Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-03-01
The.1heatre.;

Rev. Wright's second discourse on the
popular amusements of the day was
listened to last Sunday evening by full
church. His arguments were strong,
and every reasoning person who heard
them will be obliged 10 admit their force
Following arc the main points OF the
lecture:
It is not claimed that the theatrical or ope-
ra tic exhibition is wrong in itsel}. There is
not necessarily any harm in the representa-
ton, On the stage, of any great and noble
event of history; for example, the self
fee of Arnold Winkelried, or the appearance
of John Huss before the Council OF Constance.
Or, of any conical incidents, real or imagin-
airy, which illustrate character in a humorous
and yet seemlY way.
The fact that the theatre makes use of a
stage and scenery, does not. of course, make
it necessarily wrong; nor the fact that it Is
open to all alike on the procurement of a tick
ct of admissi on. This so far as is known, is
claimed by few if any.
So that the theatre cannot be condemned
for any of these things.
But the theatre must be judged, not by its
inherent qualities, but by it's history and
fruits and surroundings. We have nothing to
do with an ideal theatre. We must take it as
it is, and has been.
MANY testimonies were then given by the
speaker, of the greatest and best men. show
ing what the theatre has been in each age Of
its existence.)
Plato says of it in his day: 1.-THE plays raise
the passions, and pervert their use, and of
consequence, are dangerous to morality"
The historian Lecky strongly condemns the
theatre of the Medieval ages, saying that
''in gross indeceney it equalled the worst days
OF the Roman theatre
Macaulay says: 1.-THE prof1igacy of the
English plays is deep blot on our national
fame"
Rev. DR.. Crosby, for many years pastor of
the 4th Ave. Presbyterian church of New
York City s. Chancellor of New York Univer-
sity, sums up the arguments against the the
atre as it now exists, in the following words:
l. EVERY theatre is surrounded by brothels
and groggeries. They flock around theatre
the moment one is built, as their choice
ground of success. What does that prove?
2 The profession of the stage is VIGOROUSLY
and women living in daily defiance of the laws
of decency and morality. The exceptions to
this are 50 rare, as to cause universal sur
prise. 3. The plays enacted are themselves
generally immoral. These immoralities are
found more or less in every play brought
upon the stage. 4. The ballet, which is an
appurtenance to every theatre. is so digust-
ingly vicious that will only here name it,"
Here are four arguments against the the
atrc, any one of which ought to crimson a
respectable persons cheek at the thought of
countenancing so vile an institution.
The opera is open to substantially the same
charges.
"You can count on your fingers" says DIR.
Crosby, "all the operas that are not immoral
and these even have manyl doubtful parts.
While the tauorite operas. those which draw
the crowded houses, are such as Don Clio
vanni,' full of filth
These facts hold true not only of the poorer
class of theatres. of which we do not speak,
but of the very best in the land.
The theatre, as it is, is condemned even
by the best members of the theatrical pro-
fession itself.
Edwin Booth, in a letter to the Christian
Union, a few years since says: my knowledge
of the theatre is such that never permit
my wife or daughter to witness play with
out previously ascertaining its character
Macready is "a name mighty in theatrical
circles. A few years before his death he
wrote: ''None of my children shall ever, with
my consent, or on any pretcnse, enter thea-
tire, or have any visiting connection with
actors or actresses
Macready ought to know. Where he and
Booth pause, it were well for us to pause and
consider whether we should lend any support
to such an. institution as the modern the.
atre is.
plays, and some pure actors. but they are the
rarePexception.
The institution, as whole and in the main,
is as corrupt as anything can we'll be: the
enemy Of religion and morality.
1t is rightly classed not with recreations,
but with designations. Such and such only
can it be to those who frequent it. And not
only dissipation, but one of the baser sort
ministering to RIGHTEOUSNESS, int temperance,
and crime, indisposing to serious thought
much more to Cody living.
The speaker is unable, therefore. to coma
to any other conclusion than this:
The ordinary theatre is no place for Chris.
tian or good man.
The time spent before minstrel Shows is
time thrown away and worse.
We should determine never to see play in
a theatre, unless we can be assured before.
hand that it Is entirely unobiectionable in a
moral point of view. And even then but rare
ly; 1t should not represent habit.
In short. is not that the wisest discrimina
ton, wisest and safest, which quits the the
atre altogether?
1t is well, where there is doubt, to keep or
the safe side OF certainty" 1t is better some
times to go hungry than to once eat poisoned
food.
The evil of a vicious suggestion does not
depart when the bell rings down the curtain
No mar, cds, touch pitch and not be deRlsd.