The New York herald., 1877-01-22
THE STAGE DEFENDED.
Rev. FRED BELL ON THE DRAMA AND IT'S
cANTINa CRITICS.


Rev. FRED BELL ON THE DRAMA AND TIE
cANTINo CRITICS
have found actors q rule, both male and female,
said the Rev Fred Bell in his at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music yesterday morning, to lie noble,
honorable. studious, high toned benevolent and ex-
ceedingly sensitive, and any one who knows anything
about the drama knows that the profession requires
poetic nature which 10 far removed from coarsencss
and the animal nature which is essential TO sensuaty
bu: death 10 high art The may put OIL the hon
sKin but his bray betrays him whether 1t Is on tho
in the pulpit Ifthn is true, and it is, the
Wholesale denunciation OF the stage is unjust The
stage under disadvantage II iricndess especially
when consider that the dramatic forms an element
OF success In both stage and pulpit 90 further and
say that one might learn OF the other. The pulpit
would DO more effective II IL underwent tho discipline
OF the stage while the stage would be advantagcd by
the purity and influence Of the pulpit do really
hope that preaching not considered altogether
profession, though know q great many preachers
have been made TO order. We can TX up preachers
any limo, any where, no matter what tho qualty
may be. II you Will show INC who has Jailed
as "A lawyer, mechanic, tradesman, u merchant.
aoorer or farmer, Or a. selling Tea even VIII
preacher. Show mc successful preacher and VIII
show you II man who would excel at anything.
Preaching would not SO often be poweress II II were
moro seriously studied from the actors point OF view.
Nay. IT would bo far more effective aud grand in its
would listen more attentively There would DO no
complaining about their audiences and no going TO
had live men IN tho pulpit You remember the reply
oil Garrick to the Archbishop OF Canterbury, who
asked the great actor
How is II that you gentlemen OF the stage can
afoct your audience SO muchY
''Oh, we'll" said Garrck, I'VE actors speak OF
things imaginary as II they were real, who too many
in the pulpit speak oI things real as If they were
imaginary"
q n fnCI
will deny that the drama has foothod and pat.
ronage next to the pppit and the press You may MS
well tell the not to shinc TO hope stop the drama
by denuncatIon. IL viii never stop its career and
why? Because there is TOO strongly developed Ia
the dramatic elements OF both tragedy aud comedy
Men Will havo the drama-rest assured o that. rs
one Of tho powers o this present world II has fought
its way to human recognition as AN ART II has
gained the ncd IN human esteem as nn
agreeable pastime, and hold II to DO per-
sscution to oppose 1t turtner. tApplausc.) Since
this Is fact, and hold IT is, lev tho pulpit iace
IL. Let II do II mauiuily. not with unriendly cri-
cisms but with intelligence and rational pIcy. Who
is gong to deny that tho American theatre needs
forming? 1t does. 1t needs reforming by the
standard oi all truo lovers OF the drama.
Know S some actors "a, arc .sorunasS ana
dark spots which are regretted by the mljority Of
actors ! stand here this morning 10 say that tho
theatrical profession Will compare favorably with any
other in tho world Further. emphatcaly deny tho
statement that there Is more drunkenness and SEN
deny 1t: (Appause) Stop DO you wish TO have
prooff am making no Mistakes lf you will take
the trouble to examine the police records Will ind
the names OF as few actors OF other procsson
not even excepting the preachers OF the Gospel
now TO HELP THE STAGE.
Then, what should be done 10 reform the theatref
reply, Rcach down the hand Of charity and take 1t
up. Throw around II the safeguards of morality.
Take out OF It's bad surroundings and Chrstan It,
Bring 1t up TO the level OF ITSELF make II All auxiliary
In the great work Of making men better Make 1t
sale, honorable and thoroughly clean Let US instruct
mon IN the proper use OF It, Let defend youth against
dissipation IN the use Of either tmc morals money.
And ask this morning, does the pulpit propose to
drag the drama before the tribunal OF the Church. and
taking 1t by She throat ask for It's c0ndemnatonf In
the language Of the Saviour reply 10 church mem-
bers reply to ministers OF the Gospel, HE that is
without sin among you, let him first cast stone. "
There Is more harm dono 10 tho cause OF Christ and
religion by tho inconsistency OF its professors than all
the theatres put together, and In the name of God
warn tho hypocrite, speak 10 you who wont 20 TO
the theatre on any account Oh no you would not
be seen in such place. You would not ridc
Of course But l will tell you what you
would 40. You would damn the reputation of your
ncighbor by SANDER or get the better him to
morning IN business transaction II you could. ZAP
plause.) Oh, yc hypocrtcsi the time will come when
your mask shall be torn of and the cloak which has
hidden the whitewashed sepulchre shall be taken away
Your corrupt and filthy heart shall be laid bare aud
the judgment day before the men and angels tho
all-seeng OF Almighty God then shall you under
stand what the Saviour said when he addressed the
hypocrtes in His time, 'How shall ye escape he
demnation Of hell?" II, instead oil denouncing the
drama, we can help to purify II, by Gods help we
might succeed then IN extending Gods Kingdom and
promoting His glory.