The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-03-24

his old garb and prepare for this eX-
temporized levee! Pouting son at the
back door, too mad to go in, because
they are making such a fuss! Tears of
sympathy running down the old mans
cheek at the story of his sons wander
ing and suffering and tears of joy at his
return! When you heard Murdoch re-
cite "The Prodigal Son" in one of his
readings, you did not know whether to
sob or shout. Revivals of religion have
started just under the reading of that
soul revolutionizing drama of 1.-THE
Prodigal Son."
Here it is in the book of Revelation:
Crystalline sea, pearly gate, opalinc
river, amethystine capstone, showering
~coronets, one vial poured out incarnad-
ming the waters, cavalrymen of Heaven
galloping on white horses. nations in
d~oxology. h%alleluiahs to the right of
them, h%alleluiahs to the left of them.
As the Bible opens with the drama of
the first Paradise. so it closes with the
drama of the second Paradise.
Mind you, when / say drama do not
mean myth or fable, for my theology is
of the oldest type-500 years old, thou
sands of years old, as old as the Bible.
When l speak of the drama at the be-
ginning and the clese of the Bible, | do
not mean an allegory, but I mean the
truth so stated that in grouping and in
startling effect it is a God-given, world
resounding. Hea~ven-echoing drama.
Now, if God implanted this dramatic
| element in our natures. and if He has
cultivated and developed it in the Scrip
lures, l demand that you recognize it.
Because the drama has again and
again been degraded and employed for
destructive purposes is nothing against
the drama. any more than music ought
to be accursed because it has been
taken again ard again into the satur-
nalian wassails of 1000 years. viii you
refuse to enthrone music on the church
organ because the art has been
trampled again and again under the
feet of the lascivious dance?
Rev. DIR. Bellows, of New York. many
years ago, in = very brilliant but much
criticised sermon, took the position
that the theater might be renovated
and made auxiliary to the church,
Many Christian people are OF the same
ot;nion. 7 do not agree with them. ]
have no idea that success is in hat di
rection. What have said heretofore
on this sub Get, as far as | remember
is my sentiment now. But to-day
take a step i'll advance OF my former
theory. Christianity is going to TAKE
full POSSE ssion OF this world and con
troll it's maXims its laws, It's literature
it's science and IFS amusc0"uts. Shu
out from the realm Of Christia.i'v any
thing, and you give it up to sin All,
death.
If Christianity is mighty enough Il
manage everything but the amuse
ments of the world, then it is 4 very de
fective Christianity. Is il capable o
; keeping account of the fears of til
l world and incompetent to make recor
T of its smiles? Is it good to follow tn
, funeral. but dumb at the worlds play
I Can it control all the other elements O
our nature bur the dramatic element
NV idea Of Christianity is hat it ca.
and will conquer everything. in tn
good time coming, which the worl
calls the colder age and the poet tn
r elvsian age and the Christian tn
millennium. We have positive announce
ment that the amusements of tn
e world are to hc under Christian swa!
r Holiness shall be upon the bells of til
horses" says ore prophet. So, you SCI
S it will control even the sleigh ride.
1.-THE city shall be full of boys and Cir
playing in the streets thereof" say
S another prophet. So. you see, it is t
c control the hoop rolling and the kit
flying and the ball playing. Now, whi
we want is to hasten that time. Ho'
/ will it be done? By the church goin
+ over to the theater? 1t will not go. /
g the theater coming to the church?
will not come. What We want is a r
t formed amusement association in ever
city and town OF the United State
IS Once announced and explained and
y Illustrated, the Christian and phila'
y thropic capitalist will come forward
j. establish it. and there will be publ
r spirited men everywhere who will {
e this work for the dramatic element
e our natures. We need q new institute
g to meet and recognize and develop al
D defend the dramatic element of OF
y nature. 1t needs to be distinct fro
t, everything that is or has been.
IS I would have this reformed anus
le ment association having in charge tn
70 new institution of the spectacular tai
G possession of some hall or academy.
n, might take a smaller building at Il
a start, but it would Don need the lar
- est hall, and even that w%ould'not no
,r the people; for he who opens bcto
v the dramatic clement in human natu
a. an opportunity of qualification wit
y out compromise and without dang
n does the mightiest thing of this &c
ic fury, ard the tides of such IN instit
ton would rise as the Atlantic rises
at Liverpool docks.
There are tens of thousands
IL Christian homes where the sons n
it, daughters are held back from drama
10 entertainment for reasons which sol
Ie, of you would say are good reasons q
re others would say are poor reasons. \
= ~ IL Ill. I1A