, 1879-06-15

|
are under obligations to do nothing which units
| them for taking a conspicuous part tn public
worship; and as the minister's part is the most
conspicuous, bis engagement in theatrical e1-
| hibitions would be the most improper. But In
| less degree, the same blame, and for the same
| reason, attaches to member OF a church cnolr
In what way would engaging in harmless
comedy affect the fitness Of either minister OK
| choir member for their dutics9" ....
| uBY the association OF ideas. As soon as
they rose to perform their part in religious Wor-
ship the minds OF the congregation would be
| filled with recollechons OF what they nao salo
and done elsewhere OF an opposite character:
And this would completely, destroy the elect OF
their speaking and singing"
"Do you know the character Of the opera Of
| sPinafore '2'
.Yes; have read the words OF the opera,
| and It. seems to me to be harmless"
NWhat do you think OF the drama In gen
eral2''
II believe good people are pretty we'll agreed
| that theatrical exhibitions are demoralizng"
| The reporter then made his way to the resi-
| depce OF
| THE REV. BROOKE HEREFORD,
of the Church OF the Messiah. The reverend
| gentleman was not at home, but, as fortune al
ways favors the brave, the reporter aud Mr. Her.
I ford collided on the street about block away.
NWell met, Mr.. Herford," be said, ~ have
| just called at your house to see 5ou Are you
/ going backa" .,
ssNo; in an entirely different direction"
"Then allow me to walk with you short dis
| tance, and PROFOUND m important inquiry, Tor
| the benefit Of the readers of The TRIBUNE
THE TR1BuNR is interviewing the leading minis
| ters OF the city concerning the cnnrch-cholr
/ .Pinaforc.' It knew what you would say, and
"Aud what did 1t know would sav?"
stWhy, that it was all right. Of course" :,
"Then, won't say any such thing. In fact,
am very clad that none Of my choir are en-
paged in it. I have no objection to dramatic
Entertainments; aud no objection to 'Pinafore,'
which ! have read, and regard rs n harmless
piece Of nonsense. But can see no fitness or
propriety in church choirs engaging in the per-
for1nance OF it, and least OF al advertising It as
cnurch-c choir performance am not in a bad
temper about it at all, and do not think that
should do much to prevent 1t, but do not ap--
prove Of IT, and am heartily glad that none Of
my choir have engaged In It,"
Just then the horse-car passed, Mr. Herford
entered 1t, and the reporter hurried of to the
dwelling OF the
REV. DR.. II. II. RIDER,
of St. Paul's Untyersalist Church.
cdr. Ryder" said he, *.the public wish'to
know what you think OF the performance Of
.Pinafore' at Aayerly's By the church choirsa"
0Well, Ihaye com1orted myself all the week
with the thought that none OF my choir are en-
4 Are you opposed to dramatic exhibitionsa"
t'Not at all. I 60 to the. theatre once in
L
sPinafore' simply because could not consclen-
tiously see church choirs performing In
theatre"
.Where Is the harm!''
"Ihe harm Is twofold. In the first place, It
units them for taking prominent place in pub
lie worship When they rise to sing people
think, not OF the hymns they are singing, but
OF the part they performed at the theatre. The
association OF ideas Is deadly to elective service
on Sunday. And out Of that grows the second
evil Of this enterprise. The performers will
cease to be desirable hired singers in choirs.
They will, 10 my opinion, live to regret that
they ever engaged 10 it, on account OF t1c injury
it Will do their legitimate business. These are
nv honest sentiments On the subject.n
The next minister invited to contribute an
opinion on this subject was the
REV. DIR. 8. Il. ADAMS,
OF the Ada Street Methodist Church, who was
not afraid to express himself on the subject of
"Pinafore.''
uNow, first, as to the drama in general,'' said
the Doctor, squaring himself for good talk,
ttour Conference has enacted very stringent
rules against it, which, while think We are
bound to obey them, would not have enacted
il had been the Conference. I do not think
that one visit to theatre is necessarily sin,
like one act OF theft falsehood. But visiting
it frequently or statedv, even at long intervals,
think, is wrong. The drama is not abstractly
sinful but it does not exist anywhere as an ]
abstraction. am afraid that the average theatre
is bad placc,-worse. even than some OF the |
managers would like to'ste It. have no doubt |
that Mf. McVicker would like to see the theatre |
much better than he dares to make it: for fear !
Of the business going to ruin. So I have never |
been to the theatre, and am not theatre mau." |
land as to tPinafore '!' |
"Now think that, II possible, choir ought |
members are Christians or not, think they |
ought to feel themselves under an obligation to |
do nothing that would 1nilitate against the eff |
fective discharge Of their Sunday duties. They t
ought to feel about this Just as minister ought |
to feel. None Of my choir have gone into this |
Pinafore business, and am glad they have |
not. For I consider it very improper for choir |
to do so, and very inconsistent for an official |
Board t. allow T. a should thok it natural
The Doctors attention was directed 10 the |
ssdamme. it's too bad " passage, and the lust |
words OF Corcoran to Buttercup.
than SAT- ssDamme,' and yet he thought that
passage was coarse and In bad taste, and the
Euttercup passage rnther indelicate.
Time was flying, and The TRIBUNE repre-
sentative betook himself in haste to the reat-
dence Of the
REV. SUMNER ELLIS,
Of the Universalist Church OF the Redeemer.
Mr.. Ellis views were explained In very few
words. He believed in the drama, believed
that it Was depressed BY mercenary managers, |
but could and would be redeemed and purified.
Even in 1r5 present condition, he thought it did ]
more good than harm, and he priced it as
public instructor. He went to the theatre
whenever ne felt like it, which was once or
twice year. He did not approve, Of course, |
OF any dramatic exhibition which was immoral
In its matter or tendencies.
"Thcn what do you say to the church choir
ss Pinaforc!'' was asked
!" have nothing to say against it, he replied.
II It seems to me TO be perfectly innocent for
the church choir to engage In it, and for the
church members to 20 to see it."
THE REV. CANON J. H. KNOWLES,
Of the Cathedral Of St. Peter and St. Paul, was
the next victim of reportorial inquisitivencss.
The good Canon was not at home, the Irish ser
Vant remarkIng innocently that the Canon had
!. gone of ~ to the Cathedral. The reporter al
10 Hwent off," and found the amiable gentle
mau and his organtst I'd the Cathedral, super
intending some changes. After little hedging
The man with the pencil asked the Canon il he
knew about "Pinaforc."
"Yes," he said, ~ know the play well, md
It is one Of Glnert's best.''
'Do you state that 'of1icial]y'2'' interposed
he organist.
"Yes," said the Canon, II state that oficial-
y rs my opinion"
''Then, what do Iou think OF the church.
choir performance OF it4''