The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-12
POpULAR AMUSEMENTS.
A Clerical Defense of the Theatre aud
Opera

Rev. Robert Laird Collier, pastor of the
Church OF the Messiah (Unitarian), delivered
last night what might be called "ssnsational''
sermon Oh the subject:--"The Theatre, the
Opera, and the Church, or, the Relations Of
the Church to Popular Amusement" He au-
nounced his text to be in FIRST Corinthians,
seventh chapter and thirty-irst verse, "Uss
this world as not abusing it, aud proceeded to
take the ground, which probably has never
before been assumed in the Chicago pulpit,
that the drama and the opera are harmless
and proper amusements for Christians as well
as for others: the reverend speaker, IL is well
Z known, is himself occasional visitor to the
higher places of dramatic amusement.
After first referring to the fact that the
theatre is generally denounced by the evan
gelical seCts-although they did not, he
claimed, show why they were sinful-and
then dwelling upon the premise that the
American people are Overworked aud need
more amusement, the speaker proceeded to
speak of the drama and the opera. The fol-
lowing are extracts from his remarks:-
/ recognize a s universal in the race the
dramatic instinct. have traced in this pull
pit, the entire history, in brief, in summary,
of The origin and history of the drama There
is no need of that tonight. The drama is as
ancient as the race Furthermore much of
the biblical literature, in its spirit and in its
form, is dramatic. am not quite sure but
that the very first chapters in Genesis are
dramatic; that Ruth is; that Esther ia
y dramatic. Shakespeare, the peerless poet
of centuries, had no fun )tion in the world aud
no name left to history, had it not been for
the dramatic instinct and aptitude. So with
Milton. The grandest poets that God has given
to the world have been its dramatic poets.
And, furthermore, human character has its
highest representations in the drama. l con-
fess that never saw such power; | never re-
marked such nature in any Christian pulpit
that it was ever my privilege to sit under as in
Joseph JettersOn's "Trip Vau Winke." 1t is
nature, not art. So simple; SO true; 80 beau
tful; so moral. No sermon scarcely written
in the world, except that of Christ, when
He stood with the adulterous woman, ever
illustrated the power of love to conquer evil
and to win the wanderer, as that beautiful
little piece, so perfectly rendered by this
genius which God has given to illustrate in
the drama the power of love over the sins of
the race. wonder who among the Ministe-
rial Union ever saw Jefferson in rip Van
WinkleP Let us give to these friends the
advantage OF our Judgment of their igno-
rance. RistOii, Rachel, Booth Murdoch, spe-
cially Davenport and Jefferson, are all Gods
gifts to man. So | say that the legitimate
drama is to be endorsed. 1t is an educator.
II is in no wise to be apologized for.
And in regard to the opera, | need only,
think, say that, SO far as the legitimate opera
is concerned, any one who objects to it, on
mOTdl RIOuuuS, HuSL 6lLu6T U6 lRuOTduL Oh IL
i think, for the most part, that those who
object to the opera are-or there certainly
must be a moral weakness in the nature of
such objectOrs. To say that the opera is cor
rupting is to say the most irrational and fool
ish thing that the human lips are capable OF.
say that man must be ignorant OF what the
opera is must have been wholly without
the knowledge of it, or else brought to
its hearing a lasoivious nature to begin
with. / admit that very many excel
lent persons do not enjoy the opera.
Not only excellent people morally, but
cultivated people intellectually, do not enjoy
the opera. Many of our finest minds go to
the opera and come away, feeling it was
waste of time and we who can enjoy it in any
wise, be it ever so little, ought to feel pro.
found sorrow for such people, because they
do not know the infinite delights and joys of
which, by their lack of musical culture, they
are deprived. But Fit is their duty simply
to say they do not like it. 1t is a sorry reli-
gion that rejects it on the sour grape principle;
because they cannot they won't let anybody
else. The music of the opera is the principal
thing with people that attend The score is
nothing, with many it is absolutely nothing, if
they Can catch the passion OF the music. Aud
as to the dress in the drama and in the opera,
let me say, once for all, that all dressing is
conventional. If it had the sanction of long
usage, the dress of the EXTREMIST dancer
would in no wise be considered indecent; or
If the gown had been the fashion for men, the
present attire would be considered vulgar.
And then we are not to confound the incidental
with the fundamental This is incidental,
and do always feel myself that the manage
ment of our theatres and operas mean to
catch the low and vulgar by this dancing of
women, for whose moral character have not
word of endorsement, as | have no sort Of
personal fellowship and no respect for them
who, if you take the conventional opinion of
men and women who consent to it, are not fit
companions for our sons and daughters. But
let me relate what the gentlemanly manager OF
Woods Museum said to me within the past
six months:-'Sir, never bring piece upon
my stage that / do not use my pencil very
freely upon" Speaking of the depraving
tendency and the downward tendency OF
tragedy and comedy, he said, 81 could not
bring upon my stage single piece that was
played before the elite of London fifty and
sixty years ago. / could not bring to my
place an audience that would not hiss it OF
the stage" and tell you furthermore, what
you may always remark, that whatever is pro
per- and high and elevating, wherever there il
moral sentiment that is lofty and noble, il
uniformly receives the approval of the
audience; and it has not been my misfor
tune to he in a theatre for several years pas
where anything low and mean and depravina
was not hissed. OF course attended only tbs
better sort. then wish to say that the music
of the opera would be lost to the world, as j
| could take no other possible form. 1t elevate
and refnes the taste and spirit. really dom
know but that it would be avery sensibl,
thing if our congregations would make it I
stipulation, when they engage their ministers
that they would accept season ticket once
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