p. 357 | The Drama in Church

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 3, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 23

The Drama in Church.

A Chicago paper announces, as a novel method of raising money for church purposes, the following: “The great moral French drama entitled ‘Married Life’ will come off Friday evening of this week at the Baptist church. The dramatic company have made arrangements whereby the net proceeds will be given to the Baptist building fund, and it is hoped that all who feel an interest in the upbuilding of public improvements will be present to give in their mite. The popularity of this play is too well known to give greater praise. At the conclusion of this play one of the most laughable and moral farces ever played will follow, entitled ‘A Regular Fix.’ The whole exercises to be interspersed with some choice instrumental music. At the close of the concert exercises the friends of the pastor are invited to tarry and have an oyster supper and a general good time. The elder and lady will be there to make it pleasant for you.”

—It seems that spiritualism has even invaded Bombay. The Christian at Work of May 20, 1880, gives the following account of one of its vagaries: “Spiritual pilgrimages to departed saints have been instituted by Baboo Keshub Chunder Sen and his followers in Bombay. Last month Moses was the chosen saint, and the faithful who wished to converse with the spirit of the prophet were bidden to undergo a week’s preparation, and on the following Sunday to meet ‘on the spiritual Sinai to hold communion with the prophet of the Jewish dispensation.’”

—Under the new organization, the German army will be incomparably the strongest military force the world has ever seen. The grand total of effective men will reach two millions. To grasp the idea of such a force it would be best to imagine it in detail—say forty armies of 50,000 men each, or one hundred armies of 20,000 men each. These vast hosts will be armed with weapons many times more effective than those in use twenty years ago. Bismarck is the autocrat of Europe,—of all the world except America. It must distress him to think that now, just as he has reached the pinnacle of almost universal power, the long fingers of death are reaching out for him, and his resignation will be tendered by an authority which will give no heed to the protest of the emperor.—Interior, May 20.

—The Catholic Telegraph thinks that “perhaps our Protestant friends will some day see the advantage of placing their state charities under the holy and loving care of the Catholic religious orders.” The Christian at Work thinks that it will probably be about the same time that American mothers will see the advantage of placing their children in the arms of a loving, affectionate bear to be hugged, thus saving them the time and trouble of bestowing their own caresses.