, 1876-12-03
CHURCH AND THEATRE.

THEIR TRUE RELATIONS.
Professor Blackie, Of Edjnburg, in opening
his lectures before the Greek class in Edinburg
University, at the beginning Of the last term,
took occasion to make certain remarks on the
relations Of the Church aud theatre, which are
thus reported in the London Era:
The special case of Aristophanes and the Greek
comedy, with the revcl OF wanton license which
characterized it, leads me to say word or two gen.
p!2ye, or the Church and theatre-a theme On
which, since the days Of the Puritans downward, 8
certain class Of cergymcn in this country have been
ever forward to invite public discussion. will
commence by stating fact Last Saturday. from
= confederation uf causes, which it concerns no
man TO know, found myself in the singular posi-
ton of having been twice 1T the theatre in the same
day, and reviewing my conduct at night, accord
ing to the pious Pythaeorean prccept, before said
lny prayers, I found that ! had done nothing. Of
which had any cause to repent, but something
rather on which should look back with thoughtful
satisfaction a}l the days OF my life; and when
sste ha s ays %eeR Tds at
which the principal parts were sustained by that
singularly ehaste, purc, and tnely-feelin. traEc-
dian Mr.. Irving, no person, am convinced, VINO
ever witnessed his performances will have the least
difficulty in comprehending the cansc OF my satis-
faction. But whether assisted BY the cfastely sug-
gestiyc action Of Mr. Irving or not what wish
pieces arc both Of highly moral character and a
profoundly religious Significance. and they were
listened to By large and crowded houses with
breathless attention and dcvont sympathy that
have seldom seen surpassed in uny congregation of
Christians listening to the most eloquent discourse
It is plain. therefore, that tho modern stage, OF
whose deterioration and degradation We have heard
SO much, is still, on some occasions at least, and
In the hands Of certain persons, performing noby
it's proper func:lon-exhioitca SO Erandly in the
ancient Greek tragedy-as practically pulpit from
which the most profound mora! truths are taught,
in manner ut 0ncc the most natural, tho most at
tractivc and the most effective: and unless it can
-At.o$ hxp3&sr
run after such representations at those lave men
toned is altogether exceptiye, really do not see
how cergyn.en or any other persons can be Jssti-
90. the present state and condition Of the noblest
form OF intellectual recreation ever invented by
nIan. -.....
myself in justice to body OF men who do not nl-
vavs receive, either from the clergy or from the
general public. such gratefni acknowlcdsment US
IAer services deservei justice to theatrical art
ists, feel bound to give my evidence that there Is
not thcsiightcst reason to believe that te accepta
bencss Of Hamlet" and The Bells - to the
atcical audience, through the inpassioned lmper-
sonatioi,s OF Mr. Irving, is III exceptional phenom-
eno, am no great theatre -goer' but whenever
did happcn-elsewhcrg, or espec,a,ls IN Lonao1tw
OF the season, did not find tllat it was purt1cn
arly immoral piece. or nn immoral piece ut AL; oni
sometimes ratl'ef highly moral 1nd evanse!ea' &
othcr called LEAH, Of which the dramatic MO.
tive lies i'll the characteristicrlly gospel virtue Of
tte forgiveness af injuries Put n0t only on these
si0nsl wjtncs.cr of theatrical represcnsations, !
can state with the most solemn assurance that
avc rarely met with even n'moTal anslnnaiion; IN
moral plots. On the contrary, have generai!y
fonnd the floor Of the stage occupied e!thef os
innocent and amusing pictures SC OF popnlar nan I'm.
MIR. sl,ch ~ fill tho pages Of ThackcEly and that
great philosopher afr. Punch the true British Arts
Iophai,es pathetic stories OF human suffering,
generally sprnsins gut ol human io.5y o. s'a, .ne
Il good moral effect on every Sonnd- heaFtGa spee-
tator And l wish to say here. from this chalr
publicly, what have often said privately to d.
t;nrshcd members Of the clerical profession, that
have much ofener felt the gracious tear of
human sympathy and dcyout pity drawn from my
eyes by the vivid inpersonatons OF me stase 'hah
liyered from Scottish pulpit. So lar. therefore,
as my exucficnce goes, s,-and have no reason 10
Imagine that au singular eass o. persohs,
ia dcclamatious against the modern STAGE are very
fur from being altogether III the right: rather nc.
,rtr. 10 use ihc language which howa with such
familiar denpnciation from their lips should con
slider myself guilty Of great SANDER asalnst thc
nnhlsc and d gross libel against most respectable
rlaes Of nv nv feow-citzcns, for which, cl.ris
tian and gentleman. l should consider myself
bound to make an ample apology .
Nut there are not few anon. the clergy WITH
more sense and gentlcu,anly feeling than thosc Of
whom have been speaking. who content tnem-
selves with saying that in general there Is nothing
DlftlCulArlV DAD OF 1H!IIolat Ill rta5~ F+at
that they are generally good In their tendency, Ut
least innocent but that the modern stage through
~ unhealthy tradition, has become the nucleus
ar :,sound which iii moral corruption naturally,
gathers; and they so1cmn1y advise young men (and
,rhcrr # is impossible to avoid the contagion OF
Saa eompany Now, in reference to this charge,
u1so, wish 10 give my testimony most en.phati-
cally that neither in Ed!nbnrgh, nor 10 T. London,
in Rome, nor in NapIes-in I'll which places, and
seorc Of others: have at different periods OF my
meet With bad company in any peculiar sense,
eitncr when sitting within the theatre oF When