The Washington times., 1921-10-16

THE congregation of the Peoples
Church of st. Paul., Mimi, was as
tonisfed on a recent Sunday to see
Niss Frances Cornell, a member of "The
Mischief Makers a company playing at
a local burlesque houseA step to the pulpit
and deliver sermon which set forth the
views of the stage people on the question
of Sunday Blue Laws.
Since the Peoples Church was organized
more than thirty years Ago by the late Dr.
Samuel G. Smith. a seceder from the Meth
odist Episcopal Church in which he had
attained a wide reputation as an able
speaker, its pulpit has been the forum from
which have been launched addresses upon
almost every phase of political and civic
propositions.
Organized as protest against some of
the stricter rules which encompass the
acts of adherents of the Methodist faith,
with q creed broad enough to embrace
every known religious doctrine, 1t is ft-
ting that the platform should be open to
the advocates of greater individual free
dom, both in the matter of Christianity and
in the regulation of private actions.
Miss Cornell, who, by the way, ID the
daughter of former dissenting minister
in England, was accompanied to the church
by two male members Of her theatrical
company, Messrs. Eugene Rauth and John
Crosby, who entertained the assembled
audience of more than 1000 persons by
singing "The Holy City" preceding the ser.
mon by the actress.
Miss Cornell was introduced by Rev.
Howard Y Williams, pastor of the church,
and at once began her address.
"Most people think that an actress" Miss
Cornell began, eff she has any ability at
all, is able to speak .impromptu upon al
most any subject To certain extent
that is true of some of the leaders in my
profession but lay no claims to such
talent My appearance here to-day has
been no hurried affair. but is the result
OF my desire to place before you with
out any oratorical or dramatic effort, some
plain facts. as see them, on the subject
of the Blue Laws which are now so prom
inent in the programme Of persons who
wish to regulata your life and my life by
printed statute
81 have not the ability or the inclination
to enter into an argument with these mis-.
guided zealots, but as a believer I'm the
greatest freedom OF personal action wish
to place before you some few thoughts
upon the subject from the viewpoint OF
those whose profession and lifework is to
supply you with entertainment from the
stage.
81 am here mainly, II must be admitted,
IN response to the first law Of nature-that
of self-preservation You may think that
Is putting It too broadly, so It may be modi.
fed to self-liberty and. truly. my friends
feel that my sclfliberty, in common with
yours is in peril tonight as a result Of the
propaganda being spread throughout the
nation. AS Americans our great priced
heritage has been that OF liberty. but that
liberty is threatened with eclipse.
<. 'Do not mistake me. I am not dis
appointed woman seeking revenge upon
any class of society, not wilmer who fears
10 face the future but simply in vocal
protest against further curtailment OF our
extent the fruits of our labor. Had the
dramatic power Of utterance possessed by
Billy Sunday or the logic of Woodrow
Wilson | might be able to convey more
vividly to you the thought wish to i'm
press upon your minds.
various agencies are at present actively
engaged in conducting campaign for the
suppression OF what they term sinful pleas
ures with hints of a revival OF those
ancient laws Of the days of witchcraft, pro-
bibiting any work or enjoyments on the
Sabbath day. Sinful we all are to greater
or lesser degree, and believe, as do all
right.minded people, IN the suppression OF
scts that are truly sinful. But the word
IN the hands Of these new reformers takes
an a much broader definition than that we
were taught In our school days, so that
what to you and me may seem simple
lnleasure becomes under the new classifca-