New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-02
CATHOLIC ACTORS
TO HAVE ACHURCH
Cardinal Farley Names ST.
MaIachy's as Their
Place of Worship.
PLAYERS GUILD
IS RECOGNIZED
James O'Neill. Wilton LaCkaye,
J. J. Conan and William Court
leigh Among Members.

Now there Is. TO be an actors church
Before an audience in which sat Jane.
O'Ncill, Wilton Lackaye, Jerry J. Cohan
William Courtleigh and others, Cardi-
nal Farley gave the Catholic Actors
Guild OF America its first Official rec
IGNITION yesterday afternoon, desig'
mated S. Malachy's Church. in 49th st..
west OF Broadway, as its place OF wor-
ship. and appointed the rector. the Rev
DR.. Joseph Delsny, as the guilds first
chaplain.
Owing 10 the weather and the fact
that the members OF the guild are play
ing in all parts Of the country. ;he at
tendance in the nail Of the Cathedr0I
College, Madison av. and DIST ST., was
comparatively small, but Cardinal Far
ley wanted to meet the actors present.
After being introduced by Father
J. 7. Smith the Cardinal said:
Cardinal Greets Them.
81 am very glad TO grant the Cath
Ole Actors Guild Of America It's re-
quest for official recognition ! an
glad that you might have a cha ai-
appointed for your spiritual advice and
guidance; but your third reques tor q
mass at 80 Sunday morning, J an not
able to grant, since the 2:S0 rfass Al
the Church Of 81. Francis OF Assist, IN
West 3lst ST.. makes it unnecessary.
"It is a great consolation to me that
YOU Catholic actors have come 70 a
realization Of your need OF spiritual
support TO aid you in resisting the
temptations Of your profession. ! do
not find more evil among actors than in
other professions; what evil there may
be is simply more before the public's
eyes. You may be compared to those
who sit on a throne, with the light
beating strongly upon them. You neeC
more help than many others, and J an
very glad. therefore, 10 recognize you.
"Once at Stratford-on-Avon | met g
woman in the parlor OF Shakespeare
house who was preparing for her firsi
appearance on the English stage by
sitting for days and days at the place
where Shakespeare first took breath
She wanted to absorb the whole spirit
Of the place. | said to myself: How
these people do work for their profess
sion.' II you will sit in a church as
this woman sat in Shakespeare's house
you will fortify yourselves with the
strength that comes from Heaven"
Father Delany, introduced by the
cardinal as the guilds chaplain, ex.
pressed the hope that St. Malachy's
Church would be of service to all
members &C the profession.
Has No Safeguards.
Father Smith, himself a writer and
playwright, in his address at the open
ing Of the meeting declared that
never before had the drama extended
such wide influence as it does to-
day. The drama has no safeguards
but its own conventions, he said, yet
il is the only one of the arts that has
rot yielded to the msterislism of the
times.
After the addresses the cardinal re-
ceived the members of the guild IN
audience. and all knelt and received
his blessing.
Following the ceremony was a busl-
ness meeting of the guild, which has
been in existence for year and which
now has almost five hundred mem
hers. Jerry J. Cohan, first vice-Presi-
dent, presided in the absence of the
president, Emmett Corrigan, and rou'
tine business was transacted. The
guilds regular monthly meetings are
held at the Hotel Aston.