The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-03-23

bringing upon nyselI crltlclSHi, WIFI
out being an inconsistent Christian,
when !, a minister of the good old
Presbyterian church, will be able 70
go to some new institution like this,
the spectacular, and see Hamlet" and
King Lear" and the Merchant OF
Venice" and the "Hunchback" and
Joshua Whitcomb." Meanwhile many
of us will have this dramatic element
unmet and unregaled.
For my love of pictures I can so to
the art gallery, for my love of music
| can go to the concert, for my love OF
literature ] can 60 to the lyceum lee
ture, but for this dramatic element in
my nature. as strong as any other pas
sion of the soul, there is nothing but
injunction and prohibition. Until, sirs,
you can establish spectacular or a
similar institution, with as much pu-
rity and with as much entertainment
as this one Of which | speak-until
you can establish some such institu-
ton you may thunder away against
evil amusements until the last minute
worlds existence and without avail.
We want this institution independent
of the church and independent of the
theater. The church tries to dompro-
mise this matter. and in many
churches there are dramatic exhibit
tons. Sometimes they call them cha
rades, sometimes they call them magic
lantern exhibitions - entertainments
for which you pay fifty cents, the fifty
cents to go to the support OF some
charitable institution. An extempo-
rized stage is put up in the church or
in the lecture room and there you go
and see David and the giant and Jo-
seph sold into Egypt and the little
Samuel awoke, the chief difference be-
tween the exhibition in the church
and the exhibition in the theater be-
ing that the exhibition in the theater
Is more skillful.
Now let us have new institution,
with eXpurgated drama and with the
surroundings | have spoken of-an
institution which we can without So
phistry and without self deception
so uncompromisingly good that we
support and patronize-an institution
can attend it without any shock to our
religious sensibilites, though the Sab
bath before we sat at the holy sacra-
ment.
The amusements of life are beautiful
and they are valuable, but they can.
not pay you for the loss of your soul.
could not tell your character, | could
not tell your prospects for this world
or the next by the particular church
you attend but if you will tell me
where you were last night, and where
you were the night before and where
you have been the nights of the last
month, think ] can guess where you
will spend eternity.
AS to the drama of your life and
mine, it will soon end There will be
no encore to bring us back At the
beginning of that drama of life stood
cradle, at the end of it will stand a
grave. The first act, welcome. The
last act, farewell. The intermediate
acts, banquet and battle, professions
bridal and funeral, songs and tears,
laughter and groans.
1t was not original with Shakespeare
when he said, Cali the worlds stage
and all the men and women merely
players" He got it from st. Paul, who
fifteen centuries before that had writ
ten, 1--WE are made spectacle unto
ha nd 10 nd tO
A spectacle in a coliseum fighting with
wild beasts in an amphitheater, the
galleries full, looking down. Here we
destroy lion. Here we grapple with
a gladiator. When we fall, devils
shout. When we rise, angels sing. A
spectacle before gallery above gallery,
gallery above gallery. Gallery of our
departed kindred, looking down to see
if we are faithful and worthy of our
Christian ancestry, hoping for our vic
tory, wanting to throw us garland, |
glorified children and parents, with |
cheer and cheer urging us on. Gal |
lery of the martyrs looking down |
the Polycarps and the Ridleys and the |
McKails and the Theban legion and |
the Scotch Covenanters and they of |
the Brussels market place and of Pied
mont-crying down from the galleries,
God gave us the victory, and he will |
give it you" Gallery of angels look
ing down-cherubic, seraphic, arch
angelic-clapping their wings at every
advantage we gain. Gallery of the
King from which there waves a
SCARED hand and from which there
comes a sympathetic voice saying,
BE thou faithful unto death, and l
will give thee a crown of life" Oh, the
spectacle in which you and l are the
actors! Oh, the piled up galleries look
ing down!
Scene: The last day. Stage: The
rocking earth. Enter: Dukes, lords.
kings. beggars, clowns. No sword.
No tinsel No crown. For footlights:
The kindling flames of a world For
orchestra: The trumpets that wake
the dead. For applause: The clapping
floods of the sea. For curtain: The
heavens rolled together as a scroll.
|