The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-03
EPISCOPAL MINISTERIAL CONFER
ENCE.

The Position OF the Church with Refer
ence to Popular Amusements - The
Antt.Puritan View-InterestinG Essay
and Discussion.
AZ the monthly meeting OF the ministers Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, held yesterday after
noon In the Church of the Incarnation, on Madison
avenue, Rev. DR., Rylance, Of st. Marks church,
read very interesting essay on the Church's re-
lation to popular amusements. He took what,
among Christians, will be considered probably the
unpopular and untheo0gical side OF this question.
He pointed out the inconsistencies OF Christians
and Of ministers. who can den0upce theatres, but
who can applaud and attend balls and parties
and concerts and tableaux given Tor charitable
or benevoient purposes. What right, he asked,
had his priest to say what books he shall
read, what songs he shall sing, what amusements
he shall seek or enjoyS The Church, he o0ntended,
had 90 much right to regulate his diet and clothing
as to decide these matters for him. He pointed
out some OF the advantages OF leaving these things
to be regulated by individual c0nsciences, subject
only to the influences OF Christianity. Many Chris
tians slip secretly into theatres and operas, and
even into negro minstrel entertainments because
of the ban under which the Church places these
things. And thus they lead hypocritcal lives.
There is no just ground, he conceived, to fear
that this liberty Of Christians will lead to ncen.
tl0usness.
MANY THINGS ARE LAWFUL
which are not expedient and, for the sake OF weak
members, the strong ones should forego their in
diyidual liberty and indulgence in these things.
The Doctor did not think that we should con.
slider the Opera, the drama, 30, % given
our Inconsistency by denouncing operas,
but patronlzing concerts; by opposing theatres,
IAdam Bede'' and the "PIckwicK Papers, but we
decry other writings Of the same class and charac-
ter. Because music has been degraded we must
In my own house, bur may not look at his charac-
60 to the theatre, but may go to see tableaux
wants II Is time for conventional Christianity,
the Doctor remarked to adjust itself to the facts In
tins question. II there Is no breach OF Christian
morals here the Church should show more leniency
In dealing with those who patronlze the drama
The essay was deemed all too brief by the
pre- tnren, VINO discussed II at the close of its de,
f Se the the %
manllness displayed in The paper A vote OF thanks
by the meeting was thereupon given TO DR.. Rylance
Tor has admirable paper.
An aged brother, whose prOgenitor was among
the Puritan Fathers and who gave
SKETCH OF PURITAN FAITH
and practice on the question OF amusements re-
theology, Psychology or physiology, how we could
what might be termed the anti-pnrltancal view OF
New Testament, nor indeed In the Old, any word
that can be construed to favor these things. The
public taste py these things He 1.-THE speaker)
understood that Edwin Booths effort to found
and popuiarze reformed theatre here has
brought In there were OF that character which
caused the ancient Romans to abolish theatre
under the patronage Of goddess, that 1t might
at least have the appearance oil the sanction Of
Of the great adversary OF souls, to get us to copy
from the ancients. He thought Mr.. Booths
failure, with his reformed drama, here was owing
places He reierred to Macready, who would not
allow his own family to 60 to the theatre, and
GOOD TESTIMONY AGAINST SUCH PLACES.
He could not see any sense In giving up these
things on the ground OF their sinlulness and pat
ronZlng them Tor benevOlent institutions.
DR.. L. A. WAsHBURNE never touches the question
at all in his public ministry, believing that the
salts ying portion, and then these things may be
lett to the individual conscience, where Paul left
them. Every man must be q law unto himself in
just sat down Is that We must borrow our sent.
ments from the past rather than rom the book
which contains the law and principles OF the Cos
pei on this question. He himself took the opposite
view, and ne liked the manly attitude OF the essay
lst but he thought the Church should attend to
her own proper duty oil making men holy, that
they may become law unto themselves, and 1t
viii be doing noble work. He deprecated
upon the people in this matter 1t produces a
miserable hypocrisy II we want that sort OF
morals or dOuble-faced Christianity test-whetner
one shall dance or not, or whether one snail read
novels or not-then, oil course, we can pracLice
that kind 81 morality. He believed, however, in
the formation OF man in the image OF his Master,
and then we hall need no such rules for him; but,
without this image, all our attempts TO regulate
his amusements will prove that we cannot meet
those questions. He never knew a minister who
tried to do this who did not waste his fire.
Rev. MIR. TOAL, a former chaplain on Black
wells Island. thought that there should be Gmuse
ments for the working Christians In the Church,
and he thought no man needed recreation more
and smallpox, II any man should have a vacation
or q recreation ne shodld. He believed in having
amusements Tor those who work, but he did not
see why those who amuse themselves at home
or among their friends six days out of seven,
or seven DAYS ont Of the week, should have them
This brothers. remarks were lull OF quaint humor,
intensified the more bv his repeated assertions
that ne was in earnest Other brethren also spoke,
and the Conference was one OF the most interest
Ing that has been held Tor long time.