, 1879-06-15
PINAFORE PlETY.
The Chicago Ministers Interviewed
Concerning the Church Choir
Pinafore.
Host Of Them Ire ''Either at Skies or ut SeTens, y
but 0ne Of Tkem 'sIs Shady;
lie Is Saaly."
Several Of Them Are Disposed to .Ap-
ply "the Cat" to Some Parts
Of the Play.

"H. N. s. Pinafore" Is not moro remarkab1
for the furore it has created all over England
and America, among plar~goers, tnan for 1T
remarkable power over church people, espe
claily church choirs. In all the large cities o.
this country, the choir people, not content with
crowding the theatre to see 1t performed, hare
| rushed pell-mcll into the business of perform
Ing it themselves. This has given great oifense
to large class of Christian people, and raised
many questions in casuistryf for new discussion
which have long been regarded as settled. The
public feeling is running so high In some church
circles on this subject that The TRIBUNE dis
| patched reporter to several OF the leading
ministers OF the city yesterday, with view ot
giving them an opportunity to express theil
sentiments on " pinafora" piety, and the public
an opportunity OF reading them. And the first
member OF the reverend profession whom be
was able to s'tackle to " was the
THE REV. FATHER P. J. CONWAY,
Pastor OF St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church,
who welcomed THK TR1suNE man "most 20
litely."
| "Fathcr Conway" said the reporter, "tbts
city is in great commotion over the performance
Of Piuafore' at Hsverly's BY the church chotss,
"Well," he replied, "that depends on the
| character of the play. ! do not know what 1t is
| at all.''
"Do you never 60 to the theatre1" ;
| "NeYer."
"What, neVer!"
"No; but not because I am opposed to the:
drama. The drama originated with the Church,
and is, believe, in itself, not only harmless but
beneficial. 1t may be, and ought to be. a valu-
able school Of instruction."
''Do you think that its lessons. as fact, arc
always good"
al can't saw that I can't keep the run Of
these city theatres, and do not know what they
present OF course, do not approve OF an I'M
moral drama. But what kind Of play IL Pima
fore'2n -:
swell, 1t is called an innocent sort Of oper-
attic comedy.''
"Then, I see no objection to choir members
performing it at Hayerly's. and no objection to
good people going to see the performance"
"Thank you, Father Conway. The public
will be greatly interested tomorrow to read
your opinion. Good day"
From the parsonage Of St. Patrick's the re-
porter turned his steps toward the parsonage OF
Centenary Methodist Church, and requested
the :.
REV. DIR. 4. y. THOMAS
IN inform the nuh)ic through The TRIBUNE,
-. .,-..+ - ,h,,-,h ohoi. ,oo,,a ,er
WAL h' 1nou1us =. =, .A'A - e110'A p@op'' '~A
forming "Flnalore: !.
"1t is not regarded so, believe"
"Then l do not sec any harm Ia the choir peo-
pie setting it. But say this on your representa-
tion @ that u Is Pure pure p!ag. aosau,,. j.,
the Doctor that passage in the:play where Capt
Coreoran STAMPS m ms 1oot ana saws, Danme,
it's too bad" Inc DOCTOR was greatly interested
10 the reporters graphic account OF tue trouble
Coreoran was IN, and "hen the reporter, alter
explaining u all asked the uoctor "nat ne
tnougnt u No'eG.4 !. ~ ete4aa'aIon u1 i"usAeo
a"u ea' so;d te nnotor w ~ Gsnera1 cor
fcrencc has 1egisiaEed. Oh. this matter. aud has
eo;d hat should not % 10 the thentre And T
how tn its authority and nayer-no. never
20 thrre. In fact. In,neyer was at
thpatrn or ANYTHING OF the kind in
nv life Tie nearest I ever came to it
wos froInp once to menager1c: aud was little
afroii to do That. Some people, who viii not 90
to the theatre here, make point OF going when
they 20 to New York. But I never would do
that. because i would be sure to tell about it
when | got back. / have thought, however,
that when [ 90 to Europe as I hope to do some
dav, I will % to a theatre there. The wide ex-
panse OF water, you know, between here aud
there, might tope down the wrong Of it, SO that,
not five offcnse, When I get into another
wor]d' at least. / EXPECT to hunt up Charlotte
Cnahman. anal some spirits like her, and enjoy
their society, which I am denied here"
Sof conrse. if YOU sec no harm in performing
sPinaforc.' you see no harm in people going to
see it performed.'
!. Ma unless they are under the same oblfea-
tim thnt am under to obey the Discipline.
Thnnrh If Ind nv own wav, [ would leave it
~ thn;r own consciences.,
TIVE TnInrHE representative began to think
that ihe next thing We should hear Of would be
n .PinaTore,' acted by ministers and their
wives. But he was destined to have the impress
SION eiraced within a yerr few minutes. He
nert soueht the residence Ut the
A@'S 49, no W wopp,,,
~. ~ o1..Nu.n - -, N' -.
pastor OF the Elgntn fresoster1an Church. The
Doctor Is kentucky Cnestefneld, and It was
worth d long walk TO receive MS cordlal snake OF
the hand, md to oe lnVlteu INTO nus coy study.
"Now, Doctor" SAD ne man 40 with the pen
ell, III you p1ease' te't ihE 1htsuAE e1actlV
what you think ABOUT tnls cnurcn-cnolr 'flna-
fore, busfness:n
Yes. yes: Lid you near Wnot occurred 1t
my church thursday evening""
No; tell me- rlght away;
Well, have large btnie class-aoout 5oO
in numbeF-that meets every thursday evening.