RELIGION AND THE STAGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1943, 29 December 1913, Page 8

RELIGION AND THE STAGE.

There is a "talk" in a- recent issue, of "Great Thoughts"with Sir Herbert Tree on the abovo subject-. Asked what 110 thought of the new departure, Sir Herbert replied:

"Well, I honestly think that jhe cause of true religion will be advanced 1 hereby. It has never douo the stage any good to be so markedly dissevered from religion as it has been'in the'past. lleligion' has never been so real aiid genuine as to-day; it has never so entirely permeated the whole community as it does-now. I don't mean the religion of dopma, but tho religion of lminanitv. Aud it is this kind of religion that will be advanced by a distinct and definite alliance with tho Stage, and for my own part, I should not wish tho Stago to be allied with any other kind of religion."' A Biblo drama. Sir Herbert Tree added, reached tho heart of humanity, because it dealt with tho simple things and events and emotions of human life. Ho went on to explain that he was "strongly in favour of, and would demand, tho strictest censorship as to what shall bo presented on tho stago and what shall not :

"I would dread anything liko a representation of tho great story of tho Passion, unless it were encompassed by tho most rigid precautions. 111 all that wo do hero in this great Hiblo presentation rovorenco i 3 tho chief attribute. Of course, wo don't profess it is other than art, but- tho priesthood does not disdain art." Attention was called by Sir HerbertTreo to tho fact that Mr. Parker had kept to tho very words of the liiblo. "You cannot better them," he said.