New-York tribune., 1898-12-25

greatest interest but have not yet Geen rsaS
Christian in tho book left out in the play ana
the great dog TaerS was os oaycf Cnrs'a for
one lost the point and aim % OF d rei sbio,Id mGI
mstoSk friend for q nor ben s h when hend hG be
What more could Chrs,ian nc, 40 ,b,n, John Storm
should have ave- been given the title role in that play.
think there are perfectly sincere ana nc,te' Ell,
am here AZ your Invitation 10 say the thing be-
l"ve do not think John storm was Christian;
/ think he was a young man trying very hard 10
bo good and led Alright by divine affection for a
wholesome girl and led astray oy an asIe'G 'enn no
oscillation of his mind between the closter and and
Glory oaays made y3 ,gb Sh bave h go been n"
OF grace" provided # were the hop" OF Glory ZAP
pause) 49,, ., .x...,
tion that the teaching of morality should not he 100
The puTposri b n9Tf ,ne psn sonF ali
lines which must in tho nature Of the case he he
angular 0aughter)-all this does not serve ART well
nor add to the grace Of life.
THE MINISTER'S FUNCTION
7 ask YOU to hear me for one moment upon what
seems 70 mo mus, not he omitted. ! believe in tha
moral ministry NJ pure delight. The most OF the
people In this world have no pure delight. For
the most part they hold because they are afraid
let go The great mass OF men ana women
would be moro comfortable nut for the struggle
they arc making make life possible TO them. II
is the serious business Of the world to make life
have enough to rescue these hard pressed peo-
pie from life's duness and despair. 50 much do ]
believe this that If may be personal | hold the
one function of the minister TO be 10 put heart into
men. ApplauseJ II Is not 10 inform. II is not
to instruct. it Is to lead 70 such state Of mind.
in worship and inspiration. that life should seem
worth while that men and women should leave
the church feeling that upon any path they en-
tered they might hear the football OF the Christ;
think there is a moral ministry OF the stage mat
the purpose OF pure delight from nlghss' 70
lowest. would not omit anything. think Mr.
Keith deserves we'll Of every community In which
he has established stage on which unsuNled ana
untanted vaudeville can be given at low prices ior
the people that nave no place 10 20 Wiz. NIlen ~ tr
hours Of work are over This Is not legitimate arr
This is not the legitimate stage or drama But II
Is legitimate enjoyment But iake vaudeVule per
formance such IS is given there and meet INTO
for instance htile play mat mas IN no phdse ol
a single thing to commend IT, either on the score OF
of vaudeville thai does not contribute 10 pure de-
light. but this YOU will not see under the man
agement Of stage which he nv eternal vigilance
believe in the stimuIant OF pure fun. We laugh
and change circulation by the mere operation
Of the muscles You feel dull blood sluggish. brain
nnemic heart acting slowly-and something ire
ss6y v funny is b54 said 81 dom s"tuT anG whyo Sim
ply because YOU have pumped fresh blood into your
to the touch Of aughter-loyn fun The stage has
done the most for when il has made US happy
n hnss Dur ss o~d dear noTs Rosna voEes Used % to 10 If Ro
sina Vokes did not get halo and get there
the time to Charles Lamb and part Of The time 10
Rosina Nokes. OF course the remark ! have Just
made has led 10 the suggestion that may not get
II myself 7 do not believe IN the perseverance, ot
saints bat the perseverance Of sinners. and on tnat
score think shall arrive
A single word in conclusion; The moral ministry
OF the stage would be eminently served IN my judg-
ment by al endowed theatre. We now have not an
endowed theatre but syndicate Of theatres. The
effect Of the syndicate Is 70 arrange schedule NJ
performances perfectly and leave out with absolute
accuracy any individual who Is trying 70 get in and
who il not well known. success. or willing 70
take SMALL part II scales III lie the prices pald
the stars. which gives yOu in the main a better
performance than the old competition In the open
market: but IFS discrimination begins with the play
wright who IS known and VINO wants 70 be tried
In the proper sense) with the actor who wishes
to play what he calls Legitimate drama, and I'M
agnes. rightly or wrongly, that ne can DO the
Shakespeare business better than any man IN me
country. Now. II the management of the syndicate
does think So what will happen to him is about
Ike this In a town where there is only one play
house I'm which the legitimate drama may be seen
II the management OF the opera house falls 70
arrange with the syndicate; then that individual
and his company may be showed I'm there on an
emergency absolutely unher1lied. or In a measure
unheraded and ne plays 20 bare houses. without
the distinction given him nv the management Of the
syndicate. and he has what ne calls dismal talI-