The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-03
A SERMON on POPULAR AMusENESrs.

A SERMON ON POPULAR AMusEEESTs.
According to announcement in Satur-
days INTEIloENoER, the Rev. Mr..
Thatcher preached sermon last night
at the Zane Street NJ. f. Church, ex-
planatory OF the relations of his church
to popular amusements. He referred to
the Book OF Discipline to show that the
Methodist Church did not countenance
dancing, horse racing, circuses, or theatre
going. He took the ground that Christ
ians could not frequent such places OF
amusement, and classcd them as places
Of doubtful associations and harmful in.
iluences.
The question! that comes mp for con-
sideration in connection with'this sermon
is whether, notwithstanding all such
deliverauces, and their name is legion,
public opinion is backing them up with
itssupport more or less actively than for
merly. 1t seems to us that this is ques-
ton Of very decided Importance to every
preacher, for it involves tho question
whether the laity or clergy are retrograd-
ing in the essentials Of church member
ship. No one who visited the Opera
House on Friday evening and Saturday
afternoon last and witnessed the great
crowds Of respectable people who throng-
ed the seats, up stairs and down, and even
the very aisles, to witness the play OF the
1.-TWO Orphans" could fail to be struck
with the fact that the drama has very
deep hold on the popular heart. The
crowds referred to were the first people
Of the city and very largo number OF
them, especially on Saturday afternoon,
were church members. Mothers, wives
and daughters were there by the hundreds,
Just as they have been on many previous
occasions. No doubt fair share Of
Mr.. Thatcher's members were also
among them. 1t is no new thing to
him, we presume, that when any spe.
cial attraction in the legitimate drama
is offered at the Opera House 1t is sure to
be patroniled by the responsibility of the
city in large numbers. Why is it then
that we hear Of SO few cases Of discipline
for theatre going2 II it is really a sin to
90 to the theatre what sort Of a sin is 1t ?
One to be dealt with as other sins or one to
be winked at? We infer that ii is not q
sin that is visited with suspension from
church privileges, for the reason that we
hear OF no such instances Of discipline,
land incidents OF that kind are apt to be
heard of and we are forced therefore to
infer that however much it may still be
the fashion to inveigh against it in the
pulpit, yet it is not considered just the
the thing to deal with 1t in the old FASH
ioned manner.
We are happy to say that the Opera
House Is beat patronized when it most
merits patronage. That is to say we are
glad that the Manager finds it to be his in.
terest to look to the respectable element
for support and not TO the Hbaser sort"
This is good omen. hwillbe an evil day
for society when theatres find 1t to be
to their interest to cater to the "dangcr.
Gus class" Despite the bar that has been
imposed on the drama, It is steadily work.
ing its way up to higher plane in every
city Of the country. 1t is greatly improy,
ed within the last few years, and the ten,
dcncy is still in thatdirectiOn, The reason
is that respectable people are nowadays
not ashamed to patronire the drama,
There is public opinion that lifts thea.