The Theater and Religion
By Editor
"Announcement is made," says the New York Christian at Work, "that a dramatic representation including scenes in the life of our Saviour, his death, resurrection and ascension, is to be given shortly at one of the theaters in this city. We trust our city will be spared any such sacrilegious exhibition. The stage itself, which does not at present represent the highest phase of morality, could scarcely descend into a lower depth than to travesty at the hands of comic actors and buffoons the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every right-minded man and woman cannot but resent any attempt to thus degrade to the level of sensationalism and negro minstrelsy the grand story of human redemption. It would be an outrage beyond anything yet attempted in this city." Much has been said of late by a certain class of religionists concerning the importance of elevating the moral standard of the theater so that its benefits (?) might be secured by professors of religion. The above we judge is one of the ways they have taken to bring this about, but it only confirms us in the opinion that any attempt to unite theater-going and religion will result in lowering the religion of Christ instead of elevating the theater. We pray to be delivered from all further efforts in this direction. Californians will remember that some time since San Francisco refused admittance to this play. We await with interest the decision of New York in the matter.