Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-07-15

a uAVAOA0 Of~AAt AVA SUNNY
amusement that as vampire feeds TAT
on the vitais OF our holy religion.
l know there Is danger OF being mis-
understood when l speak in detail The
man with n grabbed religion will think
.me too lax. while the man without
conviction will think me too strict.
With a zeal worthy OF q better cause
the church in the past has picked out
a few amusements upon which IL has
placed the ban and left others with
no cenSure. IL has decreed that dane
ing and card playing and the theatres
were OF themselves sinful and dcvilish
and were worse than are Jacob and
Ruth" or Blind Mans Bun" or the
more widely practiccd game OF miscr-
Illness or covetousneSS or "hhbing.' IL
is a hopeful sign that TIE present
tendency OF the church seems 90 be TO
give more attention to the Affirmative
side OF life rather than 90 act as Phari-
Saical judges on the negative. Thou
shalt not" IS like prop 20 keep a
dying tree from falling. but 10 takes
more than prop 20 make n live tree
grow. While the prop may have a
place IL Is not nearly sd important as
some think.
am not q thcatregOer nor ballroom
frcquenter. neither DO / know even the
names OF the different playing cards"
l feel that I have much better use for
my time and money. From my OBJ
servation have no hcsitancy, however.
ina agreeing with those who replied TO
my question that the theatre and dance
and progressive euchre and cards are
meuaces 10 the development OF the
Christian life. While OF themselves
they may not hc more harmful than the
other forms Of amusement named. their
influence seems 20 be against them
/ To the question: do YOU personally
know people who frequent the theatres
and ballroom and Cuchrc parties who
az the same time are also leaders i'm
prayer meeting and the sunday school
rs soul winners. with a good. hcalthfui
influence" only two answered in the
affirmative. Why: Does 3 not indie
cate that there is something out OF
harmony with these particular amuse-
mcuts and the hcalthful influence OF
I the Christian llfct is DO right to 20
/ counter 90 the testimony OF people
I scattered over such wide terri cory
/ and from SD many different demon mae
I lions So long as we prize ou religious
/ influences
/ II wc say Tho theatre as whole is OF
/ good Influence and a necessity for the
/ mon who are carrying thc great hur-
/ druS I'm The commercial and industrial
1 world. then &C. fails short off lts purpose.
/ for the theatre is supported NOT hy fhe
/ Car-o Mics and Eockefcilers. but mostly
I hy those who cannot afford &C. anl nc
/ the same time do what they ought 20
i .n philanthropy. Most OF tho support
/ comes from the younger class. who ass
/ yet have mo- great burdens go bear. AS
to why those who frequent them are
/ not real forces Bon Christian work. read
thc following. President Eliot OF Uar-
ments may he drawn from tlc quality
OF The popular theatre. The taste is ror
the trivial spcctac.es. hurics0ucs vui-
gar vaudeville. cNtrava-arzas. and the
stage often presents Co uumOVed audi-
/ enccS scenes and situations OF an uu-
wholesome sort"
one or the leading dramatic critics
of the English press. Mr. Clement
Scott. says 10 is NEARLY impossible for
a woman 90 remain pure who adopts
the stage as "a profession and that fhc
stage has q tendency 90 disorder the
inner Scusibilities and Go substitute hol-
lowncsS for sincerity" and adds "I
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over a period Of
over thirty years" Is be- right Co dee
mand amusement at the enormous
price suggested hy these men iu the
ruin OF The virtue OF w0mauhood whose
profession is 90 amuse us and thus
Ike kome's vcStals Joy their virtue nav
the awful price FOR our mere entertain
mentt IL 10 is nearly impossible" Ga
adopt the stage and remain pure. then
% is not Christian 90 demand that form
Of amusement ON whose affairs woman.
hood is sacrificed. II the sacrifice wa,
that Of Our own sons and daughter,
would we bc willing 20 make il simply
10 amuse peoples
Tho stage cannot be kept up with0u,
using somebody's daughters on the al
tar Now the question becomes d0u
bic Onc-not only can L have Christian
motives 10y frcQucnting the theatre
, but is IL right 20 ask that somebody.
daughter run the risk of such am awfu
temptation as that 90 which the stag,
subjects them Tor my mere amusc
ment. granting that the stage has man,
OF the most noble as ITS adornment ant
that many OF our best people patrOniz,
, itt Yet il the flame OF the theatre pas
, sion demands such fuel. can afford q,
be party 10 the tranSactione w0ul,
not appeal 10 prejudice nor act as iudg,
| over other mems cOnSclemceS nor pass
| hard ccclesia Stic0l laws OF disbarmCn
! against those who might differ Will
me. 1 make my appeal to the hearts
sense OF justice 20 make mar or woman
. | who may have enough OF the Christl
! | ambition 10 make the most OF life bl
"a / stunning thar form of amusement a.
y any kind which runs such tremend0u
"a | risks.
Are You asking mo r man is 20 b
| deprived OF his rights Just because h
I, is a Christian2 This is a good question
!, | over which 10 pause ana ask f0r th
= sake OF others not what are M,
rights" but what are my duties an,
obligatiOus2