The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1881-12-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

HAS THE STAGE A MORAL TENDENCY?  TO THE EDITOII OF THE  NEWS.  you kindly allow me to say a few words in answer to the above subject, which wee discussed at the Young Men's Christian Association, an amount of which appeared in your columns last week? One of the speakers stated "that truth was disregarded on the stage, for the actors were made to speak untruths to one another." Now, what, in the name of wonder, does he mean by that, "That deceit was pra,tised, for everybody in a play seemed to try and deceive everybody else ?" Does he forget that the actors are merely holding the mirror up to nature, for deceit is practised in real life by the majority of tradesmen in their daily avocations? 14 he aware of that fact? I "Murder was treated lightly an horrible crimes were committed in a play?" Does be know that truth and virtue triumph and vice and villany meet their just deser:s ? There ood Tis displeasing noth ae Then eg h burnt toe nd dtoohw line moralA. t o ms say wt'y' Toginurh almost at se "whit ame;nse ;yl.l 7wpoetlavihy. coming from a Chrieihul youngalsnle burnt shocking. Are there no large factories todouvint tocausioare Wasp; evtrainser burnstmastitsel? ethos::  burnt down daily with fearful loss of life? churches and chapels are occasionally destroyed. Are they displeasing to the Almighty? Such an argument is only worthy of a brainless idiot. .Another speaker said , "There was nothing god about it; no man would like to die in a theatre; for his part, he would rather die in a prison than in a theatre." All men would prefer dying at home, surrounded by their nearest and dearest relatives and friends ; not in a steamboat, railway train, or factory. But why pick Out a prison, where the vilest of the vile are incarcerated—thieves and murderers?  Now, in a theatre (I speak from experience, having been actor and manager for upwards of 18 years in most :of the principal cities of the kingdom), amongst the multitudes that assemble, there are undoubtedly bad characters—so there may be in the crowds that attend our churches. They are not all good; there are sure to be some black sheep. As for the actors and actresses, they are as good, truthful, generous, and more Christian than the followers of any other profession in the world. Then a speaker goes on to say, " There was nothing elevating in seeing a lot of people make fools of themselves, and it was neither so interesting nor amusing as watching the monkeys at Eastham." Now, could it be believed that any sane person could utter such rubbish? Our most gracious majesty the Queen and the royal family are happily not of the same opinion, for within the last few weeks she sent for a dramatic company to perform before herself, children, and house. hold. The Prince of Wales afterwards introduced the manager to the Queen, who received him graciously. Now, the speaker of the above, rather than sit down and witness a highly intellectual pity, rendered by cultured ladies and gentlemen, would prefer fraternizing with the apes and shake hands with the baboons. Happily this foolish prejudice against the stage is dying out. The Bishop of Manchester and several high dignitaries of the Church say the stage has a moral tendency. Many a capital sermon may be heard from plays. What about the Church and Stage Guild, where actors and clergymen of the Church of England meet week after week and enjoy each other's society, in spite of what cone of the speakers observed, "That the stage and church should not be mentioned in one breath." Did my time permit I would discuss the above subject with one who understood what he was talking about.