The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-27
Church and Stage.
The Significant Action of a
Missionary Society in Civ
ing It's Support to Good
Plays.

Plays.
A well-known company of capable
players has been engaged for an ap-
pearance in Washington. a well-known
and classic play is to be disclosed to
Washington for the first time A
series of classic plays worthy in sub
stance. artistic in form. and ennobling
in effect is to be presented as a supple
ment to the great work whicH is new
TO the Capital OF, the United States.
And a large portion Of the profit which
this enterprise makes as sure as an
investment in consols will go to a
church. Surely. the day Of judgment is
at hand
To be specific and explain this con-
GGent anticipation. the Missionary So
ciety OF the First Congrega tional
Church mas not only Joined hands with
the Columbia Theater to make sure a
local engagement of Ben Greets Eng
lish company OF players. but has ar
ranged further that Mr.. Greet and his
associates shall present "Everyman'
in the course of their engagement and
that a proportionate share of the risk
and profit shall be credited to the so
Cletv. This may not be the first union
OF church and theater in the history OF
Washington, but il is surely the first
in our day. and mighty significant
No one has any idea that Mr.. Greet s
company is the best on the stage, or
that As You Like It. Twelfth
Night" and nearly all the other plays
in the repertoire have not been better
acted in this very city within a few
years. But the engagement Is yet note
worthy for its weight and it is. indie
pendent OF it's weight, wonderfully preg-
nant with meaning.
The Right Kind of Progress.
The church has not long been willing
10 accept the stage as it accepts litera-
allure. Thirty years ago. when the wal
was stiIl keen in mems minds. it would
have cost the average churchman nj,
membership TO be seen at a Greet per
formance Of gEveryman,i or any othei
play. Twenty years ago those who Oh
tanned membership in any one of hal
a dozen churches would have pledge.
themselves 20 avoid the theater as thel
would avoid fire. drought. and pestlenc5
Ten years ago the pastor OF the ehurci
then attended by the President, preach
cd a preachment against the theateri
80 vigorous. uncOmprOmising, and as
gressive that no one who heard it-aa,
The srines was reDresented-could7 douA
the intensity Of opposition TO the thea
ter in that one denomination. at least
And now another church becomes spon
scr for an important enga cement 81
pastor undertakes 10 announce the en-
terprise from his pulpit. and the mos
regular members Of the congregatio
vi he tred tn att Fer NH
tantur ct nos mutamur IN ills
Clear-minded men Will not presunr
that this action commits the missionar,
society TO general Endorsement of tn
theater on the contrary. the sOcietl
now stands in the best possible light
that Of choosing with care what stag
performances are worth its favor. Play
goeTs who found pleasure in Henry lT
wings wonderful portrayal OF Shylocl
last January did not by any mean
pledge then selves to support the Ca
Partisan Widows or The James Boy
In Missouri"
The theater is a broad and all-cOn
running institution. tt Is calculated 70
he entertainment OF a broad and all
consuming people. IT Is singulaEly
g1Ven mos. pauona ge-in point OF mum
)Crs-by the unCultured and the unde
seiope1 So st happens that a grea
I portion Of the entertainment it pro
: yides offers no possible attraction 70
3 men OF culture and intellect This 1
r more broadly true Of literature an
music than Of the drama Not 81.
2 books IN a hundred viewing the pub
b fishers field as broadly as We hav
Z viewed the stage. deserve even the Iaci
p acguiescence Of the common schoo
reader In music not more than on
"a
= but the cheapest tinseI Surely. thos
who read the works Of Shakespeare an
Milton hose who perform tn
& compcss-e & Of Beethoven and Wayne
= are me- thef .cn2amitted TO the Mic
carter 5.,4a an0 'Bedelia.'
Discyuaiua !; q. .fee5eC-Eot Hurrah.
What ths stsge most needs thes
days = 2rtciseIy tbs Discrimination
support. All tss- Wild ululations OF al
the critics In America viii not hav
haEf tsie weight in discoura gfng sue
-'~e Urls and "Sapho" whic-
:, 'y' tt-e -norr n6ent Judgment o
t2r y, - rsfv- ser led by this mission
ary scclety- II Ihe influence OF thes
enlightened END courageous churchune
were once exercised so vigorously tina
hlr. irving IN g repertoire Of the classic
or Miss Allen In her superlative produc
ton Of Twelfth Night were sustains
in two weeks engagement in Wash
ington, more would De accomplished 10
the purifIeation OF the drama than b
all the laws Of half a century.
The theater. ike the newspaper. ca
fulfill its highest purpose only while
commercial success. Playhouse unanac
ers are as inexorably compelled TO NEE
tho law Of theatrical demand and sun
ply as the provision merchant: and tbe.
are not any the more to be condemnc
because. IN compliance with this rir
orous and unyielding condition. tho
provide an unhealthful theatrical men
Than the provision merchant who sell
canned lobster. The most earnest ex
pohent Of theatrical art who ever man
aged theater must choose many time
between yielding to an unworthy do
mand OF relinquishing all the Opportun
. ties OF his position, and If he IS 20 b
condemned for the occasional bad pla
which public taste demands then a
men OF high purpose and proven intel
hgence must retire forthwith from IN
management Of theaters
What IS needed 70 uplfft the stage