The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-07-13


tendency of the church seems to be to
give more attention to the affirmative
side of life rather than 10 act as Phari-
Saical judges on the negative. Thou
shalt not" IS like Il prop TO keep
dying tree from falling, but it takes
more than prop to make live tree
grow. While the prop may have 4
place it is not nearly so important as
some think.
| am not thcatregoer nor ballroom
frequenter. 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
sarvation have no hesitancy, however,
in agreeing with those who replied TO
my question that the theatre anu Cance
and progressive euchre and cards are
menaces to the development of the
Christian life. While of themselves
lhey NAV not be more harmful than the
other forms of amusement named, their
influence seems to be against them.
To the question: DO you personally
know people who frequent the theatres
and ballroom and euchrc parties who
at the same time are also leaders in
PRAYER meeting and the Sundayschool
rs soul winners. with good, healthful
infuenceT' only two answered in the
affirmative. Why? Does l. not indi-
cate that there is something out OF
harmony with these particular amusc-
mcnts and the healthful influence of
the Christian life? Is it right to go
counter to the testimony of people
scattered over such 4 wide territory
and from so many different denomina-
tionS so long as we prize ou: religious
influence?
If we say the theatre as whole is OF
rcod influence and necessity for the
men who are carrying the great bur-
dens in the commercial anG Industrial
world, then it falls short Of its purpose,
for the theatre is supported not by the
Cargenies and ROckefellerS, but mostly
by those who cannot afford it and at
the same time do what they ought to
IN philanthropy. Most of the support
comes from the younger class, who as
yet have no great burdens to bear. AS
to why those who frequent them are
lOt real forces in Christian work. read
the following: President Eliot. Of Har-
ward. says: The influence Of amuse-
mcntS may be drawn from the quality
Of the popular theatre. The taste is for
the trivial spectacleS. burlesques. vul-
gar vaudeville. eXtravaganZas, and the
stage often presents to unmoyed audi
ences scenes and situations Of an un-
wholesome Sort
One of the leading dramatic critics
Of the English press. Mr.. Clement
Scott. says it is NEARLY impossible for
4 woman to remain pure who adopts
the stage as Il profession and that the
stage has 4 tendency TO disorder the
finer senSibilities and to substitute hol-
lowncsS for sincerity" and adds: Il
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over a period OF
over thirty years" Is it right to de-
mand amusement at the enormous
price suggested by these men i'll the
ruin of the virtue Of wOmanhood whose
profession is to amuSe us and thus
like Rome'S vestalS let their virtue pay
the awful price for our mere entertain
ment? If it is NEARLY Impossible" to
adopt the stage and remain pure. then
it is not Christian to demand that form
Of amusement on whose altarS woman
hood is sacrificed. If the sacrifice was
that of our own sons and daughters
would we be willing to make it simply
to amuse people?
The stage cannot be kept up without
using somebody's daughters on the al
tar. Now the question becomes dou-
BILE one-not only can l have Christian
motives by freQuenting 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 amuse-
ment, granting that the stage has many
of the most noble rs its adornment and
that many Of our best people patronize
it? Yet if the flame Of the theatre pas
sion demands such fuel, can afford to
be party to the transaction? l would
not appeal to prejudice nCr act as judge
over other mems cOnscienceS nor pass
hard ecclesiastical laws Of disbarment
against those who might differ with
me. l make my appeal to the hearts
sense Of justice to make mai or woman
who may have enough of 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 # man is to be
deprived of his rights just because he
is a Christian? This is q good question
over which to pause ana ask for the
sake of Others not what are my
rights" but what are my duties and
obligations?