The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-12-01

,be SWEEP 6plIlO vi 0"AAh
Master- sake, and to teach men what
Christ can do for the human family
are all forcibly portrayed i'll the COM
AS between tho church and
as principle, We shall ever
adhere to the standard of the former,
but it is high time that the churches
begin to learn to discriminate and to
discover that there are indeed plays
which are sermons in themselves;
actors that strive to follow the foot
steps of the Lowly Aaz"rene.
Mrs. Haswin's letter has done this
writer good and he dares hope that o.
is not worse than all the church
members of this city.
November q, 1894. / wish to cor
rect the statement made by Mr.. Fat
ton, and published in the Shreveport
Times of November q, in regard to
attendance at performance OF Silver
King at the Opera-house. lqnote
sentence referred to, patton return
ed and reported five PresbyterlanS'
two Methodists, two Babtists, and
the entire audience numbered about
200" The boxofice statement OF
seats sold, and the tickets taken IN At
door shows the audience to have been
exactly 1914 persons. The attaches
Of the theatre who we're present.
brings the number up to over 4oO.
1 am not prepared to challenge h's
count of the sectarians present IN
front of cnrtain, though had be taken
the trouble to interview the company
behind the curtain he might have ad-
ded to his list of professed Christ
, ians, 4 Episcopalians, 2 Bsptists' j
| Methodists, / Presbyterian;4 Roman
ist,. and 2 Unitsrians, this number
s representing the religious beliefs OF
+ the members of the Silver King 90
Had Mr.. Patton presented his care
to the manager of the company. anc
:, stated his errand, he would hav'
y been permitted not only to ente
t without paying the dollar, which n
5 added to it's treasury, but would als'
/, have been given the exact number o
people present. The management o
n this company has always extended
q the courtesy of free seats to clergy
Is men of all denominations, and tn
large number of letters received from
y them testify to their enjoyment o.
q. and approval Of the play, as teachin
N q wholesome M 4 beautiful lesson.
j. When the Silver King was tirs
2, produced 10 England, ten years sg<
re no less a parsonage than the Bisho
70 of Manchester preached 4 sermon y
Up the power of the drama tor goot
! us,ng this play as an example. Ha
. Mr. Potion elected to occupy a sea
80 during the performance be woul
have heard most practical sermo
If on repentance and expiation for Sill
,e The theater does not desire
es draw away from the church. The
to should be no controversy betwet
he them. The true mission of each
the same, to teach lessons that sh'
d. make men purer and better, and gi'
~ them worthier aims.
he Our blessed Savior taught in par
On bles. The stage tells it's Iistene
nd stories of the triumph of right oV
Oh wrong; of publication through SUITE
tb ing, and repentance. 1t IS time th
people who attack the theater shou
sit be able to distinguish. between Il
We good and the bad: between legi
II, mate, clean plays presented by co
IS scientious actors and the vulgar 9
hibition given by another class
=. performers.
|, Does the church wish to be judg
y by the members who are not livi
up to their religious profession
Does the bar wish to be stigmstiz
as corrupt because there are disho
orable lawyers Will the medic
0. fraternity allow itself to becondem
" ed as vicious because there are Il
'n- gal practices carried on by unwort
members?
10, How msnifestly unjust for any Q
en' to condemn the whole dramatic p
u" fession because IT'S skirts are encu
's0 bered lin common with all other p
'on fessious) with those who dishonor