Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-12-12
THE THEATER CONDEMNED
SERMON ON THE SUBJECT
LAST EVENING!
Pastor White of the First baptist
Church Delivers the First of a
Series of Talks on Popular
Amusements.

Series of Talks on Popular
Amusements.
"The institution results in prostitu-
tion," said Rev. ]. l.. White, pastor OF
the First Baptist church, referring TO the
theater, in a sermon preached last even
ing in his church before congregation
that tested the capacity Of the large
auditorium and listened earnestly to
what was doubtless the plainest, most
powerful sermon on the subject ever de-
livered here. The sermon was the first
Of series OF four which Mr.. White will
preach on Popular Amusements. The
text was Is
There is a way which seemeth right unto
man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;
and the end of that miTth is heavincss.-
Proverbs IA: 1918.
THE greatest danger to Christianity"
Mr.. White said in opening, "is Society
There are now no amphitheatres in
which the fierce beast leaps upon the
humble follower of Christ; there are no
prisons, no deaths at the stake. But the
hiss, the cut which is used by some to
compel Christians to surrender their
principles is employed at the demand OF
the Prince of Darkness. A young man is
often 'taboocd' if he refuses to attend the
theater, the dance, the euchre party or
the wine supper. Against this spirit and
,,,yt tttt a n
Puritan severity but wish to al ply
argument to reason.
"We avow our faith in recreation. The
Christian with hope and faith to sus-
tain is the happiest person on the earth.
He can rejoice evcrmore i'll the Lord. He
has pleasures untold. He can have fun
and laugh. These are necessity and
arc as harmless as work when not as
sotiated with evil. Many amusements
are not connected with sin. Such arc
| many parlor games which refresh the
wearied mind, and many outdoor ever
cises that are eXhilarating.
"Amusements must draw their moral
qualities from their association. When
they are linked with established institu-
tions of sin they are sinful. The theatcr
| is an institution. fit be one of sin, then
theatergoing is sinful and must be
avoided"
Mr.. White then reviewed the history Of
the theater from its organization in
| Greece down to the present day. Con
timing, he said:
"The nature of theatrical performances
the essential demands OF the stage, the
| IS p1I.s
impossible for the thcater to exist save
under the law of dcgeneracy. The actors
and actresses are upon the whole i'm
moral. Of course there are exceptions.
The fact is enough. They are 'eXcep-
tons The concession is demonstra-
ton. There are few whose names are
comparatively unsullied. But they are
dangerous, because they decoy to the
infamous. Among the vast majority
virtue is unknown. Lewdness is master
"The institution results in prostitu.
ton. We do not speak exclusively oi
the lower order but Of the so-called best
The manner in which girls are forced to
dress is degenerating. The opera is un,
dressed; it is nudity. Think of a young
girl entering such FIFE when her home
training had been noble. 1t is heathen
ish DR.. Cuyler, an observer of men and
of society says The average thcater is a
gilded nastiness.'
THE plays themselves are very cor
rupt. Again we speak of the best plays
Certainly the lower are degradidg. Just
as certainly are Shakespeare and all the
rest. In these the spirit of revenge iol
insult is taught. Injured honor can only
be vindicatcd at the point OF the sword
Such is unchristian. 1t is contrary tc
the teachings of our Lord. When tt (
life of Christ, as exhibited on the cross
is introduced it is done for ridicule anC
to excite the disgust of the auditors
When good traits in character are intro
duced this is only to make bad passions
more prominent.
at is we'll known that Edwin Bootl
never allowed his children to attend th
theater without first examining the play
Macrcady advised against thcatergong
IL know its influence upon the young
The girls and boys of my congregation
who have attended now and then. o
habitually, have had no positive Chris
tianinfluence. Instead of helping Christ
kingdom they, hinder; instead of savini
they often corrupt. Their spiritual gai
ment is not always brought away III
spotted by the flesh. Young men hay
frankly told me that they have left tn
exciting scenes of the theater and hay
sought qualification for their arouse
sensual passions; that they have bee
led along in the giddy whlrl to the ba,
room and to the card table. Young me
always leave with base ideas of woman
Verify. the steps of the theater take hol
on hell, and it's chambers are the chan
bers OF death.
"Someone asks Are not some good
Can't we attend those? | have granite
that some are good, being exception
but we should not attend those whic
are exceptions. They are part of the il
stitution, they keep bad compan
Aaron tried TO mix good with evil. (
worshiped the Lord before the calf, b,
God did not accept it because evil W;
present.
"The Word of God condemns this i
stitution. The term theater is not use
q but all manner of sin is condemned.
y l have proven the theatcr to be an ins
tuition of lust, that it engenders and c
courages lewdness. 1t DESTROYS spi
itual aspirations; it ridicules the SUITE
ings of Christ. 1t corrupts the youth.
If the institution does not bre;
the law of God, ifit is not evil, noth;i
in this world is against His law.
Friends, we offer you more excelle
. way. Keep thyself pure, Live rigl
eously before God and man, Count
things loss for a good name, for t
friendship OF Jesus Christ. Shun, the
fore, the place and the people who wor
beguile you, and lead you astray."
"The Modern Dance" will be treat
on next Sunday evening by Mr.. Viii