The New York herald., 1874-11-15

ment that II should be done. To the question a.
20 what OF the matter, he said =
IL am certainly not In favor OF II, and DON'T
think tina. any minister OF the Gospel can be. In
any way you put II no benenr can be done by the
opening or the theatres. and inasmuch as II tends
TO wea.en the influence OF the Sabbath day upon
the people so much am opposed 10 IL am ex-
cessivey sorry to hear that any such movements
In contemplation.n
DO you suppose that any movement will De
made among the clergy to put stop TO the
thngw
II do not see how that wonld AFFECT the matter.
because either the thing ID legal or nos legal. II
Sunday performances at the theatres in costume
can be gwen within the law, then no ac ton OF the
clergy would stop II. II illegal, then IL should be
put stop to IN any case.n
"rhere Is some law forbidding them on the
statute books. but some legal minds hold the law
Is unconstitutional
"Then 1t seems to me that settles the question,
for anything which IS agains. the law is wrong,
whether II be opening theatres or whether IL oe
steailng NO straight-golng, God-learlng man can
break the law ana tninx he .s dong rignt.n
"Do you think that IL will have any effect upon
attendants az cnurcnes. or do you think IL Will
simply anect the non.atIenaants onyr'
~ may nave no immediate eject upon church
attendants and members, but 1t will gradually
WORK oau lnnuence among them These things
DO not tell rignt away, but work slowly aud silent.
", Undermining many wno hardly perceive, per.
haps, tnat tney are falling away from the straight
path OF Virtue the influence IL 80 silent and
suetie. Years might pass before the influence was
peaceivea ,n out ~ woua tell suppose however,
large extent by our German citizens. These
peope are saouna e. presen, N the habit OF
two, as between drinking stinulants which make
them drunk and going TO theatre. Ishoud rainer
see them SO 10 theatre and spend their sunday
evening as being by lar the most preferable of the
Two tnings But TO moral people there Is the third
alternative OF tae RESPECT and love due TO God,
which Is exempllned IA Keeping away from either
OF these places, aud tis is, 70 my mind, the only
right course OF the three. But consider going TO
theatre much moro innocent pastime than
drinkinY. To be sure foreigners. ike Germans
and french. may not see the thing as we see it
here, no are accustomed to a general respect tor
the SABBATH. But TO Americans and those who
II lheir country have always been accustomed to
seeing the sabbath Kept as a holy day the idea Of
open theatres on this DAY Is peculiarly repugnant,
aud sincerely nope 1t win nor become general IN
"Are you opposed TO theatres on principle as q
general thing ~
II am not able 10 speak about them knowingly
a. was never In theatre in my lie, but do not
beheve that their influence ls for goods
What would be your advice to members Of
your own church about their going to theatres ~
II have never taken stand one way or the
OTHER and have left the question entirely to their
own conscisnces, con, AZ peing the best jnages u
the point that with young people the Ell.
lect OF attending theatres Is bad. not
So much because Of the theatres them.
men VINO are constantly in the hablI
Of attending places OF amusement run into foreign
grooves ana gradually get weaned from thell
Chrlstian duties. have seen great deal or this
myself ana wherever, except IN very rare cases
| young men under my charge have begun gong tt
theatres they have gradually fallen away and been
| seduced into other channels; SO tnat while have
| personally no objection 70 theatres, am con
vlnced their influence is rather bad than good
and II my advice were asked should expires,
| myself as against them. AS 10 sunday perform
ances DO not see how there can De two opinions
| among Christian DeODe who WlSh to OOserva tns
| Lord's day as we are commanded to observe 1t II
the BiDle.D