stay at
hCme-or go to the theatre Instead. 1t would
Mt surprise Us much If there are at least
dozen preachers in Nashville who will tell
you the same thing. Then, where's the harm
IN limiting at il as we did yesterday?
In the second place We are charged, (not
before the Recorders Court. you know, but
in friendly sort of way privately,] with
having spoken sneeringly of ministers of the
Gospel, Sunday School teachers, and others
no have taken It uP0l de1aselres to teach by
precept and example the way to holiness"
This count OF The indictment We deny more
emphatic4liy than the first. Nobody can en-
tcrtain higher respect for the ministry, for
Sunday School teachers. and for all who are
engaged il the same sacred cause, than we
do, and we would be the last to speak Of them
disrespectfulIy. We certainly had no inten-
having .-takeu it upon themselves TO teach |
the way 10 holiness; TO which passage OBJ |
Isctious have been made-wby, we are not |
quite sure that we clearly understand eve |
wish somebody whose feelings have been |
touched would write an article for the Patriot !
and tell US all about it, We said that it is |
well enough for ministers and Sunday School |
teachers to stay away from the theatre If
there is anything wrong in that, we will |
cheerfully withdraw the remark. But We |
would rather not. We really think they have
no business at such places
In the third and last place, we are charged |
with coming down upon ministers of the |
Gospel indiseriminateIy for saying hard
things IN the pulpit about ether denomina-
tons This charge is also unjust to Us. Here
is what We said read it again and see If there
is anything particularly wrong aboHt it:
ave have sometimes thought, while listeu-
ing to tine hard, uncharItable things the
minister Of one denomination too ire
uuenJiy utters against the creed OF aBOth-
er. th.I there Is much less sin III listening To
the representative OF MACBETH cry from the
stage,