CHURCH AND STAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18762, 16 January 1923, Page 4

CHURCH AND STAGE

A CLERGYMAN’S VIEWS (From Odr Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 15. “I always envy tho playwright his wonderful opportunities,” said the Rev. Jasper Caldcr (City Missioner) when speaking last evening to a crowded congregation on “The Church and the Stage.” He said the stage reached tho type of person whom organised Christianity seldom or never reached. It was possible for a good play, well acted, o teach as much real Christianity as mauv sermons. Proceeding, the speaker said the evil vice of selfishness, the father of most sins, was never so roundly condemned as in that wonderful play, “A Message from Mars.” He vividly described the play in question, pointing cut ing impression on all who witnessed it. * The reason for the tremendous “pull” which tho

p.ctor had over the parson was that the former made his characters absolutely live before his audiences, while, perhaps quite erroneously, the clergy were regarded as theorists and dogmatists. In these days ot uncertainty in reconstruction, a good, sound, propagandist play might do much for the community in social reform, as the famous “Damaged Goods” did. The speaker said that many theatrical people were sterling good Christians. It was possible m London to witness a very large number of communicants at the early service at St. Agnes (Kensington), which was the favourite church of the profession. . ■ . , Mr Calder had nothing but praise for the

general all-round management and good conduct of the theatrical profession. On ram occasions one heard expressions from the Stage which had been better left out, but these were exceptions.