The New York herald., 1874-11-16


the sixth chapter OF st. Lukes Gospel and part Of
the forty-iourth verse" For every tree is known
by his own fruit.n
He said Christ laid down principles and this Is
one OF his greatest. 1t is to judge Of every nsttu
ton, whether IL be good or bad, by its fruits. In
all social moral political questions It is hrst
duty TO inquire what are Its fruits; are they good
or badf On the previous Sunday, IN reference to
question which had repeatedly been asked him by
members ol his congregation as to whether tt is
right to patronize the American stage It now is
ne had lelt It duty to bring this subject before
his congregation. A tree may have long roots
and stout branches, but the real question ls what
are it's frmtsf He remembered In his father's
orchard tree which had . hollow trunk, but
which bore luxurious frutr. You could get inside
the trunk, but the question was whether you
could get better idea OF the tree from the inside
or the outside. He contended, therefore, that
those who are inside the theatrical profession
are the less competent to judge OF
the irult Of the tree. Every dlnerence must hs
made between the drama and theatres. Every
dialogue Is drama. Solomon's song
is drama. The parsbles are dramas
Scott, Addison and Shakespeare are not answer
able as dramatsts for the stage as 1t is. He said,
love the drama. and were you to blot out the
drama you would destroy
WHOLE CONSULTATIONS OF PURITY.
But the modern drama was like the man alluded
TO In Scripture, who fell among thieves who left
MIN halt dead. He had spoken In the previous
sermon OF the average American STAGE oftts evil
erects upon employees which he had heard from
men who knew; Of Its evi adjuncts, showing that
pure plays and surroundings cannot get on and
that liquor bars and sensuality are necessary to
theatrical success. He mad also spoken OF the
character of the people who went to theatres, and
Ao1 u
yards who indicate the existence Of q carcass;
and had also shown that 1t was the
AVENUE TO DESTRUCTION.
as attested by credible witnesses who reported
that three-fourths OF those who committed crime
themselves attributed their downfall from the
right path to the influence Of the stage. He now,
as nth reason against It. said that good and
wise men OF all ages have objected Ut. The sages
Of Greece and Rome did so IS well as the purest
and best Christians. Some might say 1t was use.
less to talk OF Plato and Socrates, Of Washington
and Franklin, but even these might respect Chris
tian fathers and mothers. Those who are real
Christians and can have no bad motives will In
variably warn their children against it. 1t Is
claimed that the stage has no chance OF vindicat-
ing itself. How can thai be said OF profession
which has in Its possession every rascln alton to
which art, music, painting, poetry and eioquence
can contribute. The Christian world was asked
its verdictgulty Or NOT guilty. and 1t SAID guilty.
Among millions OF men and women OF eminent
pie;y no one ikes me tnesre and those VINO are
Its belongings. Charlotte Cushman was no doubt
pure and noble woman. Her Meg Merrilies was
upon the stage was that which she mad just en-.
acted when sue walked OF 1t. Great appause)
Again, theatres constitute pollution Of the pub.
lie tastes. Some aver that they elevate it, but
even the titles OF plays tell dlnerent story, and 1t
Is the tendency OF theatres to debauch the public
NJ
Richard the Third and the Black Crook and which
w0ud nor INK tns Sack largest house, ysfs
oown the effect OF such pieces. But he
might be told ne was talking Of the stage
Tying, elevating, almost sanct1fying. He did not
get his Ideas from books, put from living men and
personally-and he had neither had 1T nor seen
case OF It IN MS lie-to guard against infection,
and ne knew without going to theatres. that they
not upon the gone.by evidence Of the sixteenth.
seventeenth or eighteenth centuries, but from
Why, N THIS very last week play hhd been acted
part o. Sir % Giles overleacn Afai posislseiy reess
on % the stage coun nns be 0ne ranseTred srd
to our parors, such as were enacted In this piece
man or woman who would set foot within such
threshoidf And this we are told is your exquisite,
Wa has aca nG ing tss na o ~
society and an eternal God
DENoUNCE TT.
Would any or us have men and women in our
drawing rooms arrayed with the scantiness Of
clothing with which they appear on the boards OF
fg leaves2 1t has been stated that gentleman
had employed himself to count the immoraties In
10000; but would as soon think OF counting these
0bscenties as would take census OF the dead
6oss nd cats lying II tine gutter would be as
nude and flthy loot OF stage RIGHTEOUSNESS. II
theatrical representations be pure they meet with
marx their liking of them. The Sentiments sns ana
good images which this eevating influence en-
the emphasis which savors OF unchastity; Tor
these there are thunderous outbursts OF applause.
Without IL for where one human % being ts raised ed
10000 are rretrlevably sunk by this great mis-.
sionary institution. the benign influences OF
which, we are told. are so great. There was some
s aave 4a '1sa you ssen
tures but 10 the chief actor in 1t found his moral
and elevating labors proved TOO much. and he died
Next, S the theatres theatres present distorted view Of
human life. We are told that we must see the bad
as well as the good side OF human nature; but we
snail for ourselves find ont that quite soon enough.
In plays such characters as the honest Portia ana
the gentle Miranda do not form the chief ele-
with nbertines out OF number, and, II inn0cents
are dlsplcted 1t is merely that the murderer's
kBavery let us 90 and see it in the Tombs; II we
want to know the hdeous consequences OF lust
and evil passions let us 90 to the institutions on
the Island; and Il we want to see revenge We
out making some enemes and Il or
ourselves, while we can hnd from the
city police In what abominxble dwellings
vice and crime lnger and where humanity in dlIh
blasphemes God and dies. We can see more tnan
We want OF the worst side OF human nature with
out going to theatres. man might lsay, I hear
hon IL dangerous animal want TO Hnd out for
myself He opens the door OF the beast,s cage
and the monster falls on him and devours MIN;
for the lion does not regard him as only studens
or natural history.
THE DEVIL IS MEAN.
He says come and see, and then as q roaring lion
he graDs the theatre-g0er and he Is gone. We
may pay too dearly when to learn human we
risk our immortal nature.
Again. the theatres are responsible for the nom
health OF many. The great army OF Incidence
wastes It's three hours at time at theatres. ait
ting In an atmosphere composed OF ten per cent or
cologne, lfty oil tobacco one Of oxygen and 375 of