The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-25
HE RAPS THEATRE
Rev. ThOs. s. Young Takes Fling
at Stage in Sermon.
Christians Not Lovers of Foot
lights, He Declares.
REFORM EVER HIS CRY
Talks About Government Sub
sides for PlayhOuses.
BlllbOards and Managers Come
I'm for Good Rasping.
REFORM EVER HIS CRY

know of no other institution that
can De made greater power for
good, said Thos. S. Young, in
preaching on the theater at the First
Baptlst church. Sunday night. "One
! OF the best ways of imparting know
leoge is through the eye. For this
reason the theater has great possibili-
ties.
When we note the immense crowds
that congregate at the and 10 cent
| tneaters we realize what a great fas-
clnatlon they have. That which pre-
| sents the truth through the eyes gets
large nearing. Is not the present
coholtlon great opportunity for the
theater! "A few years ago the theater
was looked upon by people religious
~ inclined from different standpoint
than 1t is today.
The theater is a feature of orr civ
lilzatlon, and it may become a great
thlng Tor the church. Dr.. Sheldon
soLle tinle ago went over a list of 81
PIays tnat had been given in Topeka,
ana round that five of them could be
SAID TO be clean without question
one-s1xth of them-seven were of a
doubtfut nature, and fifteen of them
were entirely unfit for people of high
ideals to attend
The theater is not altogether bad
not altogether good. The churches
OFTEN ruin their cause by saying a
[ TN is altogether bad or of the devil.
We want to come to a position where
we can see all sides of a question
whether we approve of it or not
The fact that condemns the thea
ter more than anything else is that it
is based upon financial footing.
When we can say that money is SIM
ply a side issue then it will be a diff
ferent thing. The character of the
managers is bound to show in the
class of plays put on the stage. Show
a a ic hN,I nv
and their influence will be shown
Education so far as the uplifting
or the masses is concerned is the last
thing in the world that the average
theater manager thinks about. Re-
gardless of morality, when a play is
presented, the question is how much
will it bring.
Play Tends to Create Bitterness.
L had the pleasure of attending
The Servant in the House through
the courtesy of one of the local pa
pers, and I want to say that as re-
CARDS morality there were no objec-
tiona BILE features. As far as the teach
ing is concerned it is rotten. There
were splendid lessons in it, but it was
catering to the idea that the church
is worthy of damnation. The impress
sion given in regard to the institution
is utterly false From moral stand
point no objection could be made to
it, but it might tend to create bitter
ness towards the church.
Il was told within the last few days
by one of the labor union men, that
If the labor unions do not take their
hands off the Sunday theater question
there may arise trouble for them.
1T has been suggested that we re-
form the theater. 1 believe that there
has been a slow but steady improve
ment in the theater. I believe there
has been some . advancement but
or not we should reform the |
theater by attendance is a question for |
much argument.
"A good many plans have been pro-
posed-one is subsidy from the gov
eminent so that theaters will not have |
to depend altogether on the financial |
support of those who attend. This has |
been done in some of the foreign |
countries, with what success do not |
know.
when the managers come to the |
point where they say they want the |
patronage of the best people, then the |
theater will become a blessing instead |
OF curse.
Raps Bilboards.
Zone of the worst things about the |
theaters are the billboard pictures, |
some of the figures on which, accord |
ing to DIR. Sheldon, would imme diate- |
ly be arrested were they to come to |
life
cit has been suggested for those |
present at plays to get up and leave,
but I think it will be long time be- /
fore the theater is reformed in this
way InO IL IS the rdroSC LnlnR IN |
the world to find habitual theater go
ers who have any real interest in
church work I have found that the |
two do not go together.
eff you are a thorough Christian
you never have an assurance that |
when you go to a theater you won't
feel sorry that you have gone. With
put throwing stones at the theater we
have something more important to
give our time and thought to-at least |
until the character of the theater has