The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-21
A HALO FOR ROSINA K
THE ONLY CHRISTIAN IN TINE
~ CHRIsTIaNo rs THE DOC.

Remarks by the Rev. Dr. Sllcer on the
y Stages Moral Mission-Bronson Howard
3 Says II HASN'T Any-Its Society That
Corrupts the Stage, Not the Other Way.
The Nineteenth Century Club. at Delmonicots.
last evening listened to SOM remarks by the
Aev. DR.. Thomas r.. Slicer and Bronson How
ard on THE Moral Ministry Of the Stage"
We are doomed to be moral" was the cheer
ful dIctum OF DR.. slicer. who avcrred with de-
fiahtful optimism that nine-tenths OF the race
were moral people. Moral life Ia the only just
relation between human beings" he continued;
"a man can't be moral alone. Robinson rusoe
couldn't be moral until Friday appeared. He
could be religious. get into an ecstasy OF reli-
eion. but he couldn't be moral"
mo doubt there was defective morality on the
stage. In the drama. In the ACTORS, in 10 man
Ggers, but most Of all In the public. DIR. Slicer
desired to align himself with those who sought
10 elevate the stage TO what H. ought to be by
tlevattng the people to demand whatthey ought
20 want. A way to this desirable end he saw
You can't, be- stupid and be permanently
sS Y@S ds e. i sHs e sSc!aPf th az n y? ySH srs fst 'H h
you-wlll play tricks with the dulness to see
rs a minister OF the Gospel"
.b6a1 sIisp g os he sPSa 20 t @ssps rs Soos eoSla Of oo tns
OF a story Of an afternoon tea with a dead man
'""INo actor OF actress whose efrrontery of de-
word Cd. the stage should be permitted to in
so moral Pc peo Ie!S! Dr.. siicer said: Until you are
ready TO go TO church to a minister you don't
iT Sf sSs stage ass II Tfhe ss' is tne difiereace between
the. position that an ayowal Of vice doesn't
%NatteT :, and mds the Sr p {SdaSsDt II i,ts putting sssm d iSssh an a
difference between placarded immortality and n
discovered lapse from virfpe,n N,n,s,orn md
ings. as plays distinguished by the morality
driven Ia by a wedge, one moving by celestial
gravi!ation and the lot other tnIp, pushed on do IRON S,a behind ma
e cor seTeYSs hall Nigh i = be the the m means N" Of 5'I grace
provided It might be the hope Of glory
i S,etGn; yb bsca wss he led ooS SSiTay s BY t f@ s asief he
l $sS trying faGfa to E y good 1 T%e only ' Christian s 5 SSHf IL
dear Roslna Hokes did ior u.s. and thought
that II Rosina didn't get a halo he had mighty
Tbs %fSFs! %ifislo n e. the son stRaS Ssor Snakes k !
seems to have been the moral mission OF the
stage for SGO years ,I to iyy 6, nnu The ! ministers dItftSss
soldier It's a man against the actors
eiety that corrupts the stage; not the stage
that corrnpts society, The clergy are
lhTReIg IebIOnSlDle iOI SOCltly. az ledSb tlIeS
assume the responsibility. Keep your society
away from our stage doors is what We say
70 them. The stage has no moral mission; IL
enrnest than ! in insisting on the moral re-
right To treat all subjects. It's the general
rule ofthe pulpit and tho New York Tribune to
teach morality on the principle Of the mother
who gave her daughter permission to learn
how to swim:
Hang an; SOSE clothes o hes, on ,hs q htSsGryy limb
Mr., Howard didn't seem to approve of this
curriculum. Mother did he approve of the
y0unG' girl attending the theatre without re-
straint. every time she could get S1.5O. That
was the real reason of the cutlery against the
stBge with reference to morality.
Il call the parent to his. or her responsible
ity,' said Mr.. Howard; the responsibility is
not the dramatist's. The people weary of
moral lessons; and they weary of immoral ones
Killed when not interfered with. The people
tired OF them quicker than OF any moral-lesson
"Religion struggled without her proper help
meets. science and art. in vain. She failed to
accomplish her mission alone. The love in re-
ligion failed 10 make men. anything but cruel
for fourteen centuries. l don't believe that
with the picture of a lovely nynph
before him q man can think Of another man on
the rack, With the release Of art from bond
age,to religion. she came to her proper func-
ton. Had we had Greek art and beauty it
seems not too much to say that very likely the
horrors Of the Middle Ages would not have
darkened the world"