St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-02-20
CHURCH AND THEATRE.

Rev. DIR. A. ]. Gordon addressed a
large audience of Sunday School
workers at fremont Temple on Sun
day, Feb 9, on the church and the
theatre He began by quoting Mr..
| Edwin Booths utteranceS regarding
the tendency to immortality which
characterizes the stage, and then
alluded to striking incident within
his own experience. He was once
engaged in holding a series of revival
meetings, and observed distinguish
ed appearing gentleman occupying a
front seat day after day, and APP
parently taking deep interest in the
services. After several days the
gentleman was asked about his relig-
ious status. He replied: II am an
actor, and | cannot be an actor and
Christian" He gave his name
THAT of prominent member of the
profession and the history of his life,
and said that he would like to be-
come Christian, and that he was
trying to decide whether he could
bring himself to abandon his profess
sion Dr. Gordon said that the ques-
ton was then asked, ''Do you ever
see Christians in your audiences ?"
The reply was, ooh, yes; but have
e., 70
see me act"
DIR. Gordon said that he wished to
speak with entire courtesy and fair
ness, therefore he would let the testi-
mony of these competent witnesses
stand alone on that side of the ques-
ton. He said that he could not
recollect any useful Christian who
was a habitual theatre-goer. The
love which was the stronger would
conquer and therefore church mem
bers who liked the theatre soon
disappeared from the prayer meeting.
He would not say that it was i'm
possible to be a Christian and attend
the theatre; but that they are
undeveloped Christians who attend
both the playhouse and the church.
Continuing, DR.. Gordon said +:
Easy times don't agree with Chris
tians This is the first century when
they have not been prosecuted. The
church is having an easy time, and
ratiOnalism and slOth and love of
pleasure are growing among Chris
tians. How shall we meet the prob
| lem There are two ways. Some
say, Forbid theatre-going on pain OF
dismissal. But we are living not
under the law, but under grace. The
better way is to wean the young peo-
plc-bring them into full fello wship
with the Lord Jesus Christ-and then
such habits and desires will disap-
pear as the snowflakes did from your
coats when you came into this warm
/ room.
With reference to the theory that
something equally attractive must
be substituted in the church for the
theatre the speaker had some pointed
things to say. He regarded the
notion as entirely bad; the remedy
was far worse than the disease. He
told of an eminent Christian-one OF
the hottest men he had ever met
who had actually been driven from
church by the dramatic and terpsich-
Dream innovations which had been
introduced, and he cited a Baptist
church in a New England city, where
on Saturday evening the pulpit
was converted into a stage, with
scenery, footlights and curtain, and
where a drama was performed which
terminated at half-past 10 on Sun
day morning with a ballet partici-
pated i'll by young people of the
society. The whole pith of his dis
course was in his closing words: 81
would rather all the young people in
my church should go to the theatre
once week than that they should
bring the theatre into the church
once year.