New-York tribune., 1878-04-26
MACMILLAN,s MAGAZINE. April.

The ouestiOn concerning the relation OF the
clcrv to tbp theatre which has been the subject OF
some recent discussion in England is iny uea''" !"
the present number. In the view OF the "l'cr' VIZ "
himself a clergy yman dbc Rev a. I. DaNi"'o''' 'H'
choncs which have Gene over the expression OF theo-
ogy in the Church Of England have mod'lcd th' r'"
tons Of the clergy the Church OF England is great
social Ms well as ecclesiastical institution; ahd hcr
clergy are bound to have clear and enigh'eh' "plo
with regard 10 attendance upon the theatre ana a'
places OF popular amusement' MI D"''u''" -
marks that the sermons OF my years az"
afford striking contrast to those I" Tue W"
eut day At that time, they were devoted MAINLY 10
theocrv The plan Of salvation often furnished The
entire theme of the discourse Practical illustrations
were rare Go-mas were plentiful; topics ofthc day were
avoided. Within the last fifteen years therc mas utc" y
great change. 4 clergyman now need have no ''r q
being too practical He can hardly be pracca' enough"
As he must be the church. lie must also DC "ut o "
If he is to make his mark in the PARISH ne must p'
mIliar with all that interests aui influences BIS fe'i'
IIa must he On level with the topics OF the day He
ust show an intelligent interest in what Is stirring TIE
mind of the country al any given time In iac the c'
cal profession has merely become one among Others "
many things there little difference between inc clergy
man and the ayman The corgyma l. not tue iess' DuI
the more respected who is as capable of Il pohlc"i
opjnon as any one in his congregation; VINO Is Il
keen Judge and perhaps performer of music; VINO Is
ma careful reader OF the latest booksand magazines as
auy who listen to his Sundays discourse. On TINS ph
cipe, the amusements of the people as well as thef
morals must be discussed by the Clergyman 1t seems
hardly possible TO judge Of peoples morals without S'
judging OF their amusements "And the clergy says
the writer "do iudge-oiten unfairly and indscrimi-
patcly They speak without KNOWLEDGE; they speak OF
those things OF which not unfreqncnty' they nave 10
experience and of which they not therefore, compe
tent to form an opinion" Probably not one In twenty
of the clergy for instance who take exception 10 inc
theatre and TO the members the theatrical and musical
profession in the habit OF attending the theare'
But argues Mr.. Davidson. the clergy OF the
Church of England are closely connected with
the social relations OF their people. They
are married clergy. The intercourse between
them and the laity In way encouraged not ohy
as regards Of business but ms regards the hosp
taIites and amenities OF daily life. The clergy of the
Church Of England thus enabled TO deal much more
directly with the needs OF the people than are for exam
p the clergy Of the Church Of Rome whose knowledge
Of life is in many gained only from the confes-
sionaI The Anglican clergyman reads the novels that
lie upon your table lie sing the last new song lie
knows about the University boarace or the E'oh anu
Harrow match In nine cases out OF ten you can alk as
freely TO him you to any laynan Bnt this Is EoI
the case with the rank and file OF the Catholic clergy
vhateyerit may be with the hierarchy. The former
sec little of their flock, except IN church or IN
sicness As 10 cricket Matches or novels OF general
politics they know more than theV 40
about their relations with the man III uio
moon with regard TO the theatre, the writer Is not In
c,ned 70 enforce any dogmac Tes II takes all sorts
Of men TO make world and IL takes all sorts OF clergy
men 70 make a Church OF England But no one must
make his own practise the standard for others III VIII
certainly not be maintained that love OF the theatre IA
incompatible with high moral sense Nor should IL be
TOO hastily assumed that actor singer belongs 10
tbe racag aud bobta OF society" Life is too short,
savs the writer for rigorous examinations into the past
dopgs of those we casually meet 30 long as We know
nothing we are bound TO assume nothing; ana II people
are civil and agreeable IL is duty TO meet them IN
like spir nd to think the best OF themln another pa
per- by the Rev Canon Farrar an pau
to the character Dr. Thomas Arnold who IS described
as model for all cergymen in the respect that he was
every inch man.-The number contains two sonhets
nv an American poet. Mrs Louise Chandler Mou0n, OF
which we copy the following
HER LAUREATE.
lam indeed, no theme with you for song
A poet you yet not for me your praise
You crowned another woman with your pays,
lifting your voice TO Heaven, triumphant strong
And fear by future rhymes 10 do her wrong:
II | should walk beside you In your ways
An echo would pursue us rom olf DAYS,
And men would say, " He loved once and for long!
20 now without great love he Is content
since she is dead for whom he used 10 sing
And daily needs demand their alimeht"
Thus some poor bird who strives with broken Wing
To soar then stOOps, strength gone and glad lie spent
TO any hand that his scant food VIII bring.
n...I