Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-07-13


saical Judges on the negative. Thou
shalt not" IS like prop to keep
dying tree from falling, but 1t takes
more than a prop to make live tree
grow. While the prop may have
place it is not nearly SO important as
some think.
| am not a theatregoer nor ballroom
freuucntcr, neither do I know even the
names of the different playing cards.
| feel that | have much better use for
my time and money. From my OBJ
servation have no heSitnncI. however
in agreeing With those who replied to
my question that the theatre and dance
and progressive euchre and cards are
menacrs to the development of the
Christian life. While of themselves
they may not be more harmful than the
)thcr forms of amusement named, their
influence seems to be against thcnl.
10 the question: "Do you personally
know people who frequent the theatres
md ballroom and cucllrr parties who
It the same time are also leaders Ill
prayer meeting and the Sundav-school
rs soul winners, with Il good, hralth1ul
niuCncc!" only two answered in the
affirmative. Why? Does i. not indl-
ate that there is something out or
harmony with these particular amusc-
mrnts and the hcalthful influence OF
the Christian life: Is it right to 80
COUNTER to the testimony Of people
scattered over such Il wide terri.
and from SO many different dcnomina-
lions so long as we prize on religious
infiu"nCHt
If we say the theatre as Il whole is or
GOOD influence and Il necessity for the
mon who are carrying the great bur
lnnS in the commercial and industrial
world. then it falls short of its purpose,
for the theatre is supported not by the
Carg nics and Rockefcllcrs, but mostly
by those who cannot afford it and ut
the same time do what they ought to
n philanthropy. Most of the support
comes from the younger class, who as
vet have no great burdens to bear AS
to why those who frequent them are
not real forces in Christian work. read
the following; President Eliot, of Har-
ward. says: "Tho influence of amuSc-
mems may be drawn from the quality
# the popular theatre. The taste is FOR
The trivial sD"ctaclrS, h"r!CSqucS, Nui-
gar vaudeville. cXtravaGaIZaS, and the
stage often presents to unmoVcd audi
nnccs scenes ana situations of an UNI
whole some sort"
one of the leading dramatic critics
If the English press, Mr.. Clement
Scott. says il is ''ncarly impossible for
woman to remain pure who adopts
the stage us a profession and that the
stage has Il tendency TO disorder the
finer ScnsihiliicS and to substitute hol-
lowncSS for Sinc2rity,' and adds: Il
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over II period OF
over thirty years. Is it right to de-
mand amusement at the enormous
price SuggC Stcl by these men III the
ruin of the virtue of wOlnanhOod whose
profession is to amusc us and thus
like Romc'S vcStals lot their virtue pay
the awful price for Our mere entertain
mrnt: If it is "ncarly impossible TO
adopt the stage and remain pure, then
it is not Christian to demand that form
of amusement on whose affairs woman-
hood is sacrificed. If the sacrifice was
that of our own sons and daughters
would we be willing to make it simply
TO amusc people,
Tho stage cannot be kept up without
lNIIIS Sbil'|ttlN tliu-IIN'tN WI Wv Ga
tar. Now the question becomes Il dou-
bic ouc-not only can | have Christian
motives by frcquentlng the theatre.
but is it right to ask that somebody's
daughter run the risk Of such an awful
temptation as that to which the stage
subjects them for my mere amuS"-
mcnt. granting that the stage has many
of the most noble rs its adjournment and
that many of our best people patronZe
it! Yet If the flame of the theatre pas
sion demands such fuel, can afford to
he Il party to the transaction? ! would
not appeal to prejudice nor act as judge
over other mems CUnscicncIS nor pass
hard ecclesiastical laws of dsbarment
against those who might differ with
me. | make my appeal to the hearts
sense of justice to make man or woman
who may have enough CT the Christly
ambition to make the most of life by
stunning that form of amusement OF
any kind which runs such tremendous
risks.
Are you asking me # a man is to be
deprived of his rights just because he
is Christian? This is good question
over which 10 pause and ask for the
sake of others not what are my
rights" but what are my duties and
obliuatiOnSr