Evening journal., 1916-01-28

regard to the character of large
share Of the playgoers. The second |
is in regard to the character OF a |
large majority of the players, and |
the third is in regard to the char |
acter of a large majority of the
plays. From the Elizabethan period
in English history. down to the pres
ent. the theatre has been the resort
of the most vicious and corrupt ele-
ment in any community. Not that
every one who goes 10 the theatre
is vicious OF corrupt, for undoubtedly
a great many good people attend the
theatre. But there is only one class
that is there universally. and that is
the vicious and degraded You will
not dnd that class universally at the
church or the prayer-meetings or the
gospel service. but you will find them
en-masse at the theatre. There must
/ be something about that institution
that appeals to this type Of people
Our first indictment against the thea
/ tire will stand on account Of its bad
company Macauley called the thea
! tire the seminary Of vice. Spurgeon
! called IL the house of the strange
woman. When Sheridan, the actor,
/ and Mrs. Scott-Siddons. the actress,
. were converted to Christ. they both
renounced and denounced the stage.
The elder Dumas. the French play
writer and actor. in letter to a
friend, said, you do well to keep
your children away from the theatre.
! Not only are the plays demoralizing.
( but also the place Edwin Booth
would not allow his family TO attend
] the theatre unless he himself was
one Of the actors, and was absolutely
certain Of the character Of the pro-
duction.
Theatre-goers are the hardest class
Of people to win to Jesus Christ They
have become so accustomed TO hav-
ing their emotions awakened. with
out any proper channel for the eX-
preston Of those emotions, that at
last they become like an extinct vol
canO: burned out. Impressions with
out expression Is never helpful, but
ALWAYS hurtful. They finally get into
that condition where their sensibil-
tiles seem absolutely dulled and
deadened. and you may make your
appeal to the highest and hottest
emotions in life. and in their hearts
there is awakened absolutely no re-
spOnse.
My second indictment is in regard
to the character of the players.
say, without fear of successful con-
tradiction. that the life of the average
actor and actress is notoriously
, vicious and corrupt The more hus
bands an actress has had, and tho
r more wives an actor has had, the
| , greater their stage reputation and
: the bigger crowds they draw. The
more a player has figured in immora
: scandal and in divorce courts, in place
/ Of causing him or her to lose pres.
tige, seems to enhance that ones pop
2 ularity in the theatrical world. Tn,
5 things not only countenanced. bu
e even essential in the carrying ou
r their parts. seem to tend to stiff
/" the highest elements in the life an,
J, to stimulate the worst Some on
r might ask, But have there not beef
!. moral people on the stage?' Yes
= There have been the Booths and Bar
i retts. the Irvings and Terrys, bu
Il every one who knows anything abou
l. the theatre will have to admit tina
u -this type has been in a hopeless mi
Y nority.
II A New York pastor said recent
that the theatrical editor Of a Ne
Al York daily came to him and aske
n. him to perform his marriage GER
IT mony The pastor said. Il asked hi
TO what his profession was" He r.
al piled. 81 am the theatrical editor
D. this daily" and then he proceeded
n say, "Now. Doctor, do not think Il
i. a moment that l or my friend. who
~ 10 become my wife, associate wit
So actors and actresses. ! know tC
lt much about them. Rather than
sr have my bride making theatrical pei
lt pie her companions. l would rath'
* follow her to her grave When
e. spoke on this subject in a large cit
I some time ago, many theatrical pei
lg pie we're in attendance. At the clos
in Of my address, an actor came up