New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-27
THE CATHOLIC THEATRE M0yp~.
A Defence Of Its Aims a, 0ppss.i = n
moral Mr.. Shaw
To the Editor Of The Tribune

Sir; It is triie to say So but the srn A..
Of critic is 20 know what h. !. ,.ns
about. There arc. however. critic. va.
view books that they have never r..s
critics who estimate plays they nav, -
aeon. and critics who speak Of mov...--
with whose aims they have a. bestk-.
noddinz acquaintance. Your eontyA-..-
Heywood Broun. in your issue Of goy...-,
q. has criticised very adversely the Vas, :,
the Catholic Theatre Movement, and o..
that It's aim is "to set stage morals y,.,,s
PERM. me 70 say that Mr.. Broun pl,e., ..
stupendous work on the shoulders d ,r
organization. We aim to place b.fo,. ~
people OF the country a list Of PLAY, IA.
on the whole. are free from chjec,,s,,,.
and vulgar features. We 90 rot on, -.
selves I'D as srbiters Of morals. nor A. :
seek 20 dictate We have in our bu,,..;..
told the story Of every new play. vi,I.-.
any explicit note Of commentator ., :.
oroval. Subsequently VIC publish a cor,l',
list. known az the white list OF plav, Z.
Judge to be without offence We hsv, a,
plictly defined the rules which govern 3.
white list. and have stated that many ~,
see ~ 70 attend plays not included On "A.
list or take exception 20 some Of those a.,
are included
IN any discussion concerning the nor,Is,
Of play or book there are bound 70 b. A.
ferences Of opinion. In certain fundamental,
however, il is understood tha, all dse,,,.
minded critics agree. II IS agreed, for n.
stance. that a man and a woman, before ts,,
enter into sexual relationship. should /.
married.; that sexual license is :, b. a.
horred; that the home il a sacred place: la.
indecency. marital inhdelty, promiseuov,ly
vulgar talk between man and man or M,
and woman are 20 be condemned. II is krss,
Of all men that the stage OF to-day does !,
many instances cater 20 the sexuaIly in.
moral. 20 license Of speech and action az
to that vulgar suggestiveness tina, cannot ",
lower our standards OF life and Of ehsrset,r
Now, it is precisely against such a ,sndsrsy
in the name of right living and Of publ.
decency. in The name OF our children, TIA.
the Catholic Theatre Movement protest. 81
agitates We seek 70 make the stage dscsr,
Our aim is fundamentally right. bu, or
Judgment is ludicrous," says your erius
Well. of course. de gustibus non est did
putandum. Yet we suppose that Mr. Bro.s
will admit that il is less reprehensibls "a
lest concerning the troubles of married Ted
pie than 20 jest about marriage itself. Mas
riage is demanded both civilly and eeelerss.
ticaiy as necessary first step for the ne,
and the woman before they live togeths, a
usband and wife. To question the neesui,j
OF marriage is with US not a Jest but /
mockery. II one feels free to act otherist
he is said in the popular language Of ths
lay 20 have 10 morals. Bernard Shaw thinh
that the necessity of marriage may be passes
in review; he does not believe in IL as 81
institution Until the laws Of the ehureha
are rewritten and the laws OF the state -,
tirely changed. Mr. Shaw must be considers,
an imr' al. or. if you wish the kinder vsri
an unl. Jya. person. Yet Mr.. Broun stsg,s
that the only play in New York OF strictly
moral character is Shaw's Getting Married
We leave it 10 your readers 10 say which .
the more ludicrous, Mr.. Broun or the Cath
Ollie Theatre Movement y
Mr.. Broun asks US TO be faithful 70 Serr,
ure and condemn "Pollyanna.' We did nj
commend "Pollyanna" because OF its comph
cent pagan contentment. Pollysnns was Dor.
with the ability to spread sunshine wherevsf
she went; 10 accept her burdens eheerful5l
TO treat her neighbors chsritably; to fni
something in everything. not everything -
all things. to be glad about.
Mr.. Broun quotes Matthew 1924 We =
turn, would quote Philippians 4:i: "Rsjoies
always; again. ! say. rejoice"
One more instance: We are censured g.
verely for excluding from the white ia
Alice Browns sugar House" Nov. yos'
critic knows that in this play the most sordid
situations are discussed and enacted. Ia
Scripture he has appealed; let him turn
again to Scripture "An evil tree said
Christ. "carnot bring forth good fruit
Matt. 7:ls.) One OF the terrible evils o.
the stage to-day is that grossly immoral ~,
suggestive words and actions are presented
and the attempt made 10 cloak them with
good moral. But the cloak cannot deceive
man Of Mr. Broun's ability and experiences
and he knows i. is not ludicrous 20 expose 4
hypocrisy. JOHN J. BURKE.
Chairman bulletin committee, Catholic The
atre Movement.
New York. Nov. "a. 1915