The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-02

tibiN W uNitNtlN NNit
30 repugpant to deconcy and humanity, as
to deserve aud receive the condemnation
Of the civilized world.
Yet the early fathers, deslrous Of max
ing the drama useful, and not regarding II
essentially corrupt" wrote plays them |
selves for public representation.
GRBGoRY NANzRANzgN, who was q bish-
op Of ConstantinOple In the latter part of
the fourth century, wrote aud introduced |
plays, one of which IL still extant.
ApPoLLINARIs, bishop of Laodicea, wrote |
tragedies after the style OF EuRIPIDEs and
comedies Ia imitation of MESANDK.
And TnEopHYLACr, patriarch of Con
stantinople in the tenth century, introduced
histrionic ihrccs, with singing and dancing
into the churches and houses of religious
worship.
In later days mysteries and morallties
were enacted, and were mode Of divine
worship.
But now let MS come down to more mod
cn days; conliuing ourselves To the prac-
tice aud preaching of the Church or Its
ministers. | shall divide this portion into
two parts--in the first, including the pro-
minent diyines who have toritten plays for
the stage; and In the second giving the
lopinions of eminent churchmen upon the
morality of Theaters.
IL is stated In Bakers Biographia Dra-
matica that over 300 English elergymen
have been dramatic authors Be this as it
may, quite number of distinguished
clergymen and christians have written for
the stage.
DIR. YoUNG, author of Night Thoughts,
wrote the tragedies of Revenge, Busiris
and the Brothers the last being acted for
the express purpose Of adding to the fund
for the propagation of the gospel.
Rev. G.. MATURN is the author Of Ber-
tram, Manuel, Osmyn the Renegade, and
q FredOlio.
, Rev. DIR. CRoLY wrote Catiine, and n
comedy entitled Pride Shall Have n Fall.
: Rev. DIR. MIIMAN, author of the history
{ of Christianity wrote Fazio, The Fall OF
( Jerusalem, The Martyr of Antioch, and
r Belshazzar's Feast.
q Rev. DIR. HoME wrote the splendid tragedy
a Iof Douglas. And here let me add a piece
o Iof history in this connection. This magni-
= fcent performance threw Scotland into
f ecstacy. The Thcater was crowded to
Y hear and SEQ it.. The author and many
t of the clergy were present at its first repre-
t sentstion. The Presbyterians, taking fire
I denounced the passion for the stage as "a
] delusion of Satan" The General Assem-
Q bly meeting soon after, the matter was
i lcalled up there. Several of the preachers
made apologies and were let off with rep
: rlmand. Then came up the question as to
s the propriety of visiting the Theater. An
= act was proposed subjecting to ecclesiastical
4 censure all members of the Church, male
4 or female, Idv or clerical who should be
present ut any theatrical exhibition. This
: act tcdS deJedted aud chiefly by the efforts
z of the famous DIR. RoBERTsON; and the ex-
= tent of the action of the General Assembly
. was recommendation to Presbyteries to
take care that none of the ministers attend
:, the thcater.
J, shall now proceed to give the opinions
" of distinguished divines and preachers.
g CRABBK, poet and preacher, in his poem
:. ''the Library" says:
| .rYet virtue OiBns The tragic anSe friend
Fable her meaus--morality hor end.
,fl She makes the vile TO virtue yield applause
u And own her scepIre, while thpy break her laws
Is For VicO in Others in Rbhored NJ all
- And villains triumph when the worthless tall.
DIR. Isaac WATTS, the author of Divine
Hymns thus alludes to the fitness of scrip
!. ltural subjects for dramatic exposition:
'If the triliing and incredible tales that
u furnish out tragedy are SO armed by art
Is and fancy as to become sovereign of the
Irrational powers, to triumph over the affec-
Itions, and manage our smiles and our tears
U at pleasure how wondrous a conquest might
e be obtained over wide world, and reduce
q il Mt least to sobriety, If the same happy
talent were employed in dressing scenes OF
Ireligion in their proper figures of majesty
II sweetness, and tenorp The affairs of this
Il life with reference to life to come would
n shine brightly In dramatic description"
# MARPN LUTHRls says:
n 'In ancient times the dramatic art has been
@ honored by being made subservient to reli-
gion and morality and in the most enlight-
9 ened country of antiquity, In Greece, the
$ theater was supported by the State The
dramatic nature of the dialogues of Plato
has always been Justly celebrated: and from
u this we may conceive the great charm OF
?, dramatic poetry. Action Is the true enioy-
! Inent of fife; nay, life itself. The great
4. truths of mankind are, either from their
VI situation or incapaeity for uncommon eff
forts confined within n narrow circle of
Is operations; Of all dmuSements, therefore,
the thedter is che most profitable for there
:, we see important actions when we can-not
II act importantly ourselves. 1t affords us a
i renovated picture of life, compendium OF
+ whatever is animated and interesting in
q human existence. The susceptible youth
- Ionens his heart To every aloVatpd fnafinv =.