The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-07-12

iness or covetousness or "fibbing." 1t
Is a hopeful sign that the present
tendency of the church seems to be to
give more attention to the affirmative
side of life rather than TO act as Pbari-
saical Judges on the negative. Thou
shalt not" IS like a prop to keep a
dying tree from falling, but 1t takes
more than n prop to make live tree
grow. While the prop may have n
place 1t is not nearly so important as
some think.
am not theatregoer nor ballroom
frequenter, neither do l 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 to
my question that the theatre and dance
and progressive euchre and cards are
menaces to the development of the
Christian life. While of themselves
they may 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 Sunday-schooi
as soul winners, with good, healthful
infiuencer only two answered in the
affirmative. Why? Does 1. not indi-
cate that there is something out OF
harmony with these particular amuse.
ments and the healthful influence Of
the Christian life? Is it right to go
counter to the testimony of people
scattered over such a wide territory
and from so many different denomina-
tons so long as we prize ou: religious
influence?
If we say the theatre as whole is Of
good influence and q necessity for the
men who are carrying the great bur-
dens in the commercial and 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 1t 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
not real forces in Christian work, read
the following: President Eliot, of Har-
ward, says: "The influence of amuse-
ments 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 unmoved 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
woman to remain pure who adopts
the stage as a profession and that the
stage has tendency to disorder the
finer sensibilitles and to substitute hol-
lowncss for sincerity" and adds: II
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over a period of
over thirty years" Is it right to de-
mand amusement st the enormous
price suggested by these men in 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 1t simply
10 anluSe 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 / have Christian
motives by frequenting the theatre
but Is 1t right to ask that somebody
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 as its adornment and
that many of our best people patronize
| 1t? Yet If the flame of the theatre pas
sion demands such fuel, can afford to
be a party to the transaction? l would
not appeal to prejudice nor act as judge
over other mems consciences nor pas:
hard ecclesiastical laws of disbarment
| against those who might differ will
me. l make my appeal to the hearts
| sense of Justice to make man or woman
who may have enough of the Chrlstly
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 II man is to bt
deprived of his rights just because h
is a Christian? This is a good question
over which to pause and ask for thu
sake of others not what are m!
rights" but what are my duties ant
obligations?