However spiritual the object and however laudable the motive of the originators of the enterprise may be, entertainment itself is worldly. Some are less so than others, but the taint is on them all. The leprosy may only appear as a spot in the forehead, but a single spot, according to the Word of God, is leprosy. A person has only to read the advertisements, and even hear the names of the various kinds of church shows and socials, to detect their spirit and character.

In a certain town in Texas, on the borderline, entertainment was given in behalf of the 'Young Men’s Christian Association', consisting of a bullfight! Think of the suffering and agony inflicted upon dumb animals at such a time — and reconcile such a proceeding with the advancement of the kingdom of Christ that teaches good will to man and mercy to the brute world!

Here is a clipping in regard to a church on Long Island:

"A church on Long Island, N.Y., has got a first-class advertisement in the daily papers by holding an entertainment in which a novel method was adopted for raising money. A handsome tent was erected, on the outside of which was posted the following notice:

‘Admission five cents.

To kiss the baby, twenty-five cents.’

The ‘babies’ were young ladies, with which the tent was liberally supplied. A large amount of money was raised, but the whole community was scandalized."

At another church we read of ladies going to the festival hall with baskets filled with luncheons. The ladies were weighed and the gentlemen had to pay for the luncheon according to the weight of the lady at the rate of a cent a pound. All this was, of course, profoundly edifying and calculated to fill a scoffing, skeptical world with reverence and admiration for such a 'church'!

We give another clipping, taken from a 'church' paper:

"At the festival of the King’s Daughters, which begin next Wednesday evening, instead of a caricature on ballet dancing, as was originally intended to be given, there will be a humorous take-off on the Delsarte system by the same gentlemen. A pretty little girl will execute a fancy dance. The little lady is quite an adept at dancing, and will, doubtless, prove a favorite. A well-known humorist has volunteered to act as the ‘Showman’ in the ‘Arabian Nights’ entertainment, and will introduce and explain the characters in his happiest vein -- full of fun and with plenty of new jokes and comical sayings. A composer of music has a number of new songs which he has written especially for the occasion. They are said to be very bright and ‘catchy', and will lend an additional charm to the entertainment."

Comment is unnecessary.

We give a clipping that bears of the proceedings of another religious denomination than our own. We offer no remark, but give it as it appeared in print. This is the denomination that claims to be the true church. If they be true, what is to become of those who are false? "The I. C. B. U. Journal, of recent date, has the following:

"'Sodalities and St. Louis.'" The Sodalist of Cincinnati says the Sodalities of that city ought to imitate the example which the Sodalities of St. Louis give, and adds, "A great deal is yet to be done by the Cincinnati Sodalities before they can stand comparison with St. Louis."

How, we do not discover.

"‘Here is what we know lately occurred in St. Louis: A Sodality gave a play, "a rude tragedy," on Sunday, followed by a ball, and a saloon in full sway in the basement. Another Sodality prepared for Lent by giving a ball in an unfinished church. The pastor said, "It was the best attended hop ever given in the parish."

"‘If Sodalities in Cincinnati and St. Louis are the same kind of a thing, they differ very much from what are called Sodalities in Philadelphia.

"‘On a St. Louis church door was lately posted an account of the receipts from a recent festival. One item read: "Received from the bar, $42.75." "‘Beer was the chief drink sold at that festival, though the Council of Baltimore prohibited rum selling by churches.’"

The beer-drinking feature brings to mind an occurrence of a similar nature in an Episcopal 'church' in New Orleans. To the honor of the pastor, it must be said that he solemnly protested against such a thing as beer selling and beer drinking as a financial resort of the 'church', but the protest led to his removal from the charge as pastor. He was hardly worldly enough for some of the members.

Here is another, taken from a daily paper published in the city of Memphis. It is about a Protestant church:

"‘CUPID’S FREAKS’. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NEW FIRST

METHODIST CHURCH, FRIDAY March 6, At the Lyceum Theater —

This production, under the direction of Miss G.L.., will be the amateur affair of the season. It will consist of a very beautiful tableaux, a tambourine drill, the minuet, pantomimic posing several recitations and vocal selections by gifted artists. The rehearsal last Saturday gave as a foretaste of a rare treat.

"The box sheet for sale of reserved seats opens this morning at 9 o’clock at the Lyceum Theater. Those who have already purchased tickets may exchange them for reserved seats. All the boxes have been engaged by prominent society people."

Let Methodist people everywhere who love Christ, and honor his church, stress certain words in the above extract. For instance, the words minuet, pantomimic posing, box sheet, reserved seats, tickets, boxes, Lyceum Theater, and prominent society people. As you read, answer the question: Where are we drifting, or rather, where have we landed? Has the world come to us, or have we gone to the world?

This is not all of that remarkable entertainment. We give more, as it appeared in the daily papers. Much more could be added, but we content ourselves with the following extracts:

"‘Cupid’s Freaks,’ As presented by an army of lovely young ladies, under the direction of Miss G. L., is an entertainment that is delightful and pleasing from the first to last. The entire performance was so well rendered that it would take a host of staid judges to decide the excellence of the one over the other. Little Miss. E.F., in her recitations, won the most applause by her winsome and childish manner -- so entirely free from affectation. After her recitation, ‘Chicken Talk.’ she was recalled twice.

The tambourine drill was one of the prettiest numbers on the program.

"Miss…recited ‘The Prettiest Girl’ in a manner to gain generous applause.

"Miss… proved herself a clever actress in the monologue ‘After Her Heart.’ She was recalled and received many baskets of flowers.

"The scene shifted and Miss.. sang a gypsy song, ‘Merrily I roam, beating the while her castanets and gayly dancing.

"‘St. Valentine’s Revenge’ the first on the program, was personated as follows:

St. Valentine……..Miss…..

Queen of Hearts…Miss…..

Maiden……………Miss…..

Messengers………Misses…..

Cupids…………….Misses…..

"‘Cleonis’s Studio’ was filled with the following beautiful figures:

"Vanity"…..Miss…..

"Modesty….Miss…..

"Ophelia"….Miss…..

"Psyche and Cupid"…Misses…..

"Hebe"…Miss…..

"Indifference and Sympathy"..Misses…..

"The statues had wonderful fortitude and remained apparently motionless, while Miss.. recited the beautiful but somewhat lengthy selection, "Marble Dream."

"‘Cupid’s Dancing Lesson’ is a pretty tableau, in which Miss… and Miss… are the musicians, to whose music little Miss.. as Cupid. poses in the attitude of dancing.

"‘Zekle’s Courtship.’ a tableau vivant, was laughable in the extreme. Miss… was the reader, and the actors were:

Zekle….Mr…..

Huldy… Miss…..

Ma…Miss…..

Parson Doolittle…Mr…..

Charity Sniffles…Miss…..

Debby Slocum…Miss…..

Decon Elderberry…Mr…..

"The shadow pantomime, acting the ballad of ‘Mary Jane,’ was well carried out. Miss… read the poem while the others followed in action. The personations were:

Mary Jane…Miss…..

Benjamin…Mr…..

Father…Mr…..

Lord Mortimer……Mr…..

Reader…Miss…..

"Through all, the Lyceum orchestra played in its own exquisite fashion, accompanied by Miss … on the piano, a difficult task that was performed with grace and skill.

"The closing scene, a pantomimic posing minuet, was the picture of beauty and graceful motion, and was frequently applauded. The young ladies were costumed in flowing robes of creamy white and carried heart-shaped silver fans outlined by pink flowers.

"The entertainment was greatly enjoyed throughout by one of the largest audiences ever assembled in the house. The performance will be repeated today at a matinee."

After reading the above program, the mind is confused in the effort to discover where the church appears in this matter. In the words of a certain Christian paper may be found the proper explanation:

"Either the church or the theater have changed, for they are harmonizing in many places. From the show-bills we see posted in public places, we cannot believe there is any change in the theater."

We conclude the point with one other notice of a famous entertainment given in behalf of two protestant 'churches' in the city of St. Louis. The handbill begins with the words "Announcement Extraordinary!" and so it is.

ANNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY!

Thursday and Friday Evenings and Saturday Matinee,

February 26th, 27th and 28th.

Professor John W. Sherman’s

Wonderful

P H A N T A S M A!

Under the auspices of the Ladies of……..

A Novel, Unique and Elegant Entertainment, which has met with phenomenal success, and won the unqualified endorsements of Pulpit, Press and Public in San Francisco, Denver and Kansas City.

Artistic Tableaux. Beautiful Illusions

Enchanting Music.

Allegorical. Classical. Historical.

Acknowledged by all cities the most charming and mysterious spectacular and scenic effects ever produced on any stage. Groups of living figures transformed in every conceivable manner. Appearing and disappearing at will. Living people vanishing in air.

The Program will be varied by

VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BEST LOCAL TALENT.

A variety of wealth and worth that must be seen to be appreciated, all under the superintendence of PROFESSOR JOHN W. SHERMAN, Inventor and Patentee of the Phantasma.

Admission 50 Cents.

Reserved seats 25 cents extra.

Matinee, Tickets for Children, 25 Cents.

Tickets for sale at……..

In order to get at the full moral effect of this "unique" entertainment, let the reader transport himself to Jerusalem in the time of the apostles. The church in the city of David is thought to be financially languishing. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both members and stewards as well, have announced that they would give no more. Although they were both men of great wealth, they did not propose to be forever giving. Let the laboring classes learn to give. They themselves have given one hundred shekels apiece (equal to one hundred dollars), besides subscribing to the support of the poor widows in Judea — and could spare no more.

The ladies and the financial steward of the church of Jerusalem were in desperation. It was at this critical moment they heard of the wonderful deeds of Simon the Sorcerer, in Samaria. Someone suggested that a messenger be sent to engage his services in a kind of magical and necromantic show or entertainment. Half the proceeds were to go to Simon and the other to the church in Jerusalem. John Mark, always great at running, was sent to see him, and in due time returned with the Samaritan Conjurer. The upper room, where the Holy Ghost had fallen, was engaged, and the handbills appeared. Now let the reader substitute the name of Prof. Simon, the Sorcerer, for Prof. John W. Sherman, and Jerusalem for the blank church on the handbill, and then see how it reads.

As the shocked feeling goes over one as such a thing takes place, let the writer ask the question; why should it be any more horrifying and culpable in the times of the disciples then in the present time? A proceeding that is morally wrong in the first century is still a sin in the nineteenth century. The idea that God would receive and bless such an entertainment in apostolic days is no more absurd than to believe that he would look upon and bless such an exhibition now. Time does not and cannot regenerate.

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