The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
AN OPEN LETTER.
Actor Otis Skinner Responds to Rev
Mr.. Hare's Criticisms.

To the Rev c. L. Hare:
In this day and age it is an unusual thing
to see q minister who, l take it, should be
a guide and leader of his peope-an in
structor, spiritual and intellectual of his
congregation-instead of pointing the way
to a broadminded, clear understanding of
our institutions, educational and artistic,
opening the rear portal of progress to look
on the dark, forsaken fields of bigotry, SUI
perstition and Observation-Disclosures. You, Mr..
Hare, have shown in your sermon Of
last Sunday that illiberalism, mario Nness
and the old dark spirit of unkindness still
have hold in parts of our supposedly en-
lightened community. Yours is not blow
in the dark, but thrust at time-honored
institution, given publicly and printed in
the daily papers AS such, your statements
are open TO criticism. Let it not grieve you
tr have word to say.
That the theater has given cause for much
censure do not deny. That it has exhibited
things that should have been suppressed 1
have no wish whatever to conceal but be-
cause you find abuse of privilege in any
station or walk of life, is it your preroga-
tive to condemn to a leprous exile the class
Of human beings wherein the error has been
discovered? DO you condemn all literature
as unfit because of the works of l2abelais
or Paul de Kock? Do you denounce painting
and sculpture because some predetermined
men have worked out unhealthy ideas on
canvas or in marble? Should we abolish
government and municipal control because
Of jo5bery and the rottenness of a set of
Machine politicians? Should we brand the
church as an iniquitous institution because
there was once a Pope Alexander because
the Puritan divines committed murder in
the name of witchcraft, and because of the
scandalous examples of some of the minis
tiers of to-day whose misdeeds are frequent
ly recorded in the daily papers?
You have music in your churches. Surely
you do not condemn this glorious art of
Handel, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven be-
cause of the ribald songs of brothels end
revolutionary mobs Do you deny Christ
because he was tempted? Do you refuse
salvation to humanity because Adam COM
mtted sin? Not ii you are yourself
Christian. A true follower of Christ, il even
he believed in the weakness or evil of any
set of men or women, would not lily from
them and cut himself off from their sympa-
thy. The stage is not q place where vice,
unnaturalness and evil influence are set
forth for the Generalization of the COM
munity. Our public morals are too well
guarded and our ethical requirements are
too strict ard fine for any abuse 20 find
long life either in the theater or in any
other place where our wives and daughters
have e9ross and afterwards the liberty TO
discuss. Even in the music halls, where the
masses of the unintellectual and coarse
minded of our citizens throng for amuse-
mont and forgotfuness of self, there is a
certain standard of morality that the public
demands.
Regarding your cutlery that there are no
plays that a Christian could attend, and
that plays that We're perfectly pure would
bankrupt the theater in six months, there
Is no need of defense or answer from me.
Unfortunately for your argument the edu-
Gated public know better. for our schools,
colleges literary societies and other bene-
fetal factors have given our sons and
daughters an early knowledge of the grand
works of Shakespeare, Sheridan, MarloNe.
Dryden, Knowles. Racine, Schiller. Goethe,
as well as the better writer's of our own
modern day. Your argument comes too late
TO carry convection TO our enIghtened
classes. The colleges have destroyed 1t in
advance. If you do not know these things,
Mr.. Hare is it not Il little presuming TO
take some prejudiced, hearsay evidence?
You say that actors and actresses are bad,
as a class. and you advise your hearers to
keep away from them. This | deny most
stronuously, and affirm that my own ubser-
Nations apart from the light of prejudice
have caused me TO admire and respect the
conduct OF class of simple minded gener-
OUs-hearted impulsiVe. charitable. art-lOV-
ing intellectual talented people, whose
mission it is to bring wholesome sunshine
and healthy life 20 thousands of our care
oppressed citizens.
Last Sunday, in an Indiana town, not far
away, L attended church and saw five of
the members of my company intent upon
the service and the discourse. There they
We're touching elbows with the old mem
bers of the congregation and, strange to
say, did not see anyone among those who
stood near them fall blasted by the wrath
of God. Christians should not associate
with them" you have said. AS l have read
the life of Christ there were none 50 lowly
that He turned His back on them. His re-
ligion was not the creed that wrapped itself
in frgid atmosphere of conceited uperi-
GRITTY and cried: Thank God. l am what
wrongheaded Hebrews were berating an IN
fortunate woman, Let him who is without
sin among you cast the first stone. Can
it be that your creed is better than that of
your Savior? OTIS SKINNER.
Indianapolis, Nov. 90
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