II.
_Theatre forbidden by the Quakers on account of the manner of the drama--first, as it personates the character of others--secondly, as it professes to reform vice_.
The Quakers have many reasons to give, why, as a society of christians they cannot encourage the theatre, by being present at any of its exhibitions.

I shall not detail all of them for the reader, but shall select such only, as I think most material to the point.
The first class of arguments comprehends such as relate, to what may be called the manner of the drama.

The Quakers object to the manner of the drama, or to its fictitious nature, in consequence of which men personate characters, that are not their own.

This personification they hold to be injurious to the man, who is compelled to practise it.

Not that he will partake of the bad passions, which he personates, but that the trick and trade of representing what he does not feel, must make him at all times an actor; and his looks, and words, and actions, will be all sophisticated.