ACTOR'S ADDRESS IN A CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2976, 13 January 1917, Page 4

ACTOR'S ADDRESS IN A CHURCH

MR, H. B. IRVING ON- THE PEOPLE'S AMUSEMENTS. Tho Rev. H. R. L. Sheppard, th© rector of St. Martin' s-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar.Square, London, who recently oponed his church all night as a place of rest and prayer for men in the services and others, has been inviting prominent men of different views to deliver addresses in the church. Mr. H. B. Irving spoke on "tho amusements of the people." He said_ ho believed the occasion to bo unique in tho history of the theatre and of tho churoh. Ho doubted whether an actor in this country had ever boforo been invited to speak in a real church to a real congregation. Tho Church knew as well as anybody else that tho people must be amused, just as they must bo fed and coltlier. They know that their services must bo attractive, the preaching, if possible, stirring and exciting. All preachers liked to bco their churches full—it was no mora inspiriting to speak than to act to empty benches. Alluding to Sir Horace Smith-Dor-rien's crusado, ho said if there had crept into our entertainments some suggestiveness, nobody could complain if it was pointed out and chapter and verso given to bring about improve-, ments. Tho attitude towards Sunday amusoments was both illogical and hypocritical. Kinomatographs wore allowed to produco lurid dramas on condition tftat a small portion of tho proceeds was .given to charity, but it was forbiddon to play Shakespeare on Sunday in the causo of charity, or even to give a Jittle innoccnt duologuo.