La Junta tribune., 1910-03-26
rAEArERs AND PREACHERS.
Local Divine Lsmbasted for Calling
Theaters Places Of Evil.


minister. incidentally and unfortunate
ly. happened TO include the iheater.
along With gambling. dancing. etc.
In enumerating places Of evil" The
minister was not aware Of the pres
ence OF his theatrical auditors. but
there were others in the audience
who recognized the members OF The
Climax" company, and noticed that
cons iderable commot!on was caused
in the Theatrical pew" by the min
isteriaI outburst concerning things
theatrical When the congregation
Was dismissed and the members Of
the company walked down the street
It was apparent TO even the most
casual observer that the minister
had caused an eruption o. ihree-oor-
nered theatrical volcano.
I Many Of US are not familiar With
the viewpoint OF those who spend a
great portion o. their lives behind
the scenes. and preachers least Of all.
and when We learned OF this little
incident and the eruption Il caused
We made a request OF Miss Leona
I Watson, leading lady OF The Gil
max" for an expression OF her feel
inss Ia the matter and Of the sonti-
ments that had been aroused by the
[ ministerial criticism. The sentiments
border upon righteous Indignation.
and may cause some Of our minister
ial brethren 70 revise their opinion
OF things theatrical. besides giving
many Of our readers an insight into
the hopes. ambitions and thoughts OF
those Who make a profession Of the
art theatrical Miss watson's letter
follows:
Your request gives me an oppor.
tunity Of saying many things which
I think should be known 10 such min
isters as the gentleman uho preach
ed In a church IN your town on Palm
Sunday.
What right has this minister Of
God to speak against the theater.
What does he know about the actor.
and Why does he dare call the thea
ter evil. II is true there are good
and bad people in all walks OF life.
but surely any person With brain
matter knows hov 10 choose the good
from the bad. and II ho finds that he
has at any time made a mistake let
him withdraw.
God gave Us all talents. some Of Us
Two or three 20 choose from. but did
he give them to Us 20 vither up and
die. never TO develop or make use
of am sure II We neglect to devel-
op these talents God is going TO take
them from US. and bestoW them
where they will receive the proper
appreciation. He did no, intend that
We should stay In our close, and pray
all day and night Evidently this
Is the very reason that this man
spoke as he did because that Is what
he calls a Christian life But II We
all followed his advice what would
become Of the world- There would
be no such thing As progress | am
sure.
What can you imagine more beau
uful than one. who. with a beauti-
ful emotion-deyeloped through years
Of tod and tears. suffering. sacrifice
and hardship-are able 10 move ones
listeners either TO laughter or tears
according TO his or her own feelings
l. Il not an Inspiration to go 10 a
good play and be- moved by beautiful
language from beautiful minds that
our own minds might develop and
grow. that We might give out a great
store Of sympathy to all mankind
The old saying--the whole world
. is stage aud the people only actors
Is too true This very minister who
spoke against the thcater. Is an ac,
tor. and he falls sadly to fulhn his
mission. otherwise. he could never
have spoken Of the thcater ~ a
place OF s,il."
Churches OF today never speak
against our profession because they
realize tthos. Who know that u
uplifts humanity instead of dragging
Il down Into shame aud degradation.
My life on the stage has been the
means OF making a real. true woman
out OF me-broadenins my mind and
my heart and making me more OF a
Christian than ever before because Il
has opened my heart TO suffering hu.
mani'y and filled m. with pity for
those who are weak and ignorant.
where otherwise miKht have scorn.
cd.