The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-16
THE DAY OF WORSHIP
Il the Theater a Friend Of the
Public Good?
aey. Mr.. BuRcHETT's SERMON.
rns work II The Congregational Mis-
sionary Society = Father Prsfon-
t.i.ss ssbjsct-Church Notes.

- sss..lv md wide-awake subjects at the First
100 church. His congregation was large,
.-s,s - in the church being occupied. Mr..
p.,.hsst,s theme was, rs the iheater q Friend
81 a. Public Good7'
He took bis text from Acts xxy::-I appeal
untD CEsar.
rvsyx case demanding action at law should
n6vs fair trial In the proper court Until IRIS
bhad all verdiets are Nor.hiess. mnen one Is
e trial for his lie be shouid nave tne prisilege
end corruntiof, The old Roman civilization
boasted OF giving this every one OF her citizens
Tyery frreboru Roman could appeal 70 the high
They REGARDED sscfedIy the lives of those who
made M their sssfs And to grant 10 them al
ways fair trial the appeal 70 the higher court
Wa necessity, for often the witnesses were
periured. the Judge was bought In such cir
sums,ancss thsss was no use proceeding with
the trial. -
himself when be appealed from Governor Fes-
tus to the emperor Cesar. The Jews were
asssnting him from prejudice; the witnesses
were hired, and the judge was waiting Tor a
chance 10 sell his legal opinion at the highest
price. Under these circumstances there was
but one hope lett, and that was in an appeal TO
the highestcourt. The case with which we are
- deal in this public discussion in these i've
discourses IL much the same as that which Paul
iound at his trial. The witnesses have been
band ready to give their testimony for money;
IHt WuSt mas 100 bIteu DEeu DolEHt, auu Tie
o1onent OF prejudice has SO largely entered
~ trial that correct verdict has been hard 10
~ The question Is ono OF so much imppr-
t.nce a. 70 require verdict that shall be above
nii possibility of bias The interests involved
hero are not eifcumscribed by the horizon of
time. On, for candor now to take the throne.
II Is not just To a theme OF such interest to say
that your mind Is made up and whsteyer may
- said cannot change It.
i 10 not right and just to this subject to bring
our feelings and preferences into 1t, and make
AAnt I'll.
HE with such standards for their conduct make
very dangerous roads for themselves. To fly
futo passion and denonncs a thing is not the
rational method OF dealing with 1t; such
method always loses more than ii can possibly
gain for its cause. Such things have very much
complicated the subject in hand. There are
people VINO seem % ny into passion a. soon as
you announce that you are going 10 consider the
theatrical question. They Will tell you that 1t
IL not the kind OF theme to which they want
to listen; and in not a few instances they will
not come 70 church when you speak upon them.
This 10 very unfortunate. such q state of mind
can hardly come to wise decisions.
Now, therefore, you are sffectionately ass ed to
lay aside such methods Of dealing with these
things and be candid.
For this reason we appeal to Cesar; we APP
pea 70 the highest court; we appeal to the facts
1.-THE taeater can stand Plat test and be found
We ought to support whatever is for tho good
OF tbs public. To be hasty and condemn that
which 10 good and cast il aside would unfit us
Tor being the guides OF other minds. and then we
should lose the opportunity for the doing OF the
vsry work which We believe 70 be embodied in
our high calling.
II one can bs found to favor the thsater he
will end that he gains nothing by thrusting any
thing aside AZ Puritantcal which is brought for
ward ~ an argument against it This il not ar
gnment There has been too ucb Of this kind
OF dealing with serious questions And this is
BOT meeting the question. 1t shows want of
The thsater has been before the public for q
long time. aud has made its record. There can
be no need thst one should not know its charac-
decisions here in accordance with the principles
OF the most exact science. And We are coming
Into times which demand of US facts. Earnest
that sSsy :oa s.. s.ns ,ss they
these are not brought to the front. They want
iaots. They know that prejudices are sorry
To the facts then At the battle OF Ivry Henry
OF Navarro said: "If you lose your standards.
do not lose sight OF my white plume; you will
o. scory IN q Il. ~S,: and a,a1 su;
truth that We want to follow here, and then
there can be no question about our feet being in
the way OF honor, of safety. and Of eternal vic
tory.
Iu dealing with question like this, which 10
not only national, but worldwide In its IN
fuence, We shall need to deal with Ii In prac-
teal way. Let us therefore begin our invests
cations Of the theatcr from the financial side of
II. This element will of necessity weigh heavily
III ouf uSclsiouA money IL mighty element oil
power. 1t lies close to the very life of nations
and peoples that IL cannot be spent csreiessly
without ruin following. The dollar has value
whica cannot he ignored. IL must be treated
saeiediy. There Is q deep-seated conviction
which rests upon the most certain of tho
sciences that the value contained in the coin OF
sgoycrnment must be held sacred TO the public
good lie who turns dollar to u wrong use.
makes 10 In any way fight against the highest
good OF the government, has made himself con-
pAnion OF him who counterleits the public
fRN3a g
rs that when our money is spent il must be for
value equal 20 the expenditure, otherwise that
expenditure was not for the pubic good.
When an object is presented for which IL 10
better 10 spend the amount asked than to do
without the object, il Is for the public good that
the said amount be spent. Ii on the other hand.
the object Is not worth the money expended,
then IL Is not for the public good that the
amount DO expended. IL 10 by this uusrring
standard that we are trying the thestsr And
a Will agree without word that this 10 a right
standard.
In Iso3 the United States purchased from
France the territory OF louisiana and gave for
u N5.e0oo0, This purchase included the couIr-
Try from which have been formed the states Of
LOUISIANA, ArSsnsRs, Kansas, Missouri, Minne-
SOFA, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, the
Indian Territory, Dakota, Montana Idaho Ore
s1u saa she ssofsoos state OF Washington In
waieh we i've When that SIS, 10000 of money
Tilted the stars ami stripes in honor over this
vast country II was for the public good. Aud
no ',us Ans.,csa wil ever watch the folds of
or nx hlseye upon the fifteen shining stars on
the feid of blue without feeling tue impuIse of
richer blood eourSing through his VEINS and
mantlng his cheek with a lust national pr.ste
That great ana rich territory OF Alsska enst
the United states only 81, 2aO. 90 and was money
most wisely spent And has richly proved Thai
TIE money expended was for the public good
The mos. noted naval battle of the worla was
fought IN Hampton Roads in March of ls61
Rot that taere were more ships engaged in it, or
msse men. There were very lew shins and yars
iew iaen engaged Ia il. bat the results of thot
battle were broader than those OF any hattis
ever fought Before the ir0nclad Virginia ma
mMsa!ps OF THIS government were heiug sunk
vi AL the cid ships there was not one that could
meet her
bullying upon the background was a small
nsare which just then caIpe steamtng up. IN
vas NE &ouitor. IL was pot Long in disabling
aud driving The Virginia back to Nor ok Thai
snip was huilt By John Ericsson AMI cost ths
kossInment $500
:, ihst amount al money was we'll expended,
= mas richly proved To have beea for the public
TOO. New, as We shall look into the cost of
we thestet. yen Will doubtless be surprised /
naiess that have not been much surprised
Ne investigation OF any subject for many
atnormonS cost
she finest huild,ng in the world for theatrical
purpose is the Grand opela a. of Paris, France
= .oek ntteen wears TO bald IL Il was opened
q isso. and cost, exclusive of the land upoa
saieh II siands, sS6o0.e00, aud was paid for 81
vac government Anu IL the institution wss tor
pay ior liz
~ Is well worth noticing that the most costly
HaesNres sre generally 90 this class Among
S-e most expensive hui .dings IN New York city,
Hfooktsn, Chicago and Saa Francisco are deii-
e@sed 10 Ike purposes Take this tsct. that 10
Ssss Tar more 10 run the theateTs 81 tue United
sseSs thHn IL costs Qs fer the entire running
SsPehsrs OF our government We could pay the
50 ior our stmy aud navy. We could pay
SslY federal oIaCcr out OF the money PAID Tor
Ss support OF the theater in this country and
es here. ''A A'~
- ~ - se9s thc sectors zad actresses and employees
49, Nae psShouseS OF New YORK city numbered
x. toe NNeFaSc daily attendance upon the
Az eal performances was 3 80 The ,tallT essh
- Pc We're fl&,sssS. fae working time spent
~ TOE ihSStorS by that - "a atteu,isrts II 49,.