The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-04

Stcauleu Hsiu Until MS crutcu Sllpp6u a0u
he fell. I helped him up as well as could
gathered up the fragments OF the package
as we'll rs l could, PUT them under one
arm and the crutch under the other arm
but when l saw the blood run down his
pale check burst into tears. Fifty essays
about the sufferings Of the poor could not
touch one like that little drama OF accident
and suffering.
Oh, We want il ali our different depart
ments OF usefulness more CT the dramatic
element and less OF the didactio. The
tendency in this day is to drone religion.
to whine religion, to cant religion, to moan
religion, to croak religion, to sepulcharze
religion, when we ought to present 1t in
animated and spectacular manner.
What we want, ministers and laymen, Is
to get our sermons and our exh ortations
and our prayers out OF the Old rut. The old
hackneyed religious phrases that come
snoring down through the centuries will
never arrest the masses. What We want
to-day, you in your sphere, aud I IN my
sphere, Is to lreshen up. People do not
want in their sermons the sham flowers
bought at the millinery shop, but tue
japonicas wet with the morning dew, not
the heavy bones OF extinct meSatherium
OF past ages, but the living reindeer caught
last August ut the edge OF Schroon Lake,
He Waut " uilFo OUT Cue ufoWsy anu tue
prosaic and the tedious and the bumdrum
and Introduce the brightness and the
vivacity and the holy sarcasm and the sane
titled wit aud the epigrapmatic power and
the blood red earnestness and the fire OF re-
ligious zeal, and o'not know Of any way
OF doing 1t as we'll as through the dramatic.
But now let US turn to the drama US an
amusement and entertainment.
Rev. DR.. Bellows, OF New York, many
years ago In a very brilliant but much criti.
cised sermon took the position that the
thoater might be renovated and made aux
iliary to the church. Many christian peo-
pie are OF the same oPinion.asI do not
agree with them. haHe NO 1deathat sue
cess is in that direction. WhatsT have suid
heretofore on this subject, asfar as I can
remember, is my sentiment now. But to-
day I take a step In adyance OF my former
theory. ChristianitYis is going tQsstake full
possession OF this world and 5eontrol It's
maxims, its laws, its literature. It's scleuce
and It's ts.nmusements., Shut out fron the
realm OF Christianity anything and you
give 1t uptto sin and death.
II Christianity tSmIghty enough 20
manage everything Aut tthesafnusements OF
the world. then It ts;a ysyy detective Chris
tianity:. st capaEle 81 skeaplng account
to make record Of, smtiss? Is it good to
follow the ipneraf t dlmb at the worlds
play2 Can It conttoE ali the other elements
OF our nature b1t Che dramatic element2
Myddea OF ohrislt15fT issthat it Gun and
wiltsconquer ever
Now, what weaW aWant Issfo hasten that
time. How will it be dona2 BY the church
going ove- to tho ,tneateFgE It will not &C.
BY the theater coming to the church? 1t
will not come. What.we.waut Is reformed
amusement assoclatyoni In every, city and
town OF the United States. Once an
nounced and explained and illustrated,
the Chrlstiap and Rhfiantbroplc capitalist
will come Forward 10 establish 1t, and there
will be publtospiksted men everywhere who
will do this wofksfCs the dramatic element
OF our natures. we need a new instltu-
ton to meet and Recognize and develop
and defend The dMmatic element Of our
nature. 1t needs 10 he distinct from ev-
erything thatis orshns been.
would have this isereformed amusement
association having ii charge this new in-
stitution Of the spectacular take possession
OF some hall or academy. 1t might take
smaller buildingat the start, but 1t would
soon need the largest halt, aud even that
would not hold the people, for he who
human nature an opportunity OF gratifica-
tions wlthout compromisegsand without
danger does the mlghtiest thing OF this
century, andsthe tides Of isneh an 5institu-
tion would rise as the Atiantlctrises ut
Liverpool docks. ,,
There are tens Of thousands OF CHRISTIAN
homes where the sons and. daughters are
held back from dramatic entertainment for
reasons which some OF you would say re
good reasons aud others would say are
poor reasons, but still held back. But on
the establishment Of such an institution
they would feel the arrest OF their 1nxletles
and would say on the establishment OF tals
new institution, which I have called tue
spectacular, t'Thank, God. this Is what we
have all been waiting for"
Now. as I believe that make suggeatipn
OF an institution which wiser men Fitl
develop, want to give soine cliatnetertat
ties of this new institution. this sp69e eactfs
lar, IL it is to be grand social and 1pra
success. In the first place, It's ene9f(< ~
ments must be compressed within az H.
and three-quurters. What kills serm6A
prayers and lectures and lentertR rtRinmenl
OF all SORTS is prolixity. AtS q rensonau
hour every night every curtain OF pupl!I
entertainment ought to: drop, every ehnrk
service ought to cease, the instruments0 0l
orcaestras ought to be unstr 81
On the platform OF this new instituftQQ
mo has been read exourrated: abbregif{S q
nnI m passed uoon by- a1s board 'Sof trustsG
connected With this reformed afause1nai5E
associstion. Ifthere be Ia Sdra ma q EsSn5
tnnce sncrastir q evil 81 win be stffckaf,
ont ont iftbsre be in d shakeapesreah ;piayX
rora with two meanincs-a.ce rasarif5yr
and had meanine-anothers.W Word 2sgiii sSs
snbstitnted- an honest word ioot irES6 6nIy
way. The caterers to public taste Nh bare
to learn that Shakaspearean.n mast i1ess asrp
better than CongreFsahi nstt ness Yon
say, "Who will dare to- Change ey ysxPrfgas
tion or abbrevlatioh 6ha esp
play" dare. Ths boerd eess gt =
dare. It fs no .Sdepree lon drar1as
the abbreylatioh of It: EM9IJ hAHf