St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-07
THE CRUSADERS, SPIRIT.


Suppose that the proprietor of the
Grand opera house and the directors of
the Metropolitan shall refuse finally to
close their theaters Oh Sundays, and
Shall refuse in such way as to rouse
the moral Indignation of the Christian
women who have been active in
this good cause and the moral
indignation of their friends. Sup
pose that these Christian women get to
eel that Sunday theaterS are menace
and insult to the religion which they
have inherited from their fathers, and
which they love and reverence as the
best thing in life. Suppose they insist
That there shall be no performances on
The Sabbath in the houses which they
patroniZe, and determine to give their
support only to those who respect their
views on this matter. What will hap
pen to the Grand opera house and the
metropolitan opera house in such event?
Owners and directors of theaters will
rio well to remember that the Intelli-
gence, character and wealth of COM
munity can rule it. and that no men or
class of men can afford to defy them.
The majority i'll numbers in st. Paul
may favor Sunday theaters or be indif-
ferent about the question, but any one
of the women who have circulated the
petitions, or any one of the men who
have signed them has more power in
this city than score of the kind
from among whom Sunday theater
goers are drawn. Everybody who
knows these women has the profound
est regard for them, and any cause in
which they are interested commands
hearty and enthusiastic support be-
cause they are interested in it, if for no
other reason. Not only have they
power, but they have the courage of
their convictions, and are capable of
great effort and bold achievements for
what they regard as right.
Suppose they insist that the better
class of people in this community shall
not go into the Grand opera house or
the Metropolitan opera house so long as
these places give Sunday performances.
Suppose that they stamp with their
active disapproval every business en-
terprise with which the men who re-
fuse to listen to them are connected.
Suppose TINT they have city ordinance
passed forbldding Sunday perfor-
mances and give their time and money
TO securing lis enforcement. Suppose
that they so still further and erect here
handsome thea;er richly endowed. at
which the hest companies only shall
play, and which shall be open six DAYS
only in the week. If their spirits are
intlamed. anG theg should enter OH any
of these undertakings, they would have
with them q great and efficient .t.rops
of followers.
The GLOBE would prefer &c see this
matter settled without resort 10 warfare
of any kind. But those people are in
error who think that the crusading
spirit is dead. There are Christians TO-
day who would die at the stake for thei
opinions as cheerful!y as did LATIMHE.
and there ale thousands Of men and
women in this city alone who are as
willing TO take up arms for the honor of
thelr faith lis were they who followed
RICHARD the Lion Hearted to Palestine
nthe middle ages. With the noble won-
en- whom rybody loves at the head
and the battle cry The Christian re-
ligion is in peril" they would make
themselves felt. They might not close
the Grand opera house and the Metro
politan opera house on the Sabbath, but
they might make them sccGnd-ciass and
Improbable resorts.