The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-10
DEFENDS SUNDAY PLAYS.
J. Clement Smith Writes of Their
Influence.


To the Editor of the State Journal:
The clergy of our city seem greatly
disturbed because Manager Crawford
has introduced play acting at his thea
ter on Sunday evenings. Evidently the
trepidation arises from one of three
causes: First, they may fear the prac-
tice will decrease the number of their
own hearers; second, they may believe
that theatrical representatio are wick>
ed per Sc, and, third, they may believe
it is wicked to give such representations
on Sundays, but not on other days.
AS the majority of our pulpits are now
occupied and managed l think the first
cause of alarm is well founded. They
furnish such small attractive force that
grown up men except in very limited
numbers occupy their time elsewhere.
Statisticians inform US that 10 per cent
only of our people attend church SER
vices on Sundays. And it is a remark
able coincidence that truss makers
claim Is per cent of our population are
ruptured. Women and children now are
the principal listeners to pulpit oratory.
do not believe there is substantial
ground for the statement often made,
that our ladies go to exhibit their gor-
geous wardrobe or study that which
adorns their neighbors. On the con-
trary they are sincere and Jealous list
eners and quite often receive spiritual
aid and comfort from such attendance.
But everybody knows that children do
not go to hear Sunday sermons of their
own free will. They would greatly pre-
fer to visit the woods, the waters, or
the gardens if permitted so to do.
The second question is: Shall play
acting be considered as wicked, per Sc?
So far as the clergy are concerned this
question was answered long ago when
they introduced plays at church. socials.
Instead of being wicked they have
treated them as pious adjuncts to &C.
clesiastical festivities.
h11f ono nrJ0GfiOr1- Toes
play acting become wicked when enact
ed on Sunday It is said that in Blue
Law days, the ports of beehives were
closed on Saturday nights and the in
dustrious occupants kept in durance I'M
til the following Monday. The suffering
of the little prisoners cannot be traced
to any goodness of heart on the part of
their owners, but when properly under
stood had it's origin in sheer selfishness
Those owners thereby desired to please
God and thereby secure his friendship
and personal favors.
What is a play? 1t is a representa-
ton by words and acts of events real or
imaginary in human life. It does not
necessarily call for a company of ac
tors. One man of proper evolutionary
training can enact a tragedy or drama
or a comedy. / have seen it done in the
pulpit In fact our most successful
preachers are all actors and their shows
are exhibited on Sunday. The late De-
Witt Talmage obtained great notoriety
as an actor in the pulpit OF course the
scene becomes more attractive when the
star performer has the aid of Compel
ent assistants. Now I have a sugges-
ton: Let the pulpits in our churches be
removed and their places supplied with
convenient platforms upon which plays
that are instructive and moral, whole
some and beneficial be regularly enact
ed. In those plays the most prominent
par is have been assigned to preachers.
| Let the admission fee be nickel only.
So that all may be blessed with feast
| of love. kindness and instruction. l Sug
gest also that the best of music be pro
vided if possible, and all arranged so
that every part shall be mellowed by
the strains of enchanting song. [ adj
wise that the music be largely operate
in character The clergy cannot con-
sistently complain of this. for their just
1 ly popular air Hold the Fort" was sung
for many years in German beer gardens
before it was adopted by the churches;
and the most devotional hymn ever
written, Nearer NV Cod to Thee was
the production of an infideL Let no play
be introduced in which vice is not pun
ished and virtue made triumphant.
The thanks of our people are due to
the Rev. c. NJ. Sheldon for making an
introduction to the scheme I am advo-
eating. He introduced the practice OF
reading novels in the pulpit on Sunday
1t was a great departure from old Gus
| toms and owing largely to that practice
am told that his church is throngeo
/ with listeners among which are a good
/ ly number of adult men. A novel is a
play quite much as comedy and Il
Mr. CraWfOrd'S actors are cenSOra bic
for plying their vocations on Sunday
Mr.. Sheldon IS no less So But there is
! no criminalitv about it. Mr.. Sheldon's
practice of novel reading is wise. KIND
and instructive His congregation vii
always retire after listening to such
| plays with sunshine in their hearts ans
| praises upon their cpuntenances. The
beauty of holiness. and ugliness of sir
will be carried in memory to theil
homes and such homes become sweeten
ed by the experience. Sunday plays, ap-
propriate PLAYS. add greatly to our in
tellect. real wealth and permanent hap.
piness. J. CLEMENT SMITH.