New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-08
THE cHURCH AND THE THEATRE.

followed the multitude to hear 'PInafOre," ana
coming away have boldly declared that they
saw no harm in it, beyond little airy
music and innocent satire, and that II
the theatre furnished only such harmless
fun as this they must withdraw their dlsap-
prevail of IT.. Some of the more strictly or
thOdox clcrgymcn, alarmed by this sudden
carrying OF the war INTO Carthage by the
enemy, held meeting the other day, and
issued wholesale dcnunciaton of theatres,
actors and plays, moi excluding Shakespeare's,
as debaSng, lascivious and immoral.
Now THE TRIBUNE has neither right nor
inclination to take sides in this quarrel. II
the Church and The Stage insist on fighting
out their old battle, we may be satisfied that
the right will be sure to triumph IN the end.
Wherever there Is a helpful genuine word
spoken for the world, it will not fail OF It's
Grand, whether it come from behind an altar
cloth or the footlights. If the Church, on the
contrary, ever comes to terms with the stage
and agrees to recognize in 1t possible ally
for the help and lettering of the world, why
we shall begin to think thr day OF practical
common sense and real charity has begun TO
dawn. judging, however, from the anathe-
mas Of our orthodox Philadelphia friends, 1t
has not dawued "a yet.
Sut in the meanwhile We think that either
arty might take some useful hints to help
It's success from the other even in the hottest
of tine battle. The cllrgymrn " deplored the
universal tendency Of the human mind to
take delight in scenic representations" Now
tins is "A fact: first, because the human mind
must have amusement; and because the drama
touches directly on the emotions, ambitions,
and wants o. everyday life. Il IS not Danish
Prince or vaelb0nd Of tie Cat~kills that We
gotosccin " Hamlet OF Rip,' but our brother
man. tempted, struggling, defeated or conqu0-
ing. Tie clergymen who N every age, have
moved the masses, have been not logical
Gociyindires, brit men who spoke to their
hearers as their brother M,9 out OF depths oi
experience Of pain aud joy ike their own;
men of broad, warm hIman nature, who
were able to bring Christianity, vital
and glowing, home 10 each mans emotions
and every day life. Augustine. Luther, Taylor,
Ma-sillon, Whitfield Moody, Beechcr-any OF
orr readers can finish the list. We may have
what individual opinion We choose OF any OF
these men; we may believe them to be hyp0-
critics, trirkstcIs, even immoral, but We cannot
deny that thty knew the secret Of success.
They brought the muutudcs To their feet
aud moved them as they chose. Here Il
= hint for the wise and good mon who find
their congrcca ions cold ncayy as lead.
Secondly. men and wou d.. Il, life grows
more strained and oyrrworkcd need more
amusement and stimuant, and they will have
it, Oar religion. teachers should recognize
that THIS requirement OF the mind Is As mex
orablc a. the demand for food by the body.
They VIII tell Us that the same plea may be
made for the use of whSkcy. Very true; and
the oay successful cOmba! against whskey
has been made not by abuse of liquor, but by
substituting muOrcnt Stimuant for 1.-THE
cofTrc-r,om and w0TI,maH's club for the gin
shop. The countries in Europe, and the towns
in This country, as any theatrical manager can
testify, where the theatres are most thnly
hllcd, are those in which home sud social life
Is the most gay aud cheerful. Here is another
hint for oar teachers
Now for the managers of the Stage. They
will be blind to their own interest if they
neglect the lesson which the phenomenal sue
cc,, of this rihiug little opera, which formed
thc bore Of contention in Philadelphia, should
teach them. Its success Is worth an cXamiDa-
ton, not only rs TO the numbers, bat as to tho
class OF hearers that IL has drawn. Men and |
women, members OF Christian churches, who
never before entered theatre, have gone to /,
laugh. and gone back again with their chill
drou to laugh with them. Why7 Nobody |
really cares for the satire on the british navy
better music and better acting could be seen
elsewhere But this was fun, aud decent fun. !
The average American, as we said, Christian
or iTeligious, must have amusement, but
he Is, as u rule, more than any
other man, clean-mindcd and modest. He
wants no nastinesS in hs sparkling !
draught. No opera boufft, however brilliant, !
has ever had such success. "Pmaiore is only |
a straw. but it shows how the wind of public /
opinion is blowing in way which managers |
will DO well to heed.
If the drama ever attracts the masses IN
this country 1t must be by rising to the level
of the best class. not by sinking below the
worst.