New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
and quietly sleeping, though the scene might de-

and quietly sleeping, though the scene might de-
f foe ' me actors sleep for twenty years. No
upon one sleeper 1t does not happen In church.
be Ever, ,nat me whole congregation is awake ali
INC tlihe every time. sacred calm In the pulpit
sometimes luis TO most secular nap in the pew
uo,%cnes TO al vital things. There IS legitimate
drama for the stage i must remind you Of a story
OF MI be"cher when he asked by a minister
what he would do in such case as this Said
the perplexed brother: Il have in my congregation
a wealthy and useful gentleman. a large con-
tributor 20 all good ;hlngs. who will sleep under
my preaching with great regularity and respond
WITH shores to my most eloquent passages. Now,
Mr. Beecher what would you do under those cir
cuinstances|' To this the great preacher replied
our rule at Plymouth Church is ;hs: The SEX
ton mas strictest orders. upon pain OF dismissal
whenever ne any one asleep in the congrcga-
ton TO come Immediately to the pulpit and wake
me up Laughter
AN ADDITIONAL REASON
There IS indeed. an additional reason for the
kind estimate in which the pulpit should hold the
stage Much OF the dramatic quality Of the older
pulpit has passed away now the devil is dead and
hell has cooled off. OLaughterJ observe that
the merriment Is not universal. There seems to
be some doubt in the minds OF certain gentlemen
! am sorry TO disappoint anybody-who expected
other things. But the fact is. must leave
20 the stage. as It's legitimate field. much Of the
dramatic setting OF a former time In the pulpit
The flaming conscience has now taken the place OK
painted hell. We can no longer blame our sins
upon the devil and our Affections upon God, nor
even In depicting Day of Judgment can We use
the colOrs OF Michael Angelo. for In human life
the judgment IL instant and the great assize is
never adjourned. so applaud the stage the
legitimate field where things unreal may be pre-
scented as unreal. and the pulpit where real things
may be really set forth. The fact IS all per-
Torrance and all fictitious dramatzation must be
banished from so sincere place "a the pulpit
and must speak straight on IN all simplicity
and oandor the thing which for him In that mo-
ment is Supremacy true. There really was never
good time 20 preach this. bur It must be
done by men who lead the common life and speak
the language OF the common soul. AppauseD
really believe gentlemen that the stage has
come TO stay. The pulpit has always regarded II
as a stage that could be told that II must move
on" II IL is to stay it should be made 50
noble promote the highest functions Of the
dramatic art. | would move out OF IT'S way II
! could commercial impediment which now
hampers IT, So fine a field for morals should not
he terrorized by a business syndicate which con-
trolls the theatres and dictates to actors what they
shall do. judged by deprayed taste rather IMAM
an imperative ideal. II ought 10 be possible Tor
an actor. not yet great 10 rise 10 greatness un
hindered by the limitations OF commercial sIeed
(Applause) You have gentlemen. IN your power
some measure OF corrective for those things upon
the stage which ought not TO be All good men
should covenant with themselves never 10 Wl'ness
that thing in any theatre which their wives OF
daughters would blush 10 applause