The times., 1901-06-24

4 Former Thespian SuIstIy POrfrays
the Distinctions Between Plays
The Relative Money Tribute tn Re
Ii@iOn and the Histrionic Art.
Unique religious services were held at
Odd Fellows Han yesterday afternoon,
when the graphonhone grand was intro
duced as a factor in the production of
church music BY means of an immense
megaphone attached to the machine there
was reproduced in tones loud enough to
issue through the open windows to the
streets below, a long programme of fami-
liar sacred melodies. The innovation was
the means of collecting quite a large
audience. The Rev. j. B. Clayton, an
evangelist, who is sojourning temporarily
in the city, presided over the ceremonies,
and the sermon. on the subject of The
Church and the Stage" delivered by
the Rev George Buckler pastor of the
New York Avenue Methodist Church
Miss Mabel BuckIer. daughter of the
clergyman, and J. A. Loose sang several
sacred songs to piano accompaniment.
The Rev Mr.. Buckler prefaced his dis
cussion of the subject with definitions of
the church. the Christian, and the stage.
In the former he included not only the
Protestant Church and the Catholic
the stage he said ne meant the profession,
and included everyone who made liv-
ing from connection with the stage, even
to the stage carpenter. Defining the stage
more particularly. the speaker quoted the
advice of Hamlet to the actors, which
he considered the best explanation of the
actors art that could be given: Nor
'erstep the modesty of nature the
whole end of the stage is TO hold the mir
ror up to nature"
Mr. BuckIer emphasized the point that
the part of the stage was not to show
nature to nature" but TO hold up the
mirror, which softens nature, adds art,
and that the part of the stage was to
show life as it should be. As far back
as the stage has existed, said the speaker,
the audiences have applauded the noble
traits of the hero and heroine, and have
hissed and condemned the character OF
the villain. This ne considered, was due
to the fact that the human heart is never
altogether bad, that conscience is ever
alert and alive, and that man has never
entirely lost his admiration far the image
of his maker.
Discussing the rivalry between the
church and the stage. Mr.. Buckler con-
sidered this due largely to the desire of
ministers for large congregations. In
this he thought the pastor was much like
the actor, and il had given cause for
much of the vituperative argument that
has been made in the pulpit against the
stage. He spoke of his own experience, as
a former actor, when he had longed for
the large audiences which he had observ-
ed in the churches, and how when he had
entered the ministry he had longed for
the large audiences which he saw at the
theatre doors. Much, said he, depends
upon the point OF view and pastor is
much like actor in the wish TO address
multitudes.
As Methodist Mr.. Buckler said that
he was forbidden to attend the theatre,
as 1t is one Of the rules Of that denomina-
ton While he was not in favor of this !
regulation in the church, he said that |
he had subscribed to it, and that he had
no right, nor had any other Methodists |
who were members of a chGrch, the right |
to attend theatrical performances as long
as the rule was enforced b. the denomi- /
nation. The course Of a person who de- |
sired 10 attend the theatre was TO Join /
some church which was more liberal than |
the Methodist and did not forbid such at |
tendance.
Mr. Buckler spoke of the one great |
wrong in attending the theatre. He said |
that the theatreSoer paid, as a rule, IS /
for two orchestra seats, paid possibly an I
extra dollar for a carriage for the bene- |
Mt OF his lady companion, and still an /
other dollar for an after theatre supper 1
This sum, he said. might be somewhat re-
duced in cases where the wife was the |
companion, but did not materially alter
the condition. The same persons, said he, /
continuing his illustration, attend church |
on Sunday. and moved by the spirited ap- I
peals of the pastor for funds for various |
purposes. contribute > cents for the col
lection plate. He asserted that every /
church man attending the theatre had no |
right TO put q cent less into the church |
quota than his theatre expenses for the
week had been. Otherwise. he claimed |
that they were not contributing properly |
to the needs Of hungry and suffering fel- |
lowmen. and to the support Of pastors
who had given their life work to saving |
their souls.
Mr.. Buckier proceeded to eXpatiate up
on the proper character OF the stage and |
the character Of the plays. as they should |
be presented His deductions were fol-
lowed with great interest hY his auditors