The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-27
THE CHURCH AND THE stage
Attitude Now Occupied Toward
the Modern Drama.
I'D IT'S ORIGIN IN RELIGION.
what Mr.. Temple and Mr. G"w~a
Have TO say on fbc su"t~e'a
Christians sanday. Taken Up Win
Fine E1sfe. Services and sermons
so.rmu vigil viii he Kept on
Friday, Watching Old Year out

controversy centuries CID, yet ever
rev. IA that growing cut Of the altitude
G. ths church toward tne theateT. ORA
raa.le, representations had their outgrowta
in reEgaoas observance. ard the nsodeFa
stage IL the direct descendant Of the Old
Miracle plays and Mysteries OF sariy In
s1ana. But every student Of history
knows how, under Stuart profigacy on
tina one hand and Puritan rfgor on the
Other. the church and the drama dFifted
apart. Tbs ztraIt-iacvd Puritan aSaoFrea
cain porn2 ard display Of every KING nos
50 much because they regarded II as ssn-
ftil in Itself. as because they thought II
tended IN soften and enervate character.
AZ Maeauiay sad in one OF his me an
..thesem the Puritans hatad the sport az
baail~aaiting not because IL gave the beasts
pain. bit DsGaas. IT gave u4e Stf@ct'A'"tS
pleasure -
81, the stage passed under the ban OF the
church Volumes have since been written.
and The controversy has been m9Sif'ea onay
" tne shifting attitude o! the siebafefS ana
.he new phases Of esscieSIaSticai dfid 0fa~
matte life and thought Recently tflt' SUD
fes.t has k.ssnea fresh discussion n cef~
attic vary as widely IN tfgssT views con-
corning this matter as people 90 elsewhere
Two 81 the prominent city pastors were
asked the Other day what they thougnt
about the Felati1ns beet een the cnuTcn ana
the modern stage. neY, Herbert Gowen,
restor OF Trinity Parish church. fToies-
tAat Episcopal said
.TAa stage Haze everything else. IL what
the peopis- make II. barometer revealing
the mental and moral condition OF The ma
t{ofi.
natural forms OF amusement. but also one
81 the most powerful means of culture
and instruction.
The drama was aursed in the religious
feelings Gf humanity Witness the book OF
job and the Song Of solomon IN our
Hihies. IL Greece the first play was an
act of worship. the first actor the priest,
The first chorus the temple choir. ana the
first tifeater around the altar. Ia Inc MID
dls Ages the church taught the people
more - miracle plays mysteries and mo
ralities than By sermons There nave, OF
course. been times when the drama be
came so hopeiessly corrupt that decent
people gave up hope VI reformat ton anu
fett bound to aiseOuntenance II altogether.
bur history shows that the suppression OF
the drama under Cromwell led To revolving
oafblfrsts Of license under Charles IL, ana
proves thai ii IL better 10 seek out the good
III a great public institution and cherish IL
than 10 lesounce 1t root and branch. Like
literature. politics and the press, the stan
public conscience. The churcn's duty
would seem 10 be;
''Firat~To recognize the legitimate
sphere Of the drama as a recreause and
sducatise influence.
''second-To Impress on piaywrights.
actors and managers the Rfeat service
they may render the community BIO them
magnify taeIr office by appealing 10 the
highes, pnhiIc Instincts.
'-TfliFd-To couatcnauce and support
plays whieil are calculated - shis end
Much as we depiafe any lowering 'oi stand
ard ia suit popular demand We cannot ts~
poet companies and managers 10 invite
bankruptcy. Maftyttt0m Is glorious, but
ee must not DOOR actors 20 solitary mar
nos falay except as caN the tune. Te
conclude rs church people. we mcst rec
o@ni4e our Individual and corporate re- re.
50GnFl0tty fer pfov!dins amusement
which ts good aud wholesome. and do our
best 10 help efforts made % his end. II
tie plays dehauch the people. II n because
siiF ,seppis haze iirSt desul achgd tn% play.
Reform the public and tn1 puFlic " II re-
form the plays. Weli-knoWn English
clergyman wrnte as follows 70 a bruthe*
who reprcached him for attending i New
York theaser:
!" Reverend sir. In the plIy e..titiss'
''fae Old Homestead" two young fellows
Wao had been making fools Of themselves
ana he'd gone 10 TIE bad were brought
Back 20 a right mind. 10 their home and
duty. lhey werr shown the misery and
degradation nj vice, aud then in contrast.
the haptuess and the honor OF a righteous
iifr ! went behind the scenes Ia thtuS the
teacher OF that object lesson. and L yea.
fny brother. VIII prove 10 me thot ny ere
of your sermous you have persuaded two
1arotiigais 10 get awa% from the hdSks OK
the inc and return 10 their Father 2
hn9l@o. ! shalt rejoice 10 pay nay respects ia
you In the eesirr or wherrV*r ~e may
meet
rsv. " Il g Temple pastor 81 plyua-
outh church Congregational said:
81 aFn I grsst s}nircr Of the ht~tvf0a!e
ART When "a boy had stropx .nelina tons
sWsfd the stare To narscnAfe a chArs--
,.f so as 10 make II live and move upor,
sn audience ~it1 the reality and natural
neses " liza Is Il noble accomplishment