The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27

enough to draw him. but ma often as he desrra
to go. He believes the stage, like tho pulpit
society will allow II to be, Actors he has al
ways found ready to talk with perhaps too
much enthusiasm OF tho possibilities Of the
stage, They want to ralse ns character, and
Mr. rockingham thinks they do keen il up Just
as high rs tn" public taste willnllow when SO,
ciety improves. the character Of the stage will
improve" II all the ministers should attend
the theatres the stage would doubtless Improve
in, moral tone. i" But then, Mr. Frothinghnm
TINT others would not attend"
The Rev Dr. T omns Armitage OF the Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church has not gone to see
spare from his work. He has not even had time
that have been produced in New York this. win
ter. As to people who want 10 20 to see Pima
fore" or other plays. he will not quarrel with
them. He has arrived ut an age when these
little questions do not bother him. Each man
must decide them for himself. For his part. he
considered himself engaged to give his congre-
cation thoughts and instruction on higher,
broader, and deeper neutrality-suspicious.
that shall enable them TO decide on all smaller
matters correctly for themselves. He has heard
that Pinafora" is entirely innocent. but he
knows nothing Of It. He. has little sympathy
any longer with those ministers who are always
irving to preach down the Catholics or balls
or novel reading or the stage. His congre-
n was tho dnty of n minister 10 select reading
matter for his flock but DIR. Armitage thinks
that in thrs So times and among his congregation
IL would be almost as much beyond his sphere
Of duty to select the books his parishioners
were to read Ms IL would be to select the kind OF
boots they were to wear. He does not propose
~ select their Rmuscments.
The Rev. David Einhorn. hale and hearty
under the weight Of 10 years. who has just
signed his thrty-eight years pastorate OF tho
Bethel Jewish congregation, because he thinks
he has earned right To rest, says that he and
his brethren in this city hold no opposition to
theatres. though they are opposed to immoral
plays. He Is II temperate man himself and a
friend OF temperance, but he il opposed to the
formation Of societies which forbid their mem-
hers TO drink wine, beer. or liquors. He has not
gone to see Pnefore because he now seldom
leaves his house in the evenings. but nearly oil
| the members OF his family have gone to see it,
| with his cordial approval
The Rev. j. W. Shackeford OF the Episcopal
| Church OF the Redeemer has seen Pinafore"
twice. He differs from many OF his brethren in
n,n w. "a ,ha ibestr bsn niey ny Meant
| as " Pinatoreh IL pui on the stage. Neverthe-
less. he would not like TO advocate theatre
| going from his pulpit. because some OF his con-
| gregation might not make proper discrimina-
| tion In the choice OF places where to go. They
| would use his sanction OF harmless plays to
| cover their patronage OF immoral representa-
| tons. Mr.. Shackeliord 10 connoisseur in
music. and. being well acquainted with sulll-
vans previous musical writings. h, was de-
| srous OF hearing what he could do in
new style Of composition. Each time that
nS The eI Rsy. Dr. Henry W. Bellows Of Hsouls
| Unitarian Church has seen " Pinafore three
| times He has lived In the same neighborhood
thirty or forty. years and the people having
| found out that he Is pretty good citizen allow
| him 70 do pretty much MS he pleases. He was
delighted with the play. and is only too happy
| that something else really amusing has been
found 70 take the place Of ,reprehensible pieces.
The Rev. Father David Merrick. pastor Of st.
| Francis Xavier's Church. is In favor OF all in
nocuous amusements. and II Pinafore" is as
IS as .I he has beSTd that T. s0 he is
seen Pinaiore." because he does not think il
would be best for him, AS a priest TO go to see
IL; but he would not quarrel with any other per-
son who might choose TO go. i is possible that
some might. after visiting " Pinaiore." 20 to
| see other and worse plays. Men and women are
| Dut RFOWn-up children. and Will have nmusp-
| ment Ii Is good to provide them with harmless
means OF grsiiiying that desire
| OF ST. Vincent de Paul. has not had time to 40 to
see Pinaiore, so engaged is he with the du-
| ties OF his parish. All be knows about the play
| is what he has learned from the big posters on
| the dead walls and bill boards. His reading OF
10 The sun. from which he can learn much In
The Rev. william J. Tucker OF the Madison
| Square Presbyterian Church has not gone to
see Pinafore." because. even though the play
| were rs pure and innocent as he had heard il
was. visit 10 theatre where 1t was played
| He could not undertake TO discriminate Tor his
congregation. A friend Of his had remarked
ment produced in New York this season
THAT %fs Giey so T rS cGSg nSs
answer Tor the truth OF this affirmation
| because he had no personal knowledge on the
| subject but at all events tho success Of one in.
nocent play WAS TO eNceptonH thing 70 found
| principle on. II 1t should be followed 10y An;
| other. anu so on until lnHre should De founded
| IA school Of such plays. all Innocent and hll sue
| c,ssful. such "a state OF things might legitimate
| ly call upon the clergy for discussion. but even
| then the great question rs to giving support 10
| theatres would yet be an open one. because this
| new school would. after all. form only one class
| OF dramas and possibly 1t would vet be the true
| policy Of the churches 10 d.scountenancs It on
| account Of the rest. Mr. Tucker had often
sorely felt the need OF good amuSements for the
| people. but he was very lar from inclining 70
| expect them from the theatres. Though he
knew that many ladies' and gentlemen were
doing all they could on tho stage to elevate t.
yet II remained that It's object was merely
amusement. and not moral elevation. This was
likely TO be SO as long rs theatres were man
aged merely for personal gain.
The Rev. Dr. f. Moldenke OF 81. Peters Luthe-
ran Church would not be inclined to 20 To- see
"Pinafore," even though he knew more about
II than he does. Ii may be very good hut II Is
one OF a multitude OF plays, many OF which art
very bad. A minister may preach very well in
deed. but perhaps his general doctrines are bad
II so, the people Will not want To hear MIN. In DR.
Moldenke's church the people Will not hire sing
ers from the variety theatres and the opera L
sing in their choir. because they think that in
church all should ne OF piece. Nevertheless
| Dr. Modenke would 40 TO a theatre. II he ielt s(
inclined, to see Booth or any OF Shakespeare
plays, The hutherans are not opposed to IN,
n GTa Of q reson IN tho form OF reiSous piays
but in the last century In Germany acting Eel
10 the portion OF strolling bands OF men anc
women whose characters were very bad. anc
whose plays were highly immoral. In tina
way the stage became debased. and who car
an actor is res lrded as a kind Of outcast.
The Rev. Or. T. II. Chaplin OF the Fourth Uni
versalist Church has seen "Pinafore" once
He heard nothing that he would not be wilinl
10 have reproduced in his own paror. That il
his test Of the purity of a play. He seldom at
tends theatres because he finds himselftoo busy
10 do So
The Rev. N Bierring OF the Greek Chapel 95
Second avenue, has not attended perfor
| nance OF "plnafore," but knows no rea
son why he should not do SO If he wantcC
TO. He thinks II pastors OF churches would
| travel more and see more OF the world thar
many OF them do. they would lose their antipa
thy toward the theatre. Very many OF them d'
not even read beyond the confines Of their mar
row sectarian Libraries. lfa man has religion
| In his heart he will not be likely 10 go astray
and rs for those who find II necessary Z
| demonstrate their possession Of religious feel
| ing by the obtrusive observance Of or refrain
ing from, various little things. Father Bier
| ring holds them In light estimation. Man
| sectarians cannot speak dozen words wthou
the use OF some word or phrase indicative o
their religious belief This shows lack o
general culture His visitor, taking up n cop
OF Vamberys Mohammedanism in tho Nine
teenth Century" which lay on the table
Father Bjerrlng remarked that he toun
the study OF the doctrines OF MOhamme
| extremely interesting. They had con
verted millions from polythelsm and fetch
ism in the same field whore so man
| Christian missionaries had failed. The Chris
| tian religion was in its ethics. very great
superior TO any other. yet he found much tina
was interesting and instructive in other form