The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-31

SWEEPING DENUNcIATIoN OF THE STAGE
THEATRE-GoING DECLARED TO BE IMMORAL
AND UNcHRIsTIAN.
In the Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal Church.
Brooklyn, the pastor. Rev. j. NJ. Buckley weighed
the results OF theatregong, and concluded that the
Church should show its opposition thereto. His text
was from l. Timothy. ill., 4;-'Lovers OF pleasures
than lovers of Cod 1t is the fashion to say
that the church should its opposition to the
theatre; that the opposition the result of gno-
rance and prejudice; that nne-tenths Of those who
oppose it "don't know what they talking about
that the remainder are mostly people who had
good time in their youth but have forgotten it and
grown morbid. While the multitude will take
up any cry that may become fashionable it is
necessary to examine with proportionate to
the importance of the question everything that may
be proposed. Our inquiry this evening is:-What is
the moral tendency of witnessing the representa-
tons of vice given in the theatre? Before entering
upon it we viii settle the meaning of the text.
Those who utterly neglect God and seek their plea
sure sin those who seek pleasure Unfortunately,
that it be called the main end of their lives, and
those who find pleasure in what God has positively
forbidden. lovers Of pleasure than lovers of
God. Those who. without performing these acts.
love to see and hear them and of them of the
same class. But this does not reflect any light
theatre going until settle the character of tho
CHRISTIANITY MIsREPREsENrED.
What the general characteristics of plays
Christian principles are not accepted as
of morals; praise and censure not given accord
ing to the prccepts of the Gospel but according to
shifting worldly and often immoral codes That
which Christianity denounces as great sin is often
spoken of in the theatre AS mere folly. True re-
ligion practiscd by the conscientious selfdeny-
ing, world renouncing, God fearing Christian Is
never praised but usually rdiculed, and when re-
ligion comes upon the stage it is generally in the
person of u sporting parson and Aminadab Sleek or
he III
olence is brought forward it is usually an act per-
formed by some .good liver II a piece of penu-
robustness is to be denounced it is connected with
sanctimonious professor. That religion OF an
easy going sort is sometimes conlplimentcd and
that many fine and just sentiments concerning God
and virtue and the future life are introduced, is
freely admitted But that the kind of piety re-
qiiired by Christ is seldom or never praised in the
literature the drama will hardly be denieds
few plays have been written in which it has been
justly commended and illustrated. but they never
became popular. Now, from these two facts, that
the standard OF approval is not that OF Christian
morality. and that religion is not represented
in an attractive manner, it is clear that the moral
tendency must be bad. In most plays wickedness is
made to furnish musement, and. it has been truly
said Grimes that would call down the wrath of God
their perpetrators are Systematically made to
provoke laughter" In the theatre one character
lies another steals, another is drinking and revealing.
another conspiring, another attempts intrigue, an
other adultery or murder. Oatls and profane ex-
pressions are often introduced and in popular
plays used by the actor more frequently than they
appear in the original text. Witticsms, whose whole
point lies in indecent ausion or implication. are
very common, aud many if the open obscen-
y the lcentious w.t. the profaneness and the turns
of expression that along the confines of mpro-
priety always apparently about to cross. but just
escaping expurgated. there would be little left
to excite attention.
These charges not denied and the attempt has
been made to Justify them on three . different
actions daily committed among US; that
history is full of accounts OF them. This. also, is
true and because it is true far too many of the
folies, vices and crimes of mankind will be forced
upon notice without our seeking to enlarge the
view, especially under pretence of amusement. Sec
ond it said that '.the moral of the play is good
Where there is any moral, in the technical sense, it
is hastily disposed of in the fifth act; but this can.
not counteract the influence of what has preceded
it. Suppose story for youth fun of reckless
ic to be- that if ON the last
page it should be stated that sthe path of duty is
the path of safety" the effect OF the narrative
would be modified for good? Third, it is said that
there indecent things in the Bible. This will
have force when a joke founded on sin, or
be produced from the Bible. When plays put
upon the stage the Appearance. dress. expression.
possible to the characters assumed. The woman Of
easy virtue. the young woman being led asray, the
iibertine the gambler and the reveller must dress
and act in character Hence. the Imagination is ever
! in danger of being polluted. 1t is said thas
those who oppose the theatre, a .mey o nave
about. But have we not the advertisements and the
criques? II the theatrebe what it promises to be.
what the reporters and critics affirm that 1t Is, We
| know enough. But, unfortunately. the speaker
knows more for in his youth he was greatly injured
|
life OF pe.y untitled for the serious pursuit OF bust
ness lose relish for lectures aud solid read
! ing and thrown into bad company. Further. in
reading seventy plays put upon the stage in New
York Brooklyn during the past six years not more
than Ave could be found suitable TO be read in
q promlscuous assembly.
Attendance on the theatre produces kind of moral
color blindess il avail to say evil to him
who evil thinks. II sentence is capable OF two
interpretations he who emphasizes the impure de-
rebuke but where it can have but one me aiming.
it that be impure, it must be abhorrcd The sure
test is not how we may feel but what the elements
are Regular attendants Mt the theatre not easily
affected of religion. Persons of great moral
earnestness have little sympathy with it. When
church given UP to theatre going revivals cease,
conversions few those mostly among children.
For these and other the church cannot cease
the opposition to the theatre