The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-01
THE STAGES PURITY 2
Stuart Robson Doesn't t Expect Much
Of Latest Movement in That
Direction.
Stage Will Regulate Itself Judges
Disagree as to Moral and
Immoral Plays. s NJ

The speedy publication Of the American
stage is not looked forward to Stuart
Robson as the probable outcome of a re
ported co-opera ton between the Church
club and the Actors Church alliance.
The Church club Is composed of Epis-
copalians. The Actors. Church alliance
consists Of clergymen and actors. I The
New York branch Of the Church club de-
cided. at a recent meeting.rto aid the
Alliance in carrying out plan sketched
by Rev. DR.. Walter, E. Bentley. rector of
the church, Of the Holy Sepulchre and
general secretary, Of the alliance.
According to this plan a committee of
ciergymen has been appointed to visit the
New York theat ers and ascertain. which
plays are unfit for the, eyes Of religious
men and women and improper for chill
dren to know about. ~ -
This information is to be sent to pastors
In every city throughout the country. The
clergymen so informed will be expected to
confer with influential members of their
congregations and, thus INDUCE sthe cus-
tonary patrons to stay away from the
prescribed plays. On the other hand !, the
same pastors, when informed from New
York that a certain play is worthy. and
elevating, will endeavor to augment the
local audiences whenever the eleyating
play arrives. - ~ > ,-z
THAT is" exclaimed Mr.. Robson at the
West Hotel to-day, 1.-The ministers are
going to help advertise the theaters!
'"Well, don't think the movement will
have any important influence, There are
no prominent actors interested so far as I
know, except, perhaps, Joe Jefferson, who
vas induced to address the Church allf-
ance the other day. And are the rank
and file of the dramatic, profession, assist
ed by some ministers of the gospel going
to advise the public what are moral plays
and what are immoral. plays? How can
they be sure about IT.? Why, no two ac=
tors or literary, men or critics. however
experienced and we'll informed, will agree
half the time as to what Is a moral or an
immoral play. - ~ =. = -
For my part, claim to be moral man.
I think live a reputable life. Yet
should call Camille moral play and
:Sappho' as we'll. :, I think that any play
that goes to make vice repu1sive has an
influence in favor of good morals. :! -v,-
but agree with Bronson Howard $
opinion as expressed the other day before
the American Dramatists' society-that
We shouldn't ask before putting on or
attending a play, rs it a fit production for
my daughter to .attend?' SHAKESPEARE GER
tainly never thought of peoples daughters
in such connection, nor have any OF the
great dramatists. I might%be quite will
Ing to have my wife see a play that would
The play might be very instructive. very
elevating, really very moral. and still not
an ideal entertainment for girls board
ing school. y >,| - :.
Best Judges Differ. ~.
Gas to what constitutes the immoral
play the best judges will, constantly. differ,
and you can no more lay down fixed rules
than you can in selecting another form OF
art mean litera ture. If you are to keep
your mind fixed on your little daughter,
YOU would certainly throw Balzac out OF
desirable literature. Poor Mr.: Shakespeare
would go overheard at once And first
of all, you'd .heaye the Bible across the
rail-you< could never keep the Bible!AjE
tH"I don't think. the stage specially needs
any help from the church. The stage
will regulate itself. In fact: the church
tried for centuries to destroy the stage
entirely. Almost any other institution ex-
cept the stage would have been annihil-
ated, but the dramatic instinct proved
stronger than the religious instinct? So
ciety would have its drama, and the stage
has now become so strong that it Is not
only respected: by the pulpit but feared
as we'll. Clergymen are now making