p. 8 | ELEVATING THE THEATER by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 26, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 21.

ELEVATING THE THEATER.

By T.

CERTAIN theater-going people are asking the press of the country to assist them in elevating the “moral tone” of the stage. The “bad-woman” character it is affirmed is becoming altogether too popular in the theaters everywhere. So the press is asked to raise its voice against the evil, and the better class of the women are to insist on driving out the “bad-woman” actresses. To this end the “better class” are urged to attend the theater and frown upon anything that savors of lewdness.

Managers of theatrical troupes and actors and actresses are quite long-headed in this seeking to have the “better class” join them in making the theater not only more popular, but to appear highly refined and moral. And of course when the “best of the people” attend, they can be persuaded that the “bad-woman” plays, like nude art, are all right if only viewed through “educated and pure eyes.” Surely the leader of the hosts in sin is very cunning, if he may not be called wise. He seeks to familiarize people with sin, and then his next step is to persuade them that the evil is not so bad after all if man only keeps pure while he deliberately sits down to admire it for awhile, but of course always “above being corrupted by it.”

Against these sophistries of Satan the Word of God furnishes most excellent and unmistakable instruction. The Bible says of the Lord, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” The eyes of the one who is perfectly pure and holy do not behold the evil, no, not even with the thought of elevating it; for evil can not be elevated. The only thing to do with it is to destroy it. And since the history of the stage shows that it has been devoted almost entirely to presenting the various passions of mankind, and that, too, in a way that tends to destroy the keen sense of true morality, the best thing for the “better class,” and every other class, to do is to simply let the stage alone.

One of the saddest commentaries on these times lies in the fact that professed Christian people are ready to join in trying to purify the stage. Men have not learned the real and elevating joys of a Christian life when they still find pleasure and amusement in watching the unchaste, or silly, or blood-curdling acts of tragedy and comedy.

There is earnest work in these times for Christians. We are living in days that try men’s souls. And he who professes Christ should see the destruction that is threatening our world, and earnestly join with his Master in saving man from the ruin. While engaged in such an important work, he will not be casting longing eyes at the stage; neither will he assist Satan in making it more popular by trying to refine it.