Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-05
CLERGY SEE "THE CHRISTIAN,
Ministers and Their Wives Guests of
Hall Game.
CNew York Times. 4th)

(New York Times, 4th)
Perhaps the most appreciative audience
that has yet witnessed q performance OF
THE Christian" assembled yesterday
morning at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
Hall Game, the author, had issued invi-
tauons TO the clergymen and their wives
Of this city and nearby towns 10 attend
Il special performance as his guests, and
the well-tilled house was evidence that
very few of the invitations had been de-
clined. The audience followed with deep
interest the story of the play, and was
most generous of its applause. Miss AL
len and Mr.. Morgan receiving a curtain
call at the end Of each act.
At the close Of the third act Mr. Game,
responding 70 urgent calls for the author
made short speech which he began by
saying that Miss Allen and her company
had requested him TO tell them that an
audience of clergymen and their wives
makes the most lovely audience In the
world TO play to-"
THE presence Of the clergy In the thea
tre." continued Mr.. Caine, suggests
questions which are important and far
reaching. and not the least of them con-
Germs the right OF the drama 20 discuss
with prODer reticence and respect the re-
ligiOus and moral problems OF the time.
| put aside entirely the idea that re-
ligious and moral questions are out OF
place on the stage. IL is impossible TO
Danish them, whether from plays or
DOCKS. NuNu Il tullib as an lAllliDi ~ pay
or book does not exist. and IL would
not be worth much II IL could exist.
A book or play which represented the
world from the impartial point OF ;he
man i'm the moon would not be worth
straw to anybody except another man in
the moon. To say that moral questions
have no right TO intrudc themselves on
the stage IS to make an impossible de-
mand. IL is also 70 formulate "A danger
Gus theory. III moral ideas do not Oc-
cupy the attention Of the drama. immoral
ones speedily will do 50. and the art that
takes no color from morality in one way
or other never did and never will and
never can exist.
THAT so many clergymen and their
wives and friends have come To see The
Christian this morning viii be a memory
! shall always cherish among many MEM
cries that will make my second visit 10
America more sweet 10 my recollection
than | can say / am not so vain as 10
hope that you have all been In sympathy
with all you have seen, but il you have
realized that the motive OF the play is
not an unv )rthy one, that il makes an
effort, however feeble, and imperfect. 10
picture In the person Of John Storm
Christian clergyman of intense earnest
ness ana sincerity. and In the person OF
Glory Quayle a type OF woman with whom
our great and cruel cities are 50 fulfil
you have realized this and If you also
think that no man is going 20 think less
of religion for having seen this play and
no girl who comes inside these doors Ia
going to be the worse for seeing how a
braye woman conIosrs her dangers and
temptations, and lifts herself up 10 n
higher life-we shall all be pleased and
touched and abundantly repaid
Mr.. Game was warmly applauded. and
the audience offered a vote OF thanks IN
the author and the players.