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

REV. FRED BELL ON THE DRAMA AND IT'S
cANTINd CRITICS.
have found actors 40 rule, both malo and female
said the Rev Fred Bell In his ut the Brooklyn
Academy of Music yesterday morning, to te noble.
honorable, studious, high toned benevolent, and ex
ccedingly sensitive, and any who knows anything
about the drama knows that the profession requires
poetic nature which 10 far removed from coarsencss
and the animal which is essential to sensuaty
bu: death 10 high art The ass may put on the lions
SKIN, but his bray betrays HIM whether 1t is on tho
in the pulpit Ifthn is true, and 1t is, the
wholesale denuncation OF the stage is unjust. The
stage is under disadvantage 1t iricndess especially
when consider that the dramatic forms an element
OF success in both stage aud pulpit, 80 further, and
say that one might learn OF the other. Tho pulpit
would bo more effective II II underwent tho discipline
ofthc stage while the stage would bo advantagcd by
the purity and influence Of the pulpit do really
hope that preaching is not considered altogether
profession. though know . great many preachers
any limo, any where, no matter what The quality
may DC. II you Will show mo a who has Jailed
as "A lawyer mechanic, tradesman, merchant.
laborer or farmer, or at selling tea oven. will
show you man, as rule, who wall lall as
show you man who would excel at anything.
Preaching would not SO often be poweress II " were
moro seriously studied from the actors point OF view
Nay, II would bc far more eTeciive and grand In its
accomplishments more souls would bs saved, people
would listen more altentvely There would be no
complaining about their audiences and no going 10
sleep, and sinners would be saved by hundreds II wc
had live men IN tho pulpit You remember tho reply
OF Garrck to the Archbishop OF Canterbury, who
How is 1t that you gentlemen OF the stage can
aioct your audience SO much?''
..Dh, wci,n said Garrck, 'wc actors speak OF
things imaginary us ir they real, while too many
in the pulpit speak oil things real as If they we're
imaginary"
This is tho great trouble. think II is fact that no
one will deny that the drama has u foOthod and pat
ronage next to the ppplt and the press You may as
well tell the not shno hope stop the drama
w s,o s IN naa
the dramatic clements OF both tragedy and comedy.
Men will have the drama-rest assured OF that. 1t is
one OF the powers OF ths present world II has fought
its way to human recognition as an ART IL has
gained The ncd In human esteem us an
secuton to oppos. 1t turtner. applause Since
this is iact and hold II IS, let tho pulpit face
IT, Let II do u mauuIy. not with unirlendly criti-
csms, but with intelligence anu rational pleiy. Who
is gong to deny that tho American theatre needs re-
iormlngs 1t does. 1t needs reforming by the
l know actors arc unfortunate and
dissIpacd and disgrace TO the profession These arc
actors ! stand here this morning 10 say that tho
theatrical profession Will compare tavoraby with any
other In tho world Further. emphatically deny tho
statement that there Is more drunkenness anu sem
sualty In the theatrical profession than in any other
deny IT, (Applause.) Stop Do you wish TO have
proofi am making no Mistakes lf you will take
the trouble to examine the police records will find
the names OF as lew actors OF any other profession
not even excepting the preachers OF the Gospel.
now TO HELP THE STAGE.
Then, what should be done reform the theatre2
reply, "Rcach down the hand Of charity and take 1t
up. Throw around IL the safeguards of morality
Take II out OF It's bad surroundings and Christian 20 IT,
Bring up to the level OF ITSELF make II al auxiliary
In the great work of making men better. Make 1t
safe honorable and thoroughly clean Let US instruct
mon In the proper use OF IT, Let defend youth against
dissipation IN the use Of either time, morals or money -
And so ask this morning, docs the pulpit propose to
drag the drama before the tribunal OF the Church. and
taking by ihe throat ask for It's condemnatonf In
the language Of the Saviour reply 10 church mem-
without sin among you, let him first cast stone -
There more harm dono 10 tho cause OF Christ and
religion by tho inconsistency oil its professors than all
the theatres put together, and In The name OF God
warn tho hypocrte. speak 20 you who won't 80 to
the theatre on any account Oh, mol you would not
be seen IN such q piacc. You would not ridc
on car or show yourself on the Sabbath day.
O not But | will tell you what you
would DO. You would damn the reputation OF your
neghbor by SANDER get the better oil him tomorrow
morning in business transaction II you could ZAP
plause.) Oh, ye hypocritcs the time will come when
your mask shall be of and the cloak which has
hidden the whtewashed sepulchre shall be taken away
Your corrupt and filthy heart shall be laid bare and at
the judgment day before tho mon and angels anu tho
all-seeing OF Almighty God then shall you under
stand what the Saviour said when he addressed the
hypocrtes in His time H0w shall ye escape the con-
demn of help" II, instead oil denouncing the
drama, can help to purify II, by Gou's help we
might succeed then IN extending Gods Kingdom and
promoting HIS glory.