The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-29

The Rev A. T. DAVIDSON. a Clergyman Of
the Church Of England, answers IN Mac-
miluns Mdgasme that there l. no reason
why they should not go. He even contends
that ministers have no right to criticise
and condemn dramatic performances they
have never seen, and that their ignorance
Of the theatre makes their dcnunciatiuns 81
il oftentincs absurd. and so contributes Ia
weaken their influence with sensible people
Mr.. DAVIDSON does not by any means
stand alone among English clcrgynlen in
his defence Of the propriety and advantage
Of ministers attending the theatre. When
the present Master of the Temple WAS re-
verely taken To task by tn" London GNu-
dian. a strait-laccd religious paper, for
sending his sunday school children to n cir
cur which happened to be visiting Doncas-
ter on the occasion of their annual treat he
replied 1T bchoovrs clergymen. with re-
gard u aIuusclncnte, to be- as diligcnt in
commencing what Is good A. they are i'll
repiobatiug what il bad" What the Dean
of Westminster said in an important sermon
applies a. we'll to the theatre a. t. books
Never take exception To a book certainly
new Ell condemn il without having read II.
That il, be careful TO avoid talking about
things 81 which you know nothing, for you
are likely to destroy peoples confidence IN
your justice aud honesty.
Mr.. DAVIDSON finds one cause of the wan
ing power Of the clergy over their hocks,
and their little influence with them through
the real difficulties of life, in their slender eX-
pcrcncc OF the things which are familiar t.
every man who knows how to enjoy himself
Their pulpit Nominations against sin in the
abstract and their theological subtletics are
well enough. aud are heard with n degree OF
patience; but with regard To practical
matters the thousand and one things con
corning which people would be- truly CRATE
| ful for q word of sober, sensible advice they
! have in general nothing to say worth listen
ing TO- and this for the best Of all rcasons-
| because they know nothing This Language
has the merit of being both frank and true
and the minister who utters il shows that al
least ne knows what he is talking about
People who go to the theatre, and they
comprise Il large part Of the most mora
and the best men and women III every com
munity, are well aware that it gcncrallS
furnishes an amusement as harmless as il
preachers denouncng the theatre as a wick
ed place they pay no heed to their words
and keep ON going just the same, They
would as soon think of consulting their pas
tors about how to invest their money as O
taking their advice as to whether the!
should spend the evening at home or al TIN
play They feel entirely competent to reg
ulate their own ainusements; and whethc
they are good or bad they are great dca
better able to judge than minister, win
leads circumscrlbed life, and is shut on
from the enjoyment Of many OF the thing
which make existence cnuurable a preach
err therefore. lessons the respect IN whicl
he Is held, and separates himself from sen
sihlc men, when he assumes TO make vice
of what they know byeXpericnco to be- simpl
salutay amuscments.
The English clergyman makes short won
Of the Stale pulpit argument against til
theatre, that il 10 a lad place tD frequent
because the morals If actors and actrcsso
will not bear scrutiny. A. matter of fact
players are about rs good A. the run of pee
ple but even il they were not, what bus
lives All they go to see il All assumed PAL
ON stage, and whether the actor who take
1t Is moral or immoral is a matter OF no a,
count. He Is good actor just 50 far as h
= loses his own character in that he person
ates. DO you. when you visit the Roys