Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-01-03
Ra dical Pulpit Deliveries.

1t is q feature of our progressive
Los Angeles that several of the
reverend gentlemen who ornament
our pulpits have weekly orgsns,
published either by themselves or
by the churches over which they
hold the relation Of pastor, In
which hebdomadals portions Of
their own sermons are reproduced.
They have, besides, editorial and
other departments. In the sermon
delivered by the Rev. K. S. Chase,
In the Methodist Episcopal church,
on Fort street, on Christmas Day,
that gentleman acquitted himself
Of some very severe utterances In
regard to the theatrical rrofes sion.
We quote all that relates to the
theater and actors, for which ex.
tended publicity the Reverend
gentleman will doubtless thank US:
The theater has a history OF
three thoueand years, aud was
never so popular rs to.dsy. Its
plays are not as excellent, aud the
character of the performers ho bet.
ter than in ancient times; but the
number Of its p atr0ns, the amount
of it's financial receipts. and the
hold it has on the country ut large
surpasses former ages.
An ancient painter made it u
rule never to look 1T bad paint
ing, lest his pencil should take q
hint and his work be marred. APP
ply this to the law of associations
aud the theater is bad.
As q class the actors are bad.
What parent would invite one of
them to his parlor? Then why EN-.
ploy them to entertain yourself or
your children?
The worst elements of society,
the thieves, murderers and harlOts,
are always at the theater. Why
miDgle with them?
II all plays are not bad, il all
actors are not bad, 1t is enough to
condemn the theater that 1t IL
generally bad. There were some
good things connected with Amer
ioan slavery, and come slaveh0ld-
ers were good men; but slavery
was bad, and we have done with it.
The theater is the dime novel
personifled.-
christian principles are not ac-
cepted as the rule Of morals.
Praise and censure are there, bus
are given according to the moral
codes. That which Christianity
treats as sin is there treated as
folly, or defect Of character.
The theater is public curse, in
being an ins trumentality In lower.
ing the standard Of law and order.
Indulgence and license-not un-
wholesome restraint-serves its
motto.
The theater appeals to the SYM
pathies, but 1t creates false sympa-
thies in presenting the unnatural
and the impure, and the creation
Of false sympathles destroys ell
true symp.thy. The effect Of 70.
nance reading aud the effect of
theater-gOing, alike create false
sympathies.
Theater-going disqualifles the
father for his responsible cares of
life; disqualifies the mother for the
domestic trials; disqualifies the
young man for his position OF trust
and p0isons the heart of the youth,
intoxicating the Imagination, in
flaming the passions. 1t 10 bad.
Let the press condemn 1t; let the
public abandon 1t.
In these utteranees the Rev. Mr..
Chase undoubtedly runs counter to
the enlightened sentiment OF the
age. If q census were taken Of all
the most illustrlous aud most es-
timable men who have lived in
the last hundred years, outside 0f
the ministry, whom certain rec.
ognized and perhaps correct eti-
quette (although the proposition
IL doubtfuD have kept away from
the theaters rs from balls and
purely convivial entertainments,
it would probably be found that
nins-tenths Of them werespatrons
Of the theater, and that many OF
them regarded 1t as Q highly refn-
ing and ennobiipg agency. In cur
own country Presidents Washing
ton, John Adams, jefferson, Madi-
son, Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
jackson, Van Buren, Harrison,
Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore,
Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Grant,
| HayAa. Garflald and Arthur-all