New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1901-02-06

constantly being played on the stage Of
the world.
AS every man who has fought his way
out of the foggy vail of obscurity and
mysticism, who has worked up his way
to the shining light of reason, who has
met God face to face and recognized
Him as the eterual spirit of truth, of
whom he is not afraid and for whom
he feels no superstitious fear, but with
whom it is his aim and purpose to live
in undisturbed harmony, I say as every
man who has reached this round on the
ladder upward, cannot possibly go back
to superstitious belief, so did this band
of convinced and outspoken freethink-
ers, so-called, stick it out and persevere
in their ideas and aspirations through
all the trying times of eventful years.
This occasion which has brought us
together here this evening under such
agreeable circumstances is altogether
due and directly traceable to their con-
sistent and indefatigable endeavors and
their unswerving fidelity to their prlnci-
piles. Under the most exhileratlng and
inspiring circumstances, in the dazzling
splendor and grandeur of modern lnven-
tions and conveniences, we are tonight
thrilled and animated by what we see
and enjoy.
Friends, no more fitting time than this
could we have to pledge anew this as
sociation to continuance of the lofty
aspirations which have marked its course
in the past. No more opportune occa-
sion could be chosen to pledge again
this ASSOCIATION 20 revival and more
energetic pursual of the principles which
form the basis and the bedrock of its
existence. They are principles which
involve the encouragement of every
mans sincere and honest opinion with
out fear of being made to suffer for it.
Whenever the power and the moral
and material influence of any organiza-
ton, whether religious or anti religious,
shall be so directed as to stife mans
honest opinion and force him to hypo-
cracy, then, say, such an organization,
whether religious or religious, be-
comes menace to society and barrier
to civilization.
Upon the occasion of the laying of the
corner stone Of this magnificent edifce
mention was made of some of the most
important principles underlying this or
ganization and it IS, therefore, unneces-
sary for me to repeat them here. I
would, however, make mention of one
prominent feature in our endeavors as
an organization for the advancement of
liberalism and enlightment, and that is
the drama. This art and science has
certainly played a significant part in the
course and progress Of human civiliza-
ton. [ am not fully informed as to
how far the idea of the drama dates
back but we know that the Catholic
church of Spain opposed drama of ancient
Rome because of its immoral and de-
graded condition. She gave the people
religious plays instead which were some
what on the order and plan of our mod
ern theatre. Monks usually took it up
on themselves to conduct these. The
religious plays soon gave way to secular
ones, sometimes based upon historic
facts and sometimes purely on fiction,
but still under the direction of the
church. History records of band of
monks travelling from country to coun-
try producing these plays.
Spain may properly be called the era
die of the dramatic art since 1t was there
that the first dramas were written which
have influenced the world. They were
written by Juan Del Enema, who may
also have been monk, for we must
bear in mind that in that age-for it was
in the 10Th century-learned men were
few outside of the monastlc order. Juan
Del Encina was called the master of
Spanish drama.
In the face of these historic facts i; is
but right and fair to say that that grand
religious institution should receive the
credit for having furnished to the world
one of the most potent and powerful
mediums of civilization. From this
sprang the secular drama of the present
age. The charae ters portrayed and deli
heated, the human emotions and pas
sions vivified, the unforgetable and in
deli5le lessons impaired by this medium,
entities the drama to take its place in
the foremost rank of the many agenies
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