Morning journal and courier., 1883-04-30
Nhe Theater.

The Duty of the Christian Community
 Purify the Stage.
 At Dwight Place church yesterday morD- ing large congregation listened to Rev. Thomas R. Bacon's discourse on theater-go- ing despite thesunfavoreble weather. The text was from Ezekiel A, 23: 'And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, aud shall cause them to discern between the clean and the uncIean''
 MT. Bacon said any careful view of the American stage must convince the cAndid ob- server of two things: First, that thSre are many plays on the stage that cannot harm the most susceptible person, and second, that there are many plays that are net fit to be seen. It must be the duty of all respectable people to shun the second class if we would encour- age the best plays and discourage the bad ones As a matter of fact there are many innocent plays on the stage that not only amuse and in struet, but are highly moral in their tendon cies. Take an illustration Within a few years a celebrated English musician and an English writer of some note have produced plays the object of which has been to amuse and draw the popular attention away from the bad element so conspicuous in the thea ter to something pure and harmless. Their success has been unparalleled. There is no flavor of indecency about them. Their ten dency is unquestionably good. The Chris. tian public owes a great deal to these gentle men. It owes more to them than to all the ministers who during the last twenty years have given the theater indiscriminate con demnation.
 The speaker dwelt at considerable length on the necessity of discriminating between the unelean and the clean, showing that the reformation of the theater depends not up on indiscriminate denunciation, or upon actors,
 but on the moral reformation of the people who go to the theaters. Bad plays houris h because they are patronized, but if left alone they would die of starvation, and the pure and elevating alone would flourish.
 In speaking of the stage as 8 choice of pro- fession the preacher eloquently pictured, with vividness that was startingly impressive, the snares and temptations that beset young man and especially young woman who chooses the stage as a profession. Various talents are given, and none are given to be hidden away In 8 napkin, but long should a parent hesitate before consenting to let 8 son or daughter face these temptations.
 There are many actors whose virtue and uprightness of character it is not for us to question, ana all the more nOuOE 4S tuW4HB 1OE Keeping their characters upsullied in 8 pro-
 fession whose temptations are perhaps great
 CT than any other. We cannot believe that Shakespeare or Johnson were dissolute, | though the former in his youth might have
 been astray in some things. The work of I their maturer years shows that their days were given to the higher walks of genius, to | the study of human nature in such attitudes I as have given to posterity lessons that ought \ to be well studied.
 | In speaking of the lives of actors as class the preacher chose as an illustration a fa- nous French prostitute who has within the past few years made great sensation both ir Europe and America She went to England boosting of her haisons and files itinate chil-
 dren, was received into the highest circles, \ was received by the Prince of Wales and vel
 comed by his wife whose responsibility is moi
 to be questioned. She came to America and
 met with reception of an opposite charac-
 ter. Our society turned it's back upon he1 I as a corrupter of morals.
 In closing, the speaker reiterated the
 charge against the theater and earnestly urged the people to discern between the un 1 clean and the clean, so making the drams
 what it should be, 8 means of uplifting in
 stead of debasing the people.
 Next Sunday being communion day the regular sermon of the series will be omitted