The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-11
AN OLD, OLD STORY.
Pastor Eakins Thinks the Stage Aw-
full and Quotes Some Authorities.

At the evening services in st. Paul's
M. G. Church last evening. the Rev. Mr..
Eakins spoke about the theatre OF tod ay
The church was well filled.
Were to confess" the preacher said,
sin this presence that | know nothing
personally as to the workings of the thea
tre, having witnessed in the entire course
of my life but four theatrical perform
ances, all of them of a high order, some
might say what effect can you then ex-
pect anything you may say to haveP I
knew nothing personally about the drink
curse, and yet l have. in the past, said
some things which those who have had
an experience in this line have ackuowl-
edged to me were true and calculated to
do .!g g29d, ~, .4, :, 49,, $780,.
Professedly the purpose of the theatre is
to exhibit real life on the stage through
the medium Of the drama. Now there is
q drama in the Bible, Whether it was
hibited on the stage is a question. 10
sweepingly condemn all dramatic writ
ings should be to condemn the Bible.
Were the theatre only to represent real
life. its influences would be good, and it
would undoubtedly assist the church in
Its efforts to elevate and purify society.
The stage. however, presents the worst
phases of life in d greatly exaggerated
form. Its aim is. to arouse the passions.
For frequently 1t appeals TO mems lower
nature. In the overwhelming majority
of cases the purpose of managers is not
to put such performances on the stage as
will inspire with nobler ambition those
who listen TO them, but such as will draw
a large house and enrich proprietors and
performers. The desire for gain has led
managers to pander to the lowest tastes
of the vulgar masses and has so degraded
the stage that the wisest and best people
consider the theatre a dangerous place
go to themselves or to bring their chill
den.
Tn Q preacher dwelt on the various un-
successful attempts made to elevate the
stage. ''Mr. Palmer says" Mr. Eakins
continued '"rbe bulk of performances on
the stage are degrading and pernicious.
The managers try to ain Just az near the
law aspossible without hagrantlybreaking
it. There never have been costumes worn
on a stage of this city either in theatre
hall or drive or those that clothe some of
the chorus in recent comic operas. Re-
gardin9 female performers Mr.. Palmer
says: 1t is not question OF whether they
can sing, but just how little they can
wear
Manager French of the Grand Opera
House, who affects to regard as prudish
those who object to lack of costume, says
regarding the French stage: Il saw some
plays over there that would make New
Workers howl il they were ever produced
here. Kankl Why, that is no name for
them, they are absolutely awful
Edwin Booth says:-I never permit
my wife or daughter to witness play
without previously asceftaining It's char
acter. This is the method 1 pursue. I
can suggest no other unless it might be
by means of a dramatic censor whose
taste or Judgment might, however, be
frequently at rault.'
"How can these men and women of the
stage remain pure In though hit whose work
it Is nightly by word and look before an
audience to represent the corruption OF
innocent maidenhood by the fast and
loose men of the world. Thoughts are
expressed on the stage and positions as
suned by actresses that would fill any
man with shame were those performers
their own wives and daughters. The
wonder is that any should live pure and
true lives in the midst of such Influences
and temptations as the stage throws
around women. These brought uD in
the theatre are to be pitied when they
fall. or such as stand deserve double
paise."
Mr.. Eakens then spoke of the character
of theatre goers and said that iU was a
pleasure to note that few church goers
attended theatres"