Friday 7th (February)
The sun rose as beautiful as ever this morning and as I walked
down to school how refreshing was the morning air. We attended to our accustomed
duties in the morning and in the afternoon the Lyceum met as usual and Mrs. Wilber
was sick so we had a president and had the compositions read as usual, but the
trying time when my subject was given me for this week, whith it is right for professing
Christians to visit the theatre under any circumstances: Affirmative. In the evening
I had a call from Mr Dills from Piqua, and after talking of that sweet place and
other subjects we parted. Libby had not yet arrived.
This composition subject may well be a challenge for Serena.
Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal
Church does not specifically mention the theater, but it lists a number of examples of evil to be avoided,
including “doing what is not for the glory of God: as,
The putting on of gold and costly apparel.
The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of
the Lord Jesus.
The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do
not tend to the knowledge or love of God.
Softness and needless self-indulgence.
Laying up treasure upon earth” (Doctrines 27-28).
Serena’s Uncle Samuel railed against the theater in a letter
quoted in Petit’s doctoral dissertation: “Lewis’ religious principles and his
reformer mentality helped to shape his narrow concept of amusement. The theater
of pre-Civil War days probably was undeveloped aesthetically, but Lewis opposed
it for religious reasons. He called the theater a ‘den of iniquity’ and
counseled his brother not to visit any ‘theaters or other similar places of
amusement as you value your life.’(Petit 22-23).”
The 1850 Federal Census shows a large Dills family living in
Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, near Piqua. There are three young men near Serena’s age.
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