The sun., 1890-11-24
WHERE TEE CHURCH sTANDs.
And Its Relations 20 the Newspaper anA
the Theatre as Dr. Bellies Sees Then.

Asa Its Rsist,e.s 20 sAe Newspaper s,A
the Theatre as Dr. Bones Secs Then.
Tho Rev. +. c. Bolles. D. D.. preached at the
Third Universalist Church. West Eleventh
street. yesterday morning, on " The Compsti-
tions OF the Church with the Newspaper and the
Theatre" Among other things Dr. Bolles sol 1:
How many Protestants will 20 TO church
this mcrainSp Probably not cne-tenth. II
You ask them why they do not so they say that
they have quito rs much rs they can attend to
In reading the pictures oil the world that arc
reflected in the morning newspaper. or thev
are fatigued with tho exettlon Of gong 10 the
theatre on the night before 10 witness some
wonder OF dramatic art with all the attractions
OF scenic display and cantivatlng elocut on.
There is a story Of the god Thor. the Ham,
mer Bearer, that In his anger with the giant
Skyrmyg he aimed at him three terrible blows.
which dented tho earth into threo deep val
leys. The giant only reused himself and asked.
Did leaf fall p 10 overy now and then somo
religious body filings its full weight upon the
modern newspaper. especially the Sunday
ono or some pulpit hurls Its undisoriminating
invective against the stage. A good. humo Cd
sarcasm Is the usual reply. And the Church
may be thankful that tho sarcasm is good
natured, for its only recognized right to. day
In this direction is I" make the demand that
the newspaper and theatre, like every other
Rrent thing in modern civilization. shall not
Srs Srs thr ~ nsO to 9Tsr The s,And
doing. can hive, the honey Of tn, word : daily
lilo. can stimulate healthful activity. and dis.
cuss with it's immense audience the most
pressing or hsr essay Incst:uns. IL can also
pillow OF Innocence. AMI with comparative o I'm
punity rival the lnuuis'tion in It's tyranny and
cruelty dlng 4. creed or console CO holds
able smiles and tears out Of its impers soma:
leyel men with bensts.
to 4r tRr GSnrsb he o.9r there il TIE smptan
and sta .e--to enter reliIIon with them for q
sSs,o raee who1e PRIZE RE, IS t0nulr favor aud M at.
done In doing ii. can men bs made to feel
thai religion is as Ls s-sary as the NEWSPAPER,
as entcituninG Az 'he nlay:
di..eminatS intsllirenE g and deal more r less
would do we'll @ aboa,s as once s"H IN %ss faSor u
%,rns t4e pEess ;n. i p,Trsed TO- save msn by
illusions and TO send lis clergy to schools or
dramatic expression. Its wo'k ls t" teach men
love oi God their ms piralion TO oier al O. 10
eonvic, them Of that s"lisnncss which lies so
IHep in Icy, every heat t9 lead them to initb In
pressions on their 4onl. t" SIT tiem at wNrk 10
hrlp and upl.it tho world II il is true to this
and stnge may become its allies. not lis rivnis.
, But TO imrrcsS men you must reach them.
The nwsEapsr u bats its trap with the very
World 70 doing and thinking about every day:
The theatre appeals 10 the universal 10 . Of
What shall the Cnureh do. Let It copy the
GnS Gdss ~ hs y
ness lntY terms Of modern thought By showing
he az" aMak h. sp Is mot
secular that t may not. i honest and pure.
es H h s means % 59n ah ,s III, s
coin its Into 1Send. TSe shsstrs re
human advancement But the Church il seek.
Ing Ing for something beyond p"r9arIty; erowds
tude within the chur, door this is an custer
tusk thun to convert their interest and on
thusiasm into devotion and character. Few
men can play the clown or tho traRadian in the
pulpit end leave upon tho hears more than
the impression Of on hours amusement. Few
seintiIlasions oi the daily prese Without 5ens
Why .shon d ihis no, he so3 Tneie /. no
greater talent. no more perfect organization.
no moro force OF Invention. no greate or use OF
money; no more profound study Of man. than
stage. They fairly deserve all they get. for for
they plan and work for it. wisely il not always
innocently. What has an ordinary chur, h or
an association OF churches to Lut into compe.
tition with such an army. The brain aud
heart OF Il minister. generally overwork cd. and
often as nupracical MS u child. A voluntary
Offering OF ,scun;y dimensions ehei out TOO
frequently bv most unranoni.al devices. A
company OF men and women. who may be good
and spiritual. but mostly lean on the church
instead Of remsmher!nG their duties 70 it. Per:
dead. but Unfortunately not under around. 1t
seems absurd to expe, OF such an institution
any competition on their own ground with the
newspaper or the theatre.
People do not go 10 chur n because they
find there the encyclopRdic interest OF tho
newsparer or the dramatic thrills or amuse-
ment OF the stage. They may discrImipate be-
tween duln-ss, and yivaciiy, Intellect and
pedantic form. the destinations OF a Quickened
soul. an 4 the death in life Of nm nntiquaied
ritual. They will be drawn for o moment BY
tho red CONCERT the mountebank preach
er the brass band and fustinn Rhetoric of the
sonsationalist. But none OF these things will
inspire or fix them to the life with God. Only
tho attraction Of the cross will hold them TO
that. I.et religion uee every help that molsrn
life and it's great agencies can suggest. But
pray that it may not be 30 mastered BY them
n ri