New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-01

Second Baptist Church in st. Louis, the
lecture taking for his subject 'The Church
and Theatre" The audience was email;
the man who lectured was not important;
but the wholesale denunciation Of theatres,
actors and actresses indulged IN by him calls
for word spoken in favor Of the player.
who speaks SO many words for rs when we
need entertainment and amusement. The
Globe spoke Of the orator ''as we'll known
journalist and dramatic reviewer" and be
said Of himself, For twenty years l have
been q dramatic critic, and have had i'll.
innate acquaintance with theatres and
theatrical people," If this we1e 90, the
facs and the place Of the lecture should
have called forth kinder words from the
speaker.
He is reported as saying I'm $he church
we have an epitome of heaven. . heaven in
tho little; in the theatre We have an epitome
of hell, . hell in the little. The one is the
abode Of chastity, the other ,s the haunt OF
the basest immortality" These words are
found in the St. Louis Tines of October "a
We are told also that the Rev. DR.. Bur
bingham, the pastor Of the church. q mum
Der Of the clergy of various denomination
the editors OF religious journale, and few
prominent ''citisens of the outer world"
were present, and that intense interest
manifested itself in hearty appreciation.
1t ia those gentlemen Of the church who
indOrsed and became responsible for the
lecturer, who need reminding that all
churches are not heavens, nor preachers
the artists engaged therein devils. For the
church, tho comparisons suggested between
preacher and player by the Baptist Church
speaker arc most unfortunate. In the sense
in which the word was used, heaven. with
tho speaker. stood for all that 10 good-the
All epitome of heaven. The theatres, and
all managers and actors, are wholly bad
tho theatre has the attributes of hell.
1t must be admitted that plays immoral
IL character have been represented upen
The stage. 1t " sad to observe they have
drawn crowds to SEQ them. The fault il
with the people who demand to 80, in
America what is popular in France. LIT
tho eoPle be reformed, and the reformation
Of .he slsge ia assured. 1t 10 the preachers
wNk tn do this-to make it better and not
to damn il.
b cause Of the Kallochs, the 9}enden
ning'. Beechere, and very many other sler.
gymen who have scandalised the Church
and our land, the actor does not inGiscriul-
inatoly eOndemn the church and all con-
nected with it, and yet HIS provocstioD 10
groat. Tue actor patiently endnres ali
hugs. II the church represents "society."
the so'or u an Outoast, and the preacher
warns ali good people to shun him. He
may bs educated, refined, generous ard
noble at heart, but he 10 IN actor, and not
t. be tolerated when living, and when dead.
his friends are tOld to take bis poor rer aims
to "the little church around the corner"
While tho church can notnbo judged by
its black sheep. the theatff i profession
should not BE- denounced ON account Of H..
mouutebsnks. The good preacher aud the
90 d sotor are we'll enough. ano each IL
the peer Of the other, both in their differ
ent spheles.
A celebrated clergyman of New York
once applied to Mr.. Booth for admission to
his theatre by the back entrance, in order
that he might witness the intelligent per.
formers work from . box, and not be OBJ
served by his parishi"ners. The actor was
naturally indignant, and expresse himself
TO the effect that man sho felt disgraoed
by being in his house would not be vel.
c"med there by him. II was an insult,
for Edwin Booth has ever led .
Llaa,eiess life. He IL strictly tenn
Perate, and his character ~ q man
ia shove reproaeh. Lawr~nce Barr4sssl
too. il man Of temperate = and ed:,. 81 It.
8 ~isl hsbi,s. Joseph 'el :, 2; 80 f,e,
DAvea port and host =, -, are gen. :.
nou In every sen.e. Of th6 ladies Of 1.
profession NO On- has ever ared to breath ;,
y word sgainst Charlotte Cash,nan, Magxiesp
Mitchell or Mrs. Cnnnfrau, ladies who adorn
ofivate iiis and their homes With all srares
and noble virtues. and yet NO good word
rsne for :hsn from the st. Louia pulpit.
L. 10 simpiy unfair W denOunce actors as
. tlnss. There arc good sciOrs and good
preachers, but all are not good. Bigotry is
not Christianity, and the wholssal. denun-
eis' ion Vi one profession by the member Of
sao cher il unohris'iAnlike and in bad taste.