Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

far it may be lawful for any human being to employ his whole time in subserviency merely to the amusement of mankind, is the question to be determined. Together with the divine, who watches for the souls of mankind, the physician, who administers to the diseases of the body, and the lawyer, who is the guardian of his property, we must surely consider those as the most valuable members of society, who administer to our worldly wants, the labourer, who tills the earth to supply us with food, the artisan, who constructs our habitations, and supplies us with the implements of husbandry and art, and the manufacturer, who provides us with cloathing; then may be considered those, who afford the innocent luxuries and elegancies of life;-but all, who administer to the vanities, the follies, and the vices of the world, must certainly be considered as the nuisances of society; and these will include a list not generally branded with infamy like the profane Stage-player. The law, indeed, formerly affixed this title of infamy upon the player, but it was upon a race of men, certainly less respectable in themselves, and performing dramas more exceptionable and these performances are now generally sanctioned by the same constituted authorities. But I shall have occasion, in a future discourse, to speak farther on this subject; and I should now proceed to consider, what

1

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I proposed as my second object of inquiry, namely, What are the abuses of the Stage, but that it seems necessary to anticipate an objection, which may be made against the inquiry.

An attempt to reform the Stage is considered by the adversaries of it as chimerical and impracticable; and he, who shall attempt it, will be stigmatized as a mere theorist, and his plan as Eutopian. "What defender of the Stage (says one of them) will be so sanguine as to affirm, that it is, or that he hopes to see it regulated so as to be safe or profitable to every mind *?” "It may, indeed, (he continues) be matter of wonder, that among the many schemes and projects daily offered to the consideration of the public, there has never been any attempt to point out a plausible way, how the stage may be brought into, and kept in such a state of regulation as to be consistent with the Christian character. None, so far as I have heard or seen, have been so bold as to lay down a distinct plan for the improvement of the Stage. When this is added to the considerations already mentioned, it will confirm every impartial person in the belief, that such improvement is not to be expected +."

[ocr errors]

Witherspoon, p. 108. + Witherspoon, p. 114.

Styles, p. 44.

See also Styles, p. 22. 48, 49.

Not to expect it, and not to attempt it, is certainly the way not to bring it about; and to expect wholly to purify the Stage, is to look for more than we are warranted in this imperfect state of being. One argument, however, in favour of the attempt is, that something—I might almost say much-hath already been done. Even the unconciliating invectives against the Stage have had their effect in opening the eyes of people to the immoralities and dangers of it, and contributed towards its amendment. What, then, may not be expected from endeavours set about in the spirit of Charity? The attempt is at least desirable and commendable; let us sow the good seed, and trust in the bounty of Providence for an abundant harvest. And, to use the words of an excellent writer upon another subject, "supposing there were good reason for calling this but Theory, I must own that I should not be so much disturbed by it as some might be. A Theory is often only a set of observations and conclusions, drawn from experiments, and reduced into some regular shape: and, in things moral, it is only a set of rules, very useful, found out by degrees, after several corrections, each correction occasioned by some actual inconvenience, and each rule adopted as utility appeared, and as men could be prevailed upon to practise it; and the whole moulded into

some form, in which it can be plainly seen, and easily applied. When a set of useful rules is so fabricated, men look back upon it, and can perceive, that it would have been best if they could always have acted from such a system or plan." This may be called Theory; "therefore, when once it is formed, referring to it must be the easiest method of ascertaining wherein our duty consists.”* As to the common imputation against those, who aim at amendment, of forming Eutopian schemes, there is, in fact, nothing in it. "Go on unto Perfection" (Heb. vi. 1.) is the language of an Apostle; and although it is to be feared that we shall ever fall short of the mark aimed at, he, who aims at any thing below perfection, is not likely to succeed, even in an inferior degree. But, at the same time, in carrying on our designs, prudence, caution, and firmness, and a due allowance for the infirmities, prejudices, and wrong-headedness of mankind, must ever be

made.

And, to set one human authority against another, I shall quote the sentiments of Archbishop Tillotson, an author praised by some of the greatest adversaries of the Stage, for his

* See a Paper on PATRONAGE, in the Orthodox Churchman's Magazine, vol. xiii. p. 174, attributed to Dr. Hey.

candour, gentleness, and moderation *, In his Sermon on The evil of corrupt Communication †, where he is speaking of plays, he says, "that as they are now ordered among us, they are a mighty reproach to the age and nation." But, continues he, "To speak against them in general, may be thought too severe, and that which the present age cannot so well brook, and would not perhaps be so just and reasonable; because it is very possible, they might be so framed, and governed by such rules, as not only to be innocently diverting, but instructing and useful, to put some vices and follies out of countenance, which cannot perhaps be so decently reproved, nor so effectually exposed and corrected any other way."‡

We might now, I think, proceed to consider what are the abuses of the Stage, with a view to correcting them; but the time not permitting, I must defer it to a future opportunity.

* Orton's Discourses, vol. ii. p. 295. Law, p. 415. + Vol. xi. 8vo. Serm. ccxiv. p. 4816.

Law, (p. 414.) in quoting Archbishop Tillotson's opinion against plays, omits this passage, which admits the lawfulness of the Stage, considered in itself, and the possibility of rendering it useful. Highly as I respect Law's character, and excellent as I consider much of his writings, I cannot but consider him as disingenuous in this instance, and seeming to write with prejudices. Note G.

« AnteriorContinuar »