The times., 1893-06-02
Christianity of the Future.

| Christianity of the FUTURE.
GFrom Our New York Correspondent
The Rev. DR.. David H. Greer, who is man
of such religious authority that he would
have been the successor of Phillips Brooks
had he not declined the call, and who Is the
rector of the church which the head of the
Vanderbilt family attends, is distinguished
| in New York by his study of the social
problems. Anything that he says upon
| this subject is regarded as the word of one
having authority. DIR. Greer said first in
speaking of the temperance problem:
/ am satisfied that we are to have a solu-
tion of this mighty problem, not in legisla-
tive enactments nor in criminal procedure,
| but think that temperance is to be gained
solely by the influence OF the Christian re-
| ligion. l used to favor prohibition, but /
think that it will be demonstrated very
soon that this does not offer the key to the
problem. was in favor Of stringent crimi-
nal legislation, but have abandoned that
idea. My experience teaches me that in the
future it will be recognized that the only
way permanently to reclaim the victims of
intemperance and to prevent others from
becoming victims is by the influence which
Christian ministers and Christian men and
women are to exert.
There is going to be very soon a change
| in the views with which the Biblois looked
upon by great masses of men and women.
| This change will come to us in the next
century, and the results will be stupendous
! for good Men and women will no longer
read the Bible mechanically. They will not
| set themselves stint of so many chapters
| day and having read them regard them
selves as having performed Christian
duty They will not look upon the Bible
as sort of fetch.
On the contrary, it will be understood
that it is book to be studied; as Ruskin
said, it must be dug into that it's truths
may be brought out 1t will no longer be
esteemed as gold coin, but as ore, from
| which glorious and golden truths are to be
extracted. When people begin to realize
this they will understand what is meant
by the inspiration of this book. 1t is an
inspiration not In the technical sense, but
in its influences. There will be new and
splendid lights kindled by this modern
treatment of the word of God.
Simplicity will take the place of subtlety
and vagueness. 1t will be understood that
the lesson of the Old Testament rs re-
vealed by this method of reading the Bible
| is simply this-that God is one, God is a
Spirit God is religious, and the lesson of
the New Testament as suggested by Christ's
life is that religion Is love. Ar when In
the next century this is understood Of all
men have no doubt that the influences of
Christianity will be the most stupendous
since those exerted in the early days of the
church.
There is going to be, too, a change in the
methods of public and private benevolence.
Free and indiscriminate charity will be al
most unknown. 1t is beginning to be un-
derstood that the highest charity Is that
which guides rather than supports. Men
and women will be taught to help them
selves The aid will be given in an almost
concealed manner. Self respect will be
cultivated and self reliance as well. The
greater benevolences will be conducted
upon sound business principles, and pre-
sumo that in the next century those who
then live will see something like q solution
Of these great and hitherto troublesome so
cial and economic problems.
Richard Mansfield on the Drama of the
Twentieth Century.
From Our New York Correspondent
Mr.. Richard Mansfield, who has gained
fame as one of the greatest of American
actors, in speaking Of the future of the
stage, said:
presume that the wealthy men of the
greater cities will before many years give
to the drama the same announcement and
liberal support which they have been dis
posed in this century to bestow upon the
other arts For the perfection of the Ameri-
can drama we must look very largely to the
support of those who have wealth with
which to encourage all those influences
which tend to greater cultivation of the
people
presume that in New York city, for in
stance, we shall have great theater-per-
haps modelled after that of the great thea
ter of France. 1t will be supported not by
the patronage Of the state, but by that of
individuals of wealth. With such support
the theater in the United States can become
the great refining and moral influence
which in its highest form it has been in
France. 1t will develop actors who are
true artists, and whose artistic achieve
ments will be recognized precisely as are
the achievements of those who do the best
things in other forms of artistic endeavor.
The prizes which await those who sue
cessfully portray human nature and life as
they are or as they have existed will be
not only pecuniary ones, but will also be
that recognition which society now gives to
the great painter or the great writer. I'm
der the influence of such theater as be-
lieve will be established the best stimulus
for dramatic workmanship will inspire
those who undertake to write PLAYS. We
shall therefore have developed not on.y
great artists upon the stage, but great con-
structors and writers of plays for them.
And when this condition ia reached the
American drama, both In it's acting and in
It's making, will be one Of the nroudest
achievements Of the American civilization