New-York tribune., 1902-10-15
THE CHURCH lvD THE DRAMA.
DISCUSSION AT CHURCH CONGRESS IN AL
BANY-BIsHOP DOANE's ADDRESS


Albany. Oct. IA ,SpeciaD.-The first sessions Of
| the twenty-irst Protestant Episcopal Church
/ Congress were held here to-day A large number
| OF clergymen were present representing all Sec
| tions OF the United States Among them were
/ Bishop Doane Of Albany. Bishop Frederick Bur-
CESS. OF Long Isbiud Bishop Cameron Mann. Of
North Dakota: the Rev Dr. r.. Walpole Warren
rector OF ST James's Church. New-York; the Rev.
DR. J. Lewis Parks. rector OF Calvary Church.
New-YOrk; the Rev DR. Nash. Of Cambridge DIvin-
ity School the Rev DIT X. II. McKim Of Wash
ingtOn. the Rev. DR.. David n, Greer. Of st. Bar
tholomew's Church. New-York. the Very Rev.
Dean Hodges. Of the Cambridge Divinity school.
Massachusetts. the Rev. w. T.. Johnson. of the
Church OF the Redeemer. Sew-YOrk; the Rev. w
r. Huntington. OF Grace Church. Sew-York; the
Rev. a. b. Kinsovug of Brooklyn. and the Rev.
Dr. Rainsford. Of 81 Georges Church. New-YOrk
The congress was begun with services in the Ca
thedral of All Saints this morning Bishop Bur-
CESS. OF Long Island preached the sermon, taking
his text the twentieth chapter of the Gospel OF
ST. Luke; This do in remembrance of Me" The
second session held in Odd Fellows Hall to-
night. Bishop DOane delivered the address OF
welcome IN which he said:
In speaking for he Congress- 1 want say
70 Albany that We are gathered to-day in the
open heId OF religious opinions about an serious
and important questions concerning the life Of men
and OF society. Behind these. IN their venerable.
invariable and inyulnerabe unchangeableness.
stand the fundamental veTities of the Catholic
Ialth- Anchored 10 These, ana protected oy them
free 10 wander at our will through that
a
side OF and apart from the articles of the faith
which nevertheless color and control the thoughts
are a common grOuud which proves upon how
many essential things men OF divergent views and
The subjects We are to discuss here show the
other side: namely. how widely men can differ
about many things agreeing all the while in their
belief. The cathOiicity OF the Church, we un-
variety OF opinlous It's comprehensiye must
hold fast TO all that is primitive and true. but II
must also lay hold upon what the progress OF
thought and study nnds be mOdern and true.
IL has room for ana II invites to. al honest
earnest serious thorough research and investga-
tion II welcomes every new light that may bring
these discussions and debates, no votes being taken
and no decisions reached. the only one resolution,
49, tI- t -; sil5 90 10 stste easb oDe
his own side in the charity which rejoiceth in the
Papers we're read tonight at the congress on
The Church and the Drama" by the Rev. Dr.
Henry Lubbock OF New-York. and the Rev. DR..
Tomkins. OF Philadelphia. Speeches on the same
topic made by the Rev. A. r. Knsolving. of
Brooklyn. and the Rev. W. f. Bentley of New
York Mr. Bentley is secretary Of the Actors
Church Alliance. The Rev DR.. Tomkins argued
that much could b. done by the church 10 en-
courage the use of moral plays The Rev Dr.
KiusoIving SAID the theatre vas steadily gaining
iu Influence over mankind. and it vas houored by
having had such actors Edwin Booth Joseph
Jefferson and CIara Morris Yet the drama re-
Gently had had a bad tendency There were many
plays which were sensual Christian people should
be- their guard against them lht play Whicn
was pure and sweet should he witnessed; that
which was bad should b. avoided and mus us use
would ~ discouraged
The Rev Mr BENTLEY satd IL was great mis-.
fortune when the church and The theatre parted
company in the Middle Ages The Cnurci needed
the theatre and the theatre me churcn ne
church needed better readers and better preachers
The theatre needed the church. for the CONNER
,SiaI spirIt with which the theatres were managed
would be less IN the churches had more tnnuence
over them He was thankful that the Actors
,~h,,r,L Suiancs had been established IN four
hundrad cities There we're SIN hundred theatres
which 1t sought influence In Whlen mere We're
q 80 a.tors Tbe actors struggling against
me SUNDAY opening OF theatres. ana sought ana
1eadad tba Aid Of the church Actors desired TO
resf on SUNDAY other WorklnSmfn 90 ana
should that day