Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-29
sacred TheatricaIs.
n. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor


Onlcago Iimes.I
Long ago, the majority of Protestan
churches ceased to be self-sapporting
Ia other words, the rental of the pews
did not bring in money enough to pay
the current expenses, including the sal
ary of minister, organist, chorister, sing
ers, janitor, and the sum needed to settle
bills for fuel, gas, water, insurance, re
pairs, and interest due on bonds anG
mortgages. Among the otker means
resorted to for raising the additional
sums needed, have been church or sacred
fairs, with their numerous side shows
such as grab bags, fish-ponds, postofIices,
museums of curlosities, ralfles, mock.
auctions, and gipsy fortune-tellers tents.
After the church or sacred fair, with
its sacred grab bag, sacred rsifl,, aud
sacred fortunetelling came the sacred
concert. Every member in good stand
ing with the church was expected to at
tend these sacred concerts, or risk the
chance of losing his good standing
Packages Of tickets were given to all the
good-looNing maidens of the society
which they were expected to dispose ot
by visiting the Offices and other places
of business of their masculine acquain.
tances. Failing in this, they we're en-
couraged to dispose of them to strangers
or to any parties who could be persuaded
to iHvest.
For several years past, sacred lunches
and sacred oyster suppers have been
very popular. Tickets to these have
been disposed of in the same way as
tickets to sacred concerts. The ma
terials for these sacred luoches aud con.
certs have been obtained by a sort oil
forced levies on dealers, The advertis.
ing and printing were begged The
faithful were expected to provide part Of
the provisions, to have them cooked in
their houses and to purchase tickets.
Table walters for these meals, served up
in public places, were selected from
among the pretty girls of the church.
Last Sinter novel method OF raising
money for churches was introduced. 1t
was the sacred spelling match.
From present appearances, sacred
theatricals are to take the place OF
sacred fairs, sacred concerts, sacred
lunches and sacred spell downs" the
coming winter. Several of the so-ealled
liberal churches have stages, curtains,
scenery and other appointments in their
respective places of worship. They
have actors in training, and they expect
to bring out sacred tragedies, sacred
comedies and sacred farces. OF course
there will be a sacred orchestra, which
will discourse sacred music between the
acts Of the sacred dramas. The Metho-
dists, who are not behind any sect of re-
ligionists in the matter of raising money
tor church purposes, have already fur
nished one sacred Neither Goose enter
tainment, and we learn that other like
sacred performances will follow.
Of late the drama has suffered seri-
GUS decline in this city, and theaters have
some of the churches in this city, and
ceased to be good property. The ex-
pense of running them has been large.
There have been actors, musicians, ush-
ers, rent, and licenses to pay. These
have swallowed up the receipts. The
times have been hard, and few could find
the means to 90 TO witness the drama.
Besides this, the clergy have made open
war on the theaters. They have declared
them to be schools OF vice if not of
crime. Church-goers have been informed
that the actors and musicians in theaters
were not fit persons to associate with,
and consequently not fit persons to wit
ness on or before the stage.
The sacred drama is no new thing in
its evil effects hays been matters for un.
friendly comment The rehearsals for
it have taken from their homes and the
watchful care of their parents, youths of
tender age, and kept them till past mid
night, to the great detriment of their
health aud their morals, not to mention
their habits of industry and study. Con-
sistency requires that the clergymen of
the city raise their voice against the
sacred drama, for its effects are far more
demoralizing than those of the legitimate
drama. If their condemnation does not
suppress it, let the Mayor proceedto ex.
ecats the law in regard to licenses for
shows.