The New York herald., 1876-11-27

are generally good In their tendency at least innocent
but that The modern stage through unhealthy ira
dtion, has become the nucleus round which all moral
upton naturally gathers and they soemny ADVISE
yourg men land old men, too, supposel never 20 on
contagion OF bad company Now in reference ID thia
charge, Also wish 10 give my testimony most en-
pnatic11ly that neither N Edinburgh nor IN London
nor IN Berlin. nor In Weimar. in Vienna, nor IN
Rome, nor In Napes-in all which places. and score
Of others have al different periods OF my life wit
messed theatrical exhibitions-did meet with
bad company in any peculiar sense either sitting
within the tneatrs or when going out OF IL say n
any peculiar sense, because man who moves in the
world must meet with bad company in the general
sense, everywhere. 1 have met with bad company
and what l call low compuny-,nas u.s. tho com.
pany OF persons with low and sordd ideas and scntL
ments that stunk ia my nostrs-at the tables some
times OF purse proud citizens making ambitious
display OF unintclectuai gulIet luxures and belly
dautes, or even tho elevated platform OF big
dinners given by the wouldbe gentities and the gem
more than once, unhapply, sidc by side win the most
low and coarse and boasty companions the
OF The Glasgow fair have not seldom
likewise had resist the seductive solicitations OF bad
company in female guise some thirty ago, when
my not white, returning from dinner party
social meeting snd walking quietly along the
street search OF my own respectable domcile, at an
hour considerably before midnight; but never did
with bad company IN any sense when seated
either the pit rows or the boxes OF any theatre IN
Europe.
sMy opinion, therefore, IS that persons witnessing
play tail with bad company who lead them 70 their
ruin the theatre b me for this but their
upregenerate nature ana their want Of mauy SELL
control-a deect OF character which makes them the
ready prey wherever they go, OF all sorts OF carnal
seductions whether theatre Of H. even
within tho sacred four walls OF the church The
sst OF ne a. the S 81. with n0t re9
10 the matter OF public amusemens gen.
orally, the clergy OF this country have put then-
selves o false position, and they must wheel right
ABOUT II they to do any good. The idea Ut
stamping out amusements-and especially such an in
tellect ua and morally noblc amusement the thea
that certain evils certain temptations may
IN certain circumstances hang by the skirts OF
amuscmens therefore despotically 10 ntordlct
such anusements cannot SEQ Where We are 10 stop
unless by stamping out all enjoyment OF whatsoever
ought TO understand, If they are not pre-
pared 10 DRIFT back into the mouldIncss and
the stupidity Of monkisn ascetIc,sm, that II 10
their duty ministers OF reasonable service to
secrate all natural healthy and
Aad say now, all seriousness, lot the clergy,
dividuals and collectively US Church, come forward
and publicly patronize all innocent amusenenis, es-
pecialy theatres. Unless the God OF Nature and the
God Of tho Bible be Two different detes-whch,
think. Bishop Butler proved trlumphantly they ara
not--then the drama IS fundamentally from God as
much us the Sermon and the stage Is divine nsttu-
ton no less tnan the pulpit.
THE OTHER.
s.If So the Christian churches are bound either to
get up q separate sacred drama Tor themselves alter
the manner OF some well known pieces Of Metastasio
acted at Vienna during tho Passion Week. or what I
think view preferable 10 break down boldly
that middle wall OF partition that has been
and the STAGE and 10 enter generously INTO
agreement with those most respectable per-
sons preside dramatic entertainments th,s
city they will give their moral aud personal sup
port all stage representations which either provide
innocent furnish salutary moral stimu-
liant the people Such sensible, manly and generous
conduct would them, and to The large
section OF tue puDc who follow them, such indu-
with stage managers actors would nalibiy
extrude from the theatre any improper elements with
which IL may accidentally have become associated.
But If they adopt either Of these or
the OF dramatic performances and con.
tinre 80 indulge in those recurrent skts oil narrow
and unreasonable sacerJotsl slang which ever and
disport themselves IN our Presbyterian Church
Courts. myself and large number y! reasonable per-
who read our Bibles we'll inclined 10 the
Scottish churches, will take The liberty OF setting down
very hlgn figure ei,he: the social wisdom, the
cultivated Intelligence or the moral couiage OF tna
local clergy