THE GhURCE AND STAGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4846, 17 May 1890, Page 3

THE GhURCE AND STAGE.

The relations of the Church and Stage have at all times been a matter of fruitful controversy. In Ihis progressive ago prejudice is fait waning away, snd while m bye-gono days the antagonism against the stage proved a bulwark of spiritual tyrrany, m later years many leading members of the clergy have actually assisted m dispelling unfavourable bias against theatres which have proved a eourco of instruction, refinement, and into factual picture. The mission of tho Church 13 the promulgation of the Gospel, calculated to inspiro mankind to lofty deeds ; m tho portrayal of saints and virtuous examplos man is spurred on to lead a life of roctilado and honour. Turning to tho stago we bohold m tho dramatic world an epitome of all others. There'! ho occupations of nature, tho jealousies, the mercenary habits of m»n are displayed m a condensed Hplioro. Tliero wo sea depicted tho uncertainty of human greatness ; we sco exposed tho singularities of haughtiness and fancy, falsehood and folly is mado contemptible, and vice is discountenanced andoxpoeed. In example, Faust, the hero of tho masterpiece of German drama, when deviating from the nimplo faith of tho Church m the depth of despair, was imbued by now hopo and courage when listening to tho Easter choruß. While the Church has exorcised a paramount and steady influence m the hUtory of civilisation, the stago has likowiso proved a medium of education, for m tho latter wo bohold an , opitomo of human lifo and manuori, for plays and players " hold the mirror up to nature." Yet while admitting that that thoro is still a wido gulf between church and stage, and whilo tho notions of clergyman and astormay widely differ, thoy agree on Iho point of their physical welfare. We quoto subjoinof tho opinions of n leading representative of the Church and a member of the Stago. The ono is tho Rev. J. Stanley Low, for ovor 20 years minister of tho Chritfc Church, St. Kilda, Melbourne ; the other, Mr Alfred Dampiir, tho woll-known actor, at prosent lessee of tlio Alexandra Theatre, Melb>urne. The Rev. J. Stanley Low, umlor dalo March 15th, 1830, Bnoaks as follows :— " I havo used Warner's aafo cure m conjunction with the Bifo pills (or functional derangemont of tho liver I laboured undor. I oxpcrionc>d aseneo of weight as well on groit pains m tho rogion of tho liver, whilo tho kidnoys were sympathetically affected, causing general illheiillh j but on roeoumo to Warner's Bifo cure I found my complaints speedily checked. I can thus hoarlily endorse its oiicacy." Mr Alfred | Pompier, tho actor, says: — -''I havo u*cd Warner's safe euro on various occasions with the most beneficial results to my health m gonerol, and found it particularly relieved hoadacho of tho worst dojaription, and I fool nmurcd that if takon m timo there would bo litllo or no noconsily for n physician." Thus church and itago go hand inlmnd m promul> giting tlio merits mid virtues of this storling spouiliu no widely their opinions may differ on other subjects.