The morning call., 1894-10-29
LIKES THE STAGE.
Words of Approval From
a Minister.
THEATERS NOT To BLAME.
Rev. Leslie Sprague Expresses
His Sentiments.
NOT To BLAME.
TRUST IN THE LORD AND DO GOOD
Eloquent Sermon by Rev. George
Edward WaIk-OfficeS of
the Liturgy.

Rev. Leslie w. Sprague, pastor Of the
Second Unitarian Church, Twentieth and
Capp streets, placed himself on record last
night as minister thoroughly in SYM
pathy with the high-class dramas of the
day and devotee of the Kendals. The
reverend gentleman preached sermon Oh
Church and Sage" aud the house of
worship was full to the doors. He began
by stating that he would preach what he
believed to be true and permit his hearers
to reach any opinion they chose.
''The theaters,' he said, "have commit
ted great many sins, aud the stage has
been a character in Puritan religion for
about twenty centuries. and the two have
been at war. The stage is what it is by
tireiess and persistent work in itself, aud
the church by not introducing It's own
Christian influence Is partially to blame
for the deplorabe state of affairs. Yes,
my hearers, the drama and the stage have
been turned over to the lower classes, the
better people have STAYED away and the
devil has taken charge. / believe both
have a right to be enjoyed, but higher,
nonler lesson should be taught by the
drama than we are accustomed TO seeing to-
day.
1.-THE world since iIs creation has catered to a
certain amount of frOlic, ana ii Is faci that
when joy, hope aud pleasure creep out and stiff
Puritanic principles creep in humanity
and love was destroyed. We should not crush
the Child play out OF ourselves. 1t Is the great
eevating power OF mankind.
Nothing can buy back the Joy OF a nature
when II is once driven out, for ii Will never re-
turn. l am aware of the evil tendency of the
stage and know the effect it has. but that is due
10 the fact that the church does not take proper
steps TO elevate it.
the TWO TO make one better by the acts OF The
other
Zone might say there is harm in gasight be-
cause II adds beauty 20 The sllded palaces of
sin and ministers TO artistic crime. 1t makes
some people feel that the stage is degenerdt-
ing Influence and il In part has Its bad effect
This Is not the Christian way TO look at tie
problem OF pleasure, and II should be the OBJ
ject of tie church o elevate and add pleasure
10 the care and toll of life. ADD II so that we
may have the beautiful, The brilliant and the
palatlal without the sin.
II hope when the twentieth century dawns
that no one viii be accommodated because
he or she has tendency 10 least both mind
aud eve on the beauties of the moral lDstruc.
tive drama. l myself 90 to the thea.erS, and II
takes away the burden of toll. Only yesterday
| went 10 see the Kendals in The Second Mrs
| TanQurray,' and / learned great moral les
son. / learned that the stage was doing work
that the church could not do, and felt thai
every pure Christian heart should be nearer
the stage and its wholesome effects. There are
MANY unwritten creeds in the drama aud many
sins. but he who goes TO learn and profit is no
tainted. j would not hesitate TO take my wife
or daughter there as Ii makes interesting les
sons that the church does not handle broadly
enough, and shows only too clearly that thel
| do not illustrate the abstract truths with tnt
| correct examples.
| The play is vital in its relationship 10 toll
| and The dramatic history of the world goe
| deeply into the proof The dramatic and true
| play is sacred, and by administering 10 man:
! enjoyment you add 10 his other faculties. 1t i
| so with music, aud lt gives us conservation
| that nothing can equal. We have spent tO'
much time holding up liturgies, services, etc.
| agiuatIon and fancy, and do il through saere'
! drama and music. IL you want TO call me
| hereto and do not ike my views, all | ask yOl
| Is to think carefully Of what say. Ii is wort
| some attention ana you will see that PurItani,
| in f1uences are being advanced TO the detrimen
! of broad, liberal, ennOblng thought"