The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-14

more widely nractieed game of mlser-
illness or Coyetousness or "nbbing" Ii
is hopeful sign that TIE present
tendency OF the church seems 10 he 10
give more attention 20 the affirmative
side Of life rather than 20 act as Phari-
saical judges On the negative. Thou
shalt not : Ike a prop 10 keep
dying tree from falling. but il takes
more than a prop 10 make live tree
grow While the prep may have a
place IL is not nearly 30 important 80
some think.
am not a thealregoer nor ballroom
freQueuter, neither do 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 hesitancy, however.
In agreeing with those who replied 10
my question that the theatre and dance
and progressive euchre ana cards are
menaces 10 tile development OF the
Christian life. While of themselves
they may not be more harmful than the
other forms OF amusement named, their
influence seems 10 be against them.
To the question: DO you personally
and ballroom and euChrc parties who
al the same time are also leaders in
prayer meeting and the Sunday school
as soul winners with good. healthful
infiuence| only two answered In the
affirmative. Whyg Does t. not indi-
cate that there is something out OF
harmony with these particular amusC-
ments and the hCalthiul influence OF
the Christian life? Is ii right 70 20
counter TO the testimony OF people
scattered over such a wide territory
and from So many different denomina-
tions SO long as we prize on. religious
influence?
If we say the theatre as n whole is Of
good influence and n necessity for the
men who are carrying the great bur
dens in the commercial and Industrial
world, then il falls short OF its purpose,
for the theatre is supported not 10y the
Cargenies and Rockefellers, but mostly
by those who cannot afford IL and AZ
the same time do what they ought 10
in philanthropy Most of the support
comes from the younger class. who as
yet have no great burdens 10 bear As
10 why those who frequent them are
not real forces in Christian work. read
the following President Eliot. Of Har-
ward. says: THE influence of amuse-
ments may be drawn from tho quality
OF the popular theatre. The taste is for
the trivial spectacles, burlesques, vul-
gar vaudeville, eXtravaganzas. and the
stage often presents 10 unmoved audi
ences scenes ana situations OF an un-
wholesome sort"
One OF the leading dramatic critics
OF the English press, Mr.. Clement
Scott, says il is NEARLY impossible for
woman TO remain pure who adopts
the stage as profession and that the
stage has n tendency To disorder the
finer senSbiitics and 10 substitute hol.
lowncss for sincerity" and adds: 81
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over period of
over thirty years" Is il right TO de
mand amusement at the enormous
price suggested by these men in the
ruin Of the virtue of womanhood whose
profession is 10 amuse us and thus
like Romc's vestalS lot their virtue pay
the awful price for our mere entertain
mentf II il is nearly Impossible" to
adopt the stage and remain pure, then
it is not Christian 10 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 il simply
10 amuSc people?
The stage cannot be kept up without
using somebody's daughters on the al
tar Now the question becomes n dOu-
bic one-not only can ] have Christian
motives by frcquentng the theatre,
but is il right TO ask that somebody's
daughter run tho risk of such an awful
temptation as that 10 which the stage
subjects them for my mere amuse-
ment, granting that the stage has many
Of the most noble as its adornmcDt and
that many Of our best people patronize
ity Yet If the flame of the theatre pas
sion demands such fuel, can ! afford 10
he party 10 the transactiony / would
not appeal 10 prejudice nor oct as judge
over other mems cOnsciences nor pass
hard ecclesiastical laws OF dsbarment
against those who might differ with
me. ! make my appeal TO the hearts
sense Of justice 70 make man or woman
who mHy have enough Of the ChristIy
ambition 20 make the most of life by
stunning that form OF amusement OF
any kind which runs such tremendous
risks
Arc you asking mo Il man is 20 be
deprived Of his rights just because he
is Christianf This Is a good question
over which 10 pause and ask for the
sake Of others not what are my
rights but what arc my duties and
chlipafiougr