CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 175, 26 July 1893, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PLAY AT ST, MATTHEW'S,

(To the Editor.)

Sm,— I cannot allow thia play business a Sb. Matthew's to pas 3by without expressing my surprise and regret. My surprise that a Chrisbian minister, professing Apostolic succession, should leave prayer and the ministry of tho Word to assist in t_ play, and my regrob thab by his example he may encourage others to do whab, to say the least of it, is not convenient. Where | is the earnest Christian fabher or mother j in bhis ciby that desires their children to; go on the stage ? Is the Christian | Church by amateur theatricals to j train them to tread this perilous path? Through this play, maybe, said to p098089 moral arid literary excellencies, is a minister of religion justified in compromising his holy office in running a play to please tho young 1 If this is to become an adjunct of Sunday-school work, then good-bye to spiritual fruits. Of course, I will be called Puritanical and narrowminded—berms nob very dreadful to me. I venture to believe, however, thab thero are hundreds in the Church of England in this city that will agree with my remarks. Once you begin this thing where is it to and? It cannob stop at the best plays, as these may fail to draw. Whab then? These things lay the Church in tho dusb, and rob her of spiritual strength. Would Paul or Peter have taken a leading part in a Christless play? Did tho Lord Jesus send us as ministers to entertain the peoplo with theatricals or to preach tho Gospel? " Let the dead bury their dead." Even if lawful, it is nob expedient, for a minister's character will suffer while posing as an actor. Leb us see wo aro cloar of the blood of all men.—l am, etc., James Blaikie, Auckland, July 26th.