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


saical Judges OH the negative. Thou
shalt not" IS like prop to keep
dying tree from falling. but it takes
more than prop to make a live tree
grow. While the prop may have a
place it is not nearly SO important as
some think,
| am not theatregoer nor ballroom
frequentcr, 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
servaton have no hcsitnncE. however
in agreeing with those who replied to
my question that the theatre ami dance
and progressive euchre and cards are
mcnacrs 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 them.
Ia the question: "Do you personally
know people who frequent the theatres
md ballroom and cuclrc parties who
It the same time are also leaders III
drawer meeting and the Sunday school
IS soul winners, with Il good, hcalthfUl
.nHurnccT' only two answered in the
affirmative. Why? Does /. 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 go
,ountpr to the testimony of people
scattered over such IL wide territory
and from so many different dcnomna-
tons so long as we prize on religious
influence:
If we say the theatre as Il whole is of
good influence and Il necessity for the
mon vino are carrying the great bur
deus in the commercial and industrial
world, then it falls short of its purpose,
for the theatre is supported not by the
CArgrucS and Rock"fellcrS, but mostly
by those who cannot afford it and at
the same time do what they ought to
n philanthropy. Most of the support
,omcS 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 llar-
ward says: The influence of amlSe-
mcntS may be drawn from the quality
If the popular theatre. The taste is for
The trivial sD"rtacluS, h"r!cSqueS, vnl-
gar vaudeville. eNtraNa%anHaS. and the
stage often presents to uumovcd audi
,nccS scenes and situations of an I'M
wholCs some sort
ono of the leading dramatic critics
If the English press, Mr.. Clement
Scott, says it is "ncarly impossible for
Il woman to remain pure who adopts
the stage as a profession and that the
stage has Il tendency TO disorder the
t,,. 10. clhSt itntn hn1-
lownCSS for sincerity" and adds: Il
speak from my intimate experience
with the stage running over II period or
over thirty years" Is 1t right to de-
mand amusement at The enormous
price suggC Sted by these men i'll the
ruin Of the virtue of W0manhOOd whose
profession is TO amuse us and thus
like Romc'S vcStaIs lot their virtue pay
the awful price for our mere entertain
mcut: 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. II 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
using somebody's daughters on the al
tar. Now the question becomes dou-
bic onr-not only can have Christian
motives by frcqurntlng 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 amuSc-
mcnt. granting that the stage has many
of the most noble rs its adOrnmcnt and
that many of our best people patroniZe
it? Yet if the flame of the theatre pas
sion demands such fuel, can / afford to
he 4 party to the transaction? | would
not appeal to prejudice nor act as judge
over other mems COnSciencyS nor pass
hard ecclesiastical laws Of disbarment
against those who might differ with
me. | make my appeal to the hearts
sense of justice to make NAH or woman
who may have enough Cf 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 # Il man is to be
deprived of his rights just because he
is Il Christian? This is Il good question
over which TO pause and ask for the
sake of others not what are my
rights" but what arc my duties and
obligations?