Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-05
St. John Street M. E. Church.

~~~@ - Second Sermon In the Series on Amuse-
 memts by Rev. Mr. Harrfs-A Large Com
 gregation in Attendance-AreT Theatr es
 and Operas Sinful
 There was very large congregation at the St. John street church last evening to listen to the second of series of sermons by the pastor, Rev. MT. Harris, on amuseHents and the duty of Christians in regard to them. His subject last evening was in regard to theatres and operas. He gave as the basis of his remarks Ecclesiastes, 2d chapter, 1st verse, and also the 27th verse of the perced- ing chapter. In his opening remarks the preacher said that pleasure, mirth and amuse- ment would not bring happiness, but only misery unless the amusement was for inno-
 cent recreation. Pleasure must be,mads up
 of good morals Amusements are either innocent, doubtful or criminal. First, then,
 ought we to attend theatrical amusements? Pro- ceeding he said that theatricals covered three periods; the Pagan, Roman Catholic and Protestant. In the Pagan period theatres
 were not simply for amusement, but they
 were often used for form of worship. The
 actors sometimes represented living persons.
 By the Greeks the tragedy often represented
 their religion, and was of 8 moral nature and
 there was no such straining after things as
 we see in Shakespeare. Women were not al-
 lowed to take part and it is doubtful if women
 were ever allowed to attend the theatres. In
 later days theatres were prohibited in Greece
 as immoral in their character. In Rome
 tragedy never had much hold. Here women
 were first introduced and they became so immoral that they finally came to be fre-
 quented by only IcentioaS men and women. So much for Pagan days.
 The second period was the Roman Catholic period. The theatre was made reproach to the church, and yet they were encouraged by the priests.
 The third period is the Protestant period.
 The Puritans closed the theatres. of England for thirteen years. But under Charles the
 Second came another epoch when icentious plays were laughed at by the king.
 The third epoch is our own period. The proprietors put their plays on the stage with shameless exposure of person. The first thought of 8 manager is secular. His first [ thought is will the play pay? Plays where l heaven and hell are freely used, where se- I auctions are represented, and plays which | are enough to make New York rowdy | blush plays where character in most places \ is ignored; plays where the name of God | is taken in vain; plays where lewd women \ are employed, where pistols are fired, thun- der rolling, fiddles squeaking, scene shifters | swearing, and the drop curtain falls on 8 I play that pays.
 \ Now what of the performers2 I have nothing to say against them as individuals I shall not indulge in personalities. I must
 say this in praise of actors and actresses: They are men and women of mind and hard I students; but who of you would invite them \ to your houses? Every age has rolled up its \ testimony against theatres. Bishop Collyer avews it as his solemn conviction that noth- | ing has done so much to corrupt the mind of the present age as the play house. Alexan- der Dumas the younger, in reply to 8 gentleman who wrote him on the inn that while his plays were immoral the theatre itself was immoral also. What have apologists to say for the theater l I have received 8 number of letters from this \ class. The preacher here quoted them, and \ commented on them as he proceeded. Re- plying to one who said he enjoyed 8 good | play better than 8 good sermon, MT. Harris | inquired what man expected to gain in morals | by attending such plays as Hazel Kirke, Two f Orphans, Buffalo Bill and Black Crook. Pro. ceeding, he said if all the theaters through out the country were to close tonight there would be hundreds who would mourn over \ the loss of what they call innocent amuse- ment.
 The preacher then paid his respects to the ! opera, which he said was invented by the Venetians. The first English opera was from | German opera entitled ''The Devil Let \ Loose" and from the way that operas had | fourished since then the devil had not been ! caught yet. Well, another apologist says we | go to the opera to hear the good music You
 are wrong, my friend, when you say this and \ you pay yourself 8 poor compliment when you say that it is the music and not the words I,you go to hear. Mans love of music existed ! before the opera was thought of and | gone out of existence. do not un- derestimate the worth of music when oppose the opera. The world is full
 of music and song. There is music in the thunder clap and pattering rain upon the ' window there is music in old ocean as 1t | lashes it's waves upon the shore, and there is music to the mother in the first cry Of her ! new born babe. Yea, let everything that hath
 breath praise the Lord. The school training in music should be supplemented at home by some kind of an instrument if it be nothing ! more than fish horn. Train your children
 to love music, and they will not be so apt to seek the opera for enjoyment. DiSabuse your minds, if you think object to music, | vocal or instrumental, when I oppose the opera. Neither do oppose operatic music
 if pure and unaccompanied by theatricals Everything may be enchantment and gaiety
 in the opera, yet there comes up an incense presidential and horrible, in many instances
 Moderation has no place in the indulgence o1 evil :; it is 8 misnomer. The theatre is ruin all the time. Are they innocent pronounce
 than to be criminal, and the opera too, for
 the souls sake, for whom Christ died, and all
 the sentiment of Christianity is opposed tc
 them. ; Ought Christians to patronize the
 theater2 Patronize the devil. No, do moi you as church members to remember the prayer of Jesus, 'Iead us not into tempta
 tion." and the words of Paul. ''Abstair from all evil" Satan and the world will
 both shake hands with you if they find you
 at the theater. One can hardly conceive
 how 8 church member would make an apol ogy for theater or opera. In closing the preacher thanked the audience for their kind