New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29
Comparative Morality.


water. by the guardians of the pab!!e
health Washington Chronicle.
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Comparative .MOralitys
Some censorious journals. and among
them q number MT taking special 1nteres:
in dramatic art. have been making severe
structures upon the action OF IS portion OF
the clergy in Philadelphia in regard TO
deceased actor. Julius constants Fink &c
Gently died at his parents residence III
Philadelphia, twenty three years old. Ns
was for some time a member OF the com.
pany OF the Chestnut Street Theatre, Phila.
delphia, under MIR. f. l.. Davenport. and 81
late was connected with Albaugh's Opera
House in Albany, New York. where he was
taken ill. No less than seven m. ,nbers Or
the clergy were successfully asked ~ bury
him, but all refused. and his friends wouiI
have been compelled TO lay his body in the
ground without religious ceremony had noe
the Rev. Samuel Durborrow. of the Epis
copal Church, came forward ana performed
the rites. A great deal OF Indignation
has been expressed at the action OF
the seven who refused. and it has
been attempted to make invidious COM
parisOn, SUIT to our mind proper con.
sideratiOn is not shown for the motives
of these clergynen. That they should req
fuse to give cOuntenanGe to a profession
deemed irreligious in its character and per.
AlClOuS III It's tuecI6s even ny 80 Iucu DIS -
hold funeral services over one Of its mem.
ber., is doubtless perfectly consistent with
their conscientious opinions upon the sub.
ject. They doubtless find plenty OF preces
dent for such action and opinion. The doc.
trine OF the Church in the middle ages on
this subject was positive and explicit. The
theatre was uneQuvocally condemned, and
all professional actors were declared to b0
in . condition Of mortal sin. The canon
law in France distinctly pronounced THAI
actors were. by their very employment.
necessarily communicated. Rites OF burias
were refused them, and in France. at ono
time, the clergy were oven forbidden to
marry them, every means being adopted to
make the profession an. Infamous one
and make it worthy of all the censnfe d..
rected against it. Adrienne Lecouvreur, tho
brightest ornament Of the French stage, was
refused burial in consecrated ground, and
was inferred in a field for cattle ON tho
banks of the Seine. Some persons may con.
slider that amends were made tor this igno.
miny laid on her by the clergy by the in.
dignant and eloquent ode of Voltare which
has consecrated her memory in the hearts
of the French people. In this severity the
clergy only followed the views of many OF
the early writer's of Christianity, among
whom Tertullian attacked the theatre with
great wrath, arguing that the Almighty can
never pardon an actor who, in defiance OF
high heeled boots to add cubit 70 his
stature, makes his hair white or black as
suits his purpose and habitually talsities
his face.
But, on the other hand, It appears .ha:
even in these early days there was not an
entire unanimity on the subject, for st.
Thomas Abuinias, in a passage that excited
fierce controversy in the seventeenth cen.
fury. declared that the profession OF an
actor was not necessarily sinful, because
recreation was necessary to mankind. and
also because sit had been revealed 70 the
blessed Paphutius that clown was to bs
his companion in heaven" Even during
the time when IN France the dramatic pro.
fesslOn was made infamous, the theatre had
q measure of liberation in Spain. although
Operatlc performances were prescribed, ceI>
tain theologians having attributed season
of drought and pestllence to their influence
On the whole, however. the weight Of
severe, although if the Influence OF modern
progress ON theological opinion IN those
countries where fiercest moderation for.
merly existed should be considered. the
fact might be adduced that when Rome
was under the Papal government. on tho
opening night of the leading theatre. the
Cardinal Governor Of Rome would be pres.
sanction with his presence the productions
of q refined and elevating art.
Something which the actors take particife
lar exception TO. and for which they will
doubtless obtain much sympathy. is the
comparative ignominy heaped upon them
a. regards the other wicked classes Of mem
The great abundance Of clerical attention,
consolation and sympathy which murder.
ers, ravishers or other condemned criminals
enjoy lie q matter Of frequent remark. Close
intercourse with such characters seems
often to inspire great consideration and
even esteem for their quickness of intelli.
gence and emotional capacity. In the case
of q cOld-blOOded murderer, hung in this
city not q great while ago. it was remarked
that he wsuld have made a good exhorteS
had he lived Members OF the dramatic
profession find great difficulty in under.
standing how some c!eEgymen can strain at
an actor and swallow criminal with gustos
1t is probably due to this Jealousy and mia.
understanding that exists between the tive
professions that there are such acEimo.
NOUS controversies between stage ar,:
pulpit at times. Thus !. was that Mr.. Chan
frau was led into his absurd ottev t" wager
sum OF money that there was relatively
more great criminals produced from among
the ranks OF the clergy than from the ORA.
matic profession: and probably. similar
pique led Mr.. Davenport to make b reply
from the stage OF the Brooklyn Theatre to
the recent denunciation OF the the.trica;
profession by the Rev. Mr.. Taimagc. The
generous appreciation Of the capabilities
for good in tho drama displayed Nv many
OF the New York ciergyinen in expressing
their views upon Sunday amust ments
should however. assuage some Of the Bit
terness engendered BY the action of others
Of the clergy: and as regards tho igneminy
OF any profession. we tclow-sinners WOULD
do we'll to semember the noble precept:
'Act we'll your part-there all the honor lies.s
If the Master of the play gives His a,,s
prevail, it matters little how the cas.-ofs
yesture OF mortality may fare.-Raitimsss
American.