, 1876-02-21

ARC CoHntfl43 OK innocence anu simplicity Hn6fO
tho trade Of Az actor Ia held almost In horror.
II Ia Impossible that an establishment 40 con-
trAry to our ancient manners c1r bo Applaudcd.
How many generous citazenB will SEQ with indig.
uAtion this monument Of luxury and offemtnacy
raise Itsolf on tho ruins ofour aneioat simplicity:
darc to carry her daughter TO th!a danger.
o,n Bchooi; and how many rcnucctablo
women would think themaovea dishonored
In going thoref Slotlves Of morals, virtue, and
would not restrain from going" Suoh vae tho
opinion OF one ruled by no alHler principle tlsan
regard for tho pcaco of Lis nstive city. and tho
virtue and safety OF tho society IN which he
liscl. conclude this array Of wtno'sos Win thas
tlnguls.,cd aclors in lss day. 1sottrinE from tho
stage ho took up l,is rostlonea At Hhorborno,
England, surrounded With his interesting family.
Among other rules for tho g,oveFnment of bis
never aovlated; II Ia this: "Souc Of
NY ohdron shall sver, with my. COLI
scns, or OIL any nrcscuse, cnter theatre.
or layo any Visiting connection With actors Of
ActrosHea." This from ona who had tho export.
onco of roars to learn tho leishs and depth OF
theatrical morality and Witnessed tho purity and
pollution OF its devotees, therefore could de-
clarc, "Tlicre Ia nothing but m!Aohtef and ruin.
iou cannot hare failed to notice. In !hls array Of
who themselves lad heon visitors to the theatre,
therefore who could not be charged with speak
lug n,croly from prejudice or heatsay. l might
have takon tho teHtImony OF Wilberforco, With
sisteut orpose5s Who wcro ,novor inside
. theatre. but, 1t is ovidont what objection
would lave boon mado to these. 7 might
have also shown that tho thOntro has boon con-
demned by legislative onacstnouts, among ovory
poople. pagan md Christian. aud by. almost
every Go7eEunont+ ~ ono t1tuo OF another. In
William Tryuno's collection Of Testimony, YOU Will
lind tho legislative enactnionss Of graat nuna-
bcr OF Pagan aud Christian 6tntes, nktious,
magistrates, Emperors, aud Princes. England,
either for their tolor,n OF total suppression.
Tho American Congress in l778 earnestly recona-
monded tho states "to auppress all theatrical
entertainments AZ productive OF idaenoed dissi-
manners" The p1osens generation is perhnps the
only period in 1000 years that hNl no law In
operation against thiB disBipaltug amusement,
nnl this not because the theatre 10 NOW mora re-
FArdel ns 4 school Of virtue tlan In former aEos,
but tho conviction OF Bociety {wlethor right or
wronE) IL that this OWL. like Home others. Rhoul
be suppressed through religious Influence and
moral argument addressed to tho intollfRence
and virtue OF The pooplo. rather than by 1ogslA-
tive prohibition. Whatever may bt our viowa al
to tho right or wrong, wisdom Or non-nledom, OF
such LEGISLATION. does not such legal action. fre-
quant and through long period OF time, show
that tho morality OF tho thostre is not
favorable to tho ro!fa1o Of tue State !
God iu oil hor forms aud denominations
universally took position egatnat the thextro.
prytne's collection gives tue united testimony
OF tho Jewish aud Christian churches he gives
modern, general. national. and provincial Coun-
c,la and Synods, both of the Western and East-
ern churches, agains. 1t. Aud NO Assembly,
Council. Conference, Association. Hynodt OF
pEesbytesy Of any branch Of tho Evangelical
Chutch has ever given 1t any act of encourage
mens, and only in times Of marked coldness or
objection hnve my OF thom fAilod to testify
against 1t. Nov. ia II not unreasonable and
bordotsnR on audaelty to say thas this
nn,nossy tIan nsg u thS result Of msiptotma
olous charge OF intolerance, superstition. and
oyornuoh Righteousness SGT aside thIa united
Testimony? II so. then The evidence Of tho wise
aud good through the ag0s is worthless to snt-
subject for tho present, intending at other times
to offer some arguments and REASONS that may
como closer 70 our homes, also To ropIy to some
arguments onerod In defonBo, and anaWer somo
9Ie1s 9aeres % On this sublses onIy aeaFc A.
tho forco Of reason aud truth, not prejudice or
aophistry. hut before lot you 60 inge you
to remember this truth That lite Is not nero
play. neither drama, comedy. nor farco.
IAN tho world is stngc, and ali tho mon
and women merely players" It is = very
serious play, before tho Holy One, Who wit
nessath and will Judge tho action Of hants, and
foct. and tongue, aud orc, aud heart. and boforo
slie assembled unlvorse Of angels. deylla, and
mon. tho last act tho final anasd shAll be pro-
acntoll And whom that curtain which now hides
from us tho Great beyond shall tise, HhAil wo
look into tue eiru!gent light and glory Of tho
face OF recoDcicd Love, or Into the flaming oYo
o.. offended, consuming Justlco2 ? For uo must
all appear boforo tho juuYment-boat of Ch1ist,
that every one may receive tic thipRa done ID
his body, according to that he hath dono,
whother 1t 10 good or ball.