Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-11-07
DRAMA AND CHURCH.
A PLAN TO UNITE CHURCH AND
STAGE.

lesion, near Yarmouth, England, who
aroused worldwide comment, not long
ago, by permitting the noted actress
Mrs. James Brown Potter, to recite
from his pulpit. is now agitating a
fresh and more startling scheme to in.
terest and attract church congrega.
tions. He wants to establish close
union of the church and stage in the
cause of religion. Proposing that each
parish maintain a theater-under the
management OF the church.
The vicar believes that clergymen
overdo the merely religious side of life,
Therefore, he suggested theatricals as
an adjunct to religion.
In his opinion, every parish church
should run its own theater, with the
vicar for manager and the parishion.
ers as performers.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the Colon.
ial Secretary and one of the most far.
sighted and broad minded men in
England, upholds this plan. He has
written to Mr.. Phillips expressing hi,
warm sympathy with the scheme.
Mr.. Chamberlain believes the project
will bring light and happiness into
the lives Of the villagers. And this
he tells the vicar, he is always glad to
see. He consequently gives the ides
his hearty approval and support.
Many other prominent Englishmeu
Of affairs have done the same thing
Mr.. Chambeilain's views on most sub.
jects command attention.
Any city dweller who knows aught
about rural life in England or Amer
ica, will admit that wholesome recrea.
ton Of some sort is greatly needed in
the small towns and hamlets through.
out the country.
In the summer time, the men who
are young enough, find recreation in
baseball, cricket or other outdoor
sports, but there is seldom any amuse.
mert to relieve the dull monOtony oi
the winters evenings.
As for the women, the mothers
meetings, or some other similar gath.
ering, are the only entertainment.
that enliven their lives.
To the average rustic, reading is no,
a pleasure. The girls and younger wo
men may interest themselves in light
er reading, but it is an exception Il
find amongst the men or women Of az
older generation any taste whatever
for literature Of any kind.
II the suggestion OF the vicar OF Cor
lesion could be carried out there ars
many who are broad.minded enough
to admit that . useful as we'll as ar
entertaining institution might be ths
result. The representation of care
fully selected plays would exercise N
excellent educational influence. Thil
fact was very early recognized by the
Church itself.
Besides the Passion Plays and ever
the ever popular Punch and Judy show
is supposed to have had its origin iu
the Church's desire to convey biblical
knowledge to its children in an easily
assimilated form. Punch being none
other than Pontius Plate and the
name Judy being corruption Of Ju.
das.
The plan Of the Reverend Mr.. Phil
lips includes = revival of the mystery
plays Of the Middle Ages and the e.
tablishment Of . sort Of Oberammer
gau society in each parish.
Mr.. Phillips ideas regarding thii
matter are best expressed in his OWL
statement which is - follows:
Yes, I want millionaire or hemi'
demi semi-millionaire to give me twe
thousand pounds with which to build
. theater to run in connection with
our church and parish. / have 70
ceived . fair measure of abuse from
religious papers and religious people
but religious papers and religious peo
pie rarely think. They have settled
their own creed and everyone else's
and having done this, 60 TO tho public
house - . pleasure. Why mott W.
20 to our clubs. God never meant
life to be . weary round of dull monot'
onous toil-toil that admits OF no free
dom. toll without the pleasures OF ex'
pense.
As / write this keep glancing al
the sea-gulls plunging themselves
against the sky in an ecstasy Of JOY
and compare this life with that o.
the many thousand toilers know.
want to help the people to proper
pleasure and the theater properly con
Quoted 10 the solution. I want some
one to give me three thousand poundl
or if someone will give me half, I viii
work off the remainder.
Ny scheme has passed the expert
mental stage and / know success
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