The New York herald., 1874-11-23
Praise for the Stage from q Brooklyn
Divine.

Rev. DR.. S. Miller Hageman lectured last even
ing belore crowded audience, IN Union Taber.
nacle, Brooklyn, E. D., on the "Questton OF
Theatres" The reverend speaker himself Is an
admirable actor, although he declared tnat 1t was
the saddest story Of his life that he had never had
the pleasure OF hearing Edwin Booth.
After the usual opening exercises DR.. Hageman
said when public bodies are to be addressed,
when certain measures are to be taken or duties
to be performed 1t becomes a matter of great
care, shrewd diplomacy and wise acting to make
our words carry weight. But sometimes in
the whirwind of eloquence which not sell
dom sweeps over our country and our homes
there is literal sirocco, wholesale
gloating over some injudlcious attack. un-
chartaby made upon the undeservng; but II is
only like the sh.sn-sl-ock OF whirlng rocket
winch first ascends to It's expended height and
then bursts in thousand harmless fragments.
But it must be remembered that arguments are
founded on reason. reason on persuasion, per-
suasion on faith, faith on eternal love. have
been asked during the past week to speak on this
subject which Is agltating the public mind, and
surely II any regard should be PAID to any one It
is to the minister OF God. | am not here to seek
popularity, out TO respond 10 duty namely, to
administer assound. judlcious opinion on this
question. Here the speaker referred and paid u
glowlng tribute to the plays ana dramas OF an
cent Greece and Rome, showing aG the same
time their advances IN the arena OF knowledge
ana learning. The tree is known by Its lrult.
We cannot say the tree Is known by it's lruIt or
not at all. Christ did not put away the woman
VINO touched tile hem OF ms garment, neither did
lie drive the weeping Magdalene rom HIS feet.
SO aiso say the good drama Is good and
THE BAD DRAMA CAN BE MADE GOOD.
Any first class dramatlst will speak against the
illegtlmate drama, but II is an outrage to put
down anything tnat has in 1t the purity OF high
M ae @na the us sctSTs STu musa ssa be ns ue ana
any man who charges a good actor
Mn ars apa aens and vo pc pus
nobest qualities winch God mas stamped upon the
soul Of III IN. Put down art ana genius ana you
STRIKE on the names OF Dante and shakespeare
anu Michael Angelo and Edwln Booth and Cnar-
lotte Cusnman, and Davenport and Waack and
Garrick. THESE men and women elevated the
drama and, IN tner acting. gave to IL a divine In
spiration which could not aIl to work good npon
toe souls OF all VINO heard tnem Make the Tree
good and 1t Is good. Here the lecturer defined the
word .tneatre" from Greek word, which signifies
show. The arch OF heaven was grand theatre on
which was shown the acting OF the creations OF
God. and heaven itseli was an amph.heatre
where the
ANGELS PLAYED THEIR PARTS
around The throne o1 the OmnpOtenf. DO away
with this inspiring word and wnere is heaven,
where Is earth, where Is human lie, where the
passions ot meE? He then defined Tile drama as
representation action OF a snow or play. IL Is
old Christianity. EscnyIus elaborated IL, so
also did Ihespis and Euripldes. IL Is not so bad
ior an actor 10 play the part of Du.ioon rs 1t s
Tor Christian minister. clog dancer Ia good
enough, and he mas more principle than such
minister.
Tne drama is q divine institution, and the inner
part oi u IL as the rising OF the curtain OF ciea-
ton, as Moses on Mount SINAI, us Abraham and
Isaac about to complete the divine mandate, as
CHRIST himseli-the most sublime actor that mas
shared human life. Who made you dramatI,, {,
or an actor God. just as long, therefore, as 1t
does not tend 10 disgrace the attributes of talent
and genius winch ne gave you, 1t IS divine lnstt.
tuiiUn. Clog dancing on a stage IS not theatre.
grog snop ~ not a theatre; 1t Is a he'll. These
things tend
no LOWER, NOT TO ELEVATE GENIUS.
But the drama. All there ls exhibited the most
mastery e0quence--tnere Is where the pDiosO.
pner and orator ought to 90. declare, and
confess IT, 1t IS the saadest story oi my lie that
couid not 20 To hear EDWIN Booth. what sUro Oi
speakers nave we III the pulpitf why, when
can only smile, and say, sarcastlcay, "ne IS an A
No. /. But he Is really an abcdarlan. Edwin
Booth and Garrck should thrill from head 10 loot
themselves before they could make their audience
feel You know wnat feeling 10. Ministers ran