The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-14
Wright Lorimer Answers
 Dr. Torrsy.
SAYS ATTACK IS UrPR0v0KED
Remarks of Minister in Reference
 to Morals an Insult.
TAs Actor ssy. rk-re are Geos saa Bad People is Everx Prsses- sion. Not EseDnalas the
 sziafstrs,

Wright Lorimer, playing in "The Shepherd King" stepped out of his part of David at both the matinee and night performances at The Grand The atre Saturday afternoon to answer the attack of pr. R. A. Torrey on the. stage made at the Auditoriufn meet ing Friday afternoon. Mir. Lorimer did not mention Dr.. Torrey by name, nor the statement he made. but he ai- luded to the unfair. the unjust and un- true statements made ey certain peo- cd that he was briefly answering Dr. Torrey's attack on the stage and on players
 pr. Torrey. it will be recalled. arr raigned the stage fin vigorous man- ner Friday afternoon. declaring Tt has done more to wreck American homes than any other single agency.
 Mir. Lorimer's brief speech in reply game during an ovation that was ex- tended him at the close of the third act of each performance. Both houses were packed. At the close of the third act Mir. Lorimer was forced to speak.
 "Your pleasure at our play has touched us deepiy,n he said. We are like sculptors, we are like painters. The sculptor catches vision of beau ty; in his studio he carves 1t from marble. He takes the finished work ana. shows it to the people. If they are pleased. their pleasure Is his re- ward. The painter concetves a scene of beauty; in his studio he paints IT as best he can. He takes 1t forth to Che world and if 1t pleases he is sat- lsfisd. We players are the same. We work out our ideas. we present It to the world and if 1t pleases, we are sat- fsfsea. And yet, we are made to stand unfair. unjust and bitter assaults from certain persons. We are only players --strolling players striving to please and vet there are people who believe we ought not to be permitted to live,
 The little speech was warmly receiy- ad hy the audience. Amid no Httie Applause the actor in his costume or David bowed and backed oil the stage
 - Taiks of JeMernon. s|
 "Ministers and their families at- tended my performance tonight at my invitation. If any one attacks the theater goers of Montgomery. he ate facks the best men and women and the best Christians In Montgomery or m any other city--bestdes that ne tm-g pugna the noblest men and women acs- tors and actresses--who ever breatneoA If is infamous; 1t is entirely suncaiied for. and above all, 1t is narrow
 Wright LorImer said that and q tot more to an Advertiser reporter Iase ni9ht, in answer to the arratgnment that pr. Torey made of the stage ana atage folk Friday afternoon. Mir. Lor- finer said that he considered Dr. Tor rev.e fefnsfka about the morals of act- tors and actresses an unprovoked The
 ssAny evangelist or any other per- son that says that the majority or men and women of the stage are not as moral as men and women m other professions and other walks of lts. tsilv sr. untruth. .f believe in God and believe in hereafters and believe that I am doing an much good In Gods sight, by my professions as Nne ministers and evangelstS are ooins by their profession.
 =, An evangelist believes and teachers that cod wishes human beings to subs serve their inteliects. all their love far tha beautiful. the aesthetic, all 4hetr starving desire for that which Is ,,ohle in art, In Literature. in the drama, ko one thing--prayer. I don't belieye that God intended that we should should threw our love for art Into an ash-barrel.
 Prayer Not OnIy ThinG.
 |. aI can't believe that He has endowed us with an uplifting an ennopnng love for beauty that It may pc sns,v- nlled up, dried up, and choked by uraver. I believe that prayer is good, but I also believe that there are other good things in life besides prayer If eyaneeists and ministers. some of them, would only climb up htste higher mentally. where they would gain broader viewpoint of the paa- orama of human life. I think that they would see that of the millions ot 'rnouths that God has given us, where. with to drink knowledge. He did not trtevd ma to use that mouth only which is intended for prayer.
 q have a letter from Dr. Andrews. the chaplain of columbia University. in which he says that he learned more about Israel in the reign of King Saul from seeing my play, than he had learned from thirty years of constant atudy. The drama is one of the most uplifting and ennobIing professions of the day. It Is my opinion that it ooes ,aore sooa and helps to educate more people than any evangelist or any col" lection of evangelists ever ~-N."