The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-30

The DRAMA AND IT'S RELATION To Mo-
RAIrrY.-An address was lately delivered
by Father Young, Of New York, at the
funeral of Dan Bryant, which, coming
80 soon after the philippic of the Rev
Mr.. Talmage, of Brooklyn, against the
drama, naturally attracts the attention of
those connected with the stage and of the
public. Father Young said:
1.-The Catholic Church does not find in
the dramatic profession nught to con-
demn. It is an honorable profession
The actor. the lawyer, the merchant, the
banker, have all their duties to perform,
always subscrvient to the claims of reli-
gion.. First strive to save your souls,
and then become q good actor. lawyer or
whatever you wish The dramatic ele-
ment pervades everything. Life is
drama, and death is the most moving of
all dramas in this world"
While there may be some who may
take exception to these views. there are
more who will agree to their truth and
wisdom. These utternnces bring forci-
bly, to mind q memorable passage by
great reader of ancient authors, written
centuries ago, in which he tells us she
hath observed in the histories of nil ages
that the great events which determined
the fate of great affnirs do shappen less
frequently, according to design, than by
accident and occasion. Our enterprises
here below are derived from above, and
Wa are but engines and actors of pieces
that are composed in heaven. Homo his
trio, Deus zero poetd est: God is the sove-
reign poet, and we cannot refuse the
part which He appoints us to bear in the
scene. All our business is to act it we'll,
cheerfully complying with His orders
concerning MS, and submitting ourselves
to the direction Of His providence"
Not long ago, Rev. DR.. Dix, rector of
Trinity Church, New York, lectured upon
the drama, and held that it franks
among the fine arts as much as painting
or sculpture, and religion need have no
quarrel with the fine arts" In fact,
painting, sculpture and the drama have
been practiced in some form by almost
every nation. The principle of imitation
which liz found in each is inherent in
human nature. 1t has. s.been discovered
in the war dances of Indians and Afri-
cans. among the South Sen Islanders,
and from remote ages has existed in
China. That form of the drama which
is divided into tragedy and comedy WAS
the creation of the Greeks about 700 B.
c.. 1t may be that We do not have this
art IN its highest form, and that it rather
INSTRUCT and elevate. But, after all, even
these aims have their value, and espe-
cially sopnlong working and utilfta-
rian people like our own, who devote 30
much time and energy to business and
so little to recreation. 1t ought to be
source of satisfaction to such critics MS
A1r. Talmage that the moral tone OF the
drama has been so much improved and
elevated over former times. To Judge
the stage of the present day by that Of
former times would be about rs Just ns to
judge English literature of the present
time by the grossness and indcccncy of
the licentious wits of the restoration.
and before tho era when the pure and
liberal views Of Addison had made peri
| odlcal literature II triumph Of good sense
and decency, and an agent of innocent
enjoyment as well as of opinion and
means of culture. Or we might ms we'll
get our ideas Of the great drama from
the lewd and bacchnnnlian charncteris-
tics which prevailed before Eschylns
supplied their places with pure tragedy,
noble and dignified in its object. That
some censurable performances still dis
grace the stage is as much the fault of
the public AZ of stage managers; though
it may be doubted whether even the
most debased of theatrical exhibitions
has been as demoralizing as the judicial
drama now being enacted in Mr.. Tai
IMAGES own town, taking his own picture
of the influence of that trial rs tho
standard. Yet no one would be more
prompt than Mr.. Talmnge to point out
the injustice Of accepting that exhibition
as illustrating tho morals of the Brook
lyn clergy. Nor will just-mined men
| accept the can-can and similar abomina-
tions as fair exhibition of the stage in
its present condition. Even if its object
is only to entertain agreeably, that Is a
creditable and benefcenti thing. No
people need innocent diversion more
than the Americans. The human mind
is so constituted that it must have re-
freshment and Amusement, and such is
the pervefsity Of human nature that if it
cannot enjoy itself innocently it often
fe6orts to questionable indulgenoes.
Even where there is seif-restraint enough
70 avoid vicious amuseuoepts, the love of
excitement sometimes takes a Religious
form! The dramatic profession in gene
raj deserves the tribute paid to it at the
funeral Of Mr. Bryant. It tnumbers in it's
names some Of -ouP best, citizens, men
and women Of The highest character,
who have acted we'll their parts, not
only on the stage but off it, by living
irreproachable lives. In their profess
sional capacity, they hive ministered to
the enjoyment and the good of mankind.
They should be encouraged in their
efforts to elevate the tone of society by
exhibiting noble examples Of virtue and