, 1874-05-03

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Tho following are excerpts from sermon On
the Drama preached at the University Baptist
Church last Sunday, and reported In THn Tnn-
usE OF the day following:
It il m tmbectle indulgence IN unhealthy excite
.ncnt, q sensual qualification
There il no system Of morality that the stage has
not vhed and brought Into public contempt. It pro-
fancs the relation Of the violates ercry redn-
ed sentiment Of womanhood 1t perTerts every pzan-
clnls Of manhood.
It seems to please at the expense Of virtue and reu
cion and 70 is destructive to and dshono1ing to
God.
Instead of refining tho manners and improving ths
there Is no vice TINT has not at time other
sprung from the theatre. For play to be popular 1t
must nppea grosaeE natute and deg1ada and
not elevate.
Then Satan has got you sure, ho has 10 gflded the
house of deash that you think to be the gate Of fc
The moral reputation Of actors lower than that Of
xuy other clans Of equal ta1ents. No man would be
willing to marry actreaa II he wanted yirtuous
Wife He would not wish actor to viat his family
and associate With hts children
Is influence il evil, since it In neceata1y and un-
avoidahle lznperfecttou III work Of art.
Tho best actors the world ever saw cannot copy
human life accurately enough to give single lesson in
human nature. No man can feIgn fealtngs especially
high ana QoD4e 1e&uu&ey SUCCESSFULLY AAo ~ AJFo-
critic II be does. He who feigns : virtue commits
vice. AL artificial demonstrations Of gref and tears,
and woe Of envy. malice, and revenge, are simply
Internal: and how much better Il he who stimulates
joy and gladness7
Acting In itsef IL contrary to nature. he who sets
Ike vi1tuous man and Is not one IL doupty Vicious
1t would seem that series Of intemperato,
unjust, and unteuab1e comments upon any art
or profession, like those upon the drama quoted
above, were unworthy Of notice; but the pecu"
liar circumstances under which they we're utter
ed, the sanctity OF the place, the reverence
investing the speaker by reason OF his Office, and
their subsequent repetition In the news
paper, have gwen them An authority aud
publicity which entitle them to some atten-
ton. Tho Chicago pulpit has exhibited! in nota-
bic instances, painful spectacle during the
past few months. It has been the arena OF bitter
and unhalloved strife and dissension upon the
illogical and moral points. So loud and angry
have its controversies swe1led, that it has come
nigh being scof and by-word among irrev-
erent and ungodly spectators. Devout and
thoughtful men deeply dep1ore such proceed
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passions are let loose and human tni1mi-
ties exposed. It is most lamentable when
tho display Ia made among church-members and
their pastors. The coneervators Of tho public
| good are guarded in their censure Of the shep-
herds Of Chrjsts fold under the feeling that when
! they who stand before the world as patterns OF
virtue are convicted OF wrong in word or deed. a
double ofense ia committed, and tho effect On
mankind is proportiouately demora1izing- How
carefully, then, 1t behooves these Christian Am
bassadora to exhibit in their lives and doctrines
the divine qualities OF the Master whose gospel
Of love aud mercy they preach, SO that, when
the people 20 up to them for instruction
for guidance, for example, they receive mol
h stone in place OF bread: 1essons in bigotry
ignorance, prejudice, and false witness, instead
Of training in nberality, justice, truth, Ant
charity.
| II the conscience Of : clergyman and th.
canons Of his Church forbid the members Of hi,
flock N indulgence In certain kinds Of auu1e
ment, the theatre or the opera, for instance,-
1t is his right. nay, his duty, wisely. plainly
kindly, to instruct them 50; and Il, in any CASE
III psphlhitAd plAkaurs b. pstssa.sa n, to rssoz