The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-01

,.ot no abide forever on the face or in the heart
AS man was made for toll, both Of body and
mind, as he was made to encounter the trials OF
life so also was he made for ITS Joy and mirth.
THE very fact that man is a laughing animal is
an ample refutatton of everything which would
make amusement or recreation in itself sinful.
How frequently does the New Testament refer
20 little children, and call upon us to initiate
theml The traits of childhood which we ought
especially TO cherish are Innocence, gulleless-
ness and simplicity, and these are closely linked
with laughter. The smile of infancy Is one of
the brightest glimpses which earth is afforded
of heaven, and its crow and laugh, especially
when seen as we'll as heard, are sweeter than all
tunes whether from voice or instrument
Now, is that which constitutes the chief charm
of childhood TO be laid aside as childhood
departsg Must we not rather strive to carry
fbe innocent mirthfulness of childhood with us
10 and through our ripper lifel Indeed, every
smile of infancy, every laugh of happy boyhood
and girlhood, bids us watch against the corro-
sion OF care, against the stifeDing and stupify-
ing effect of unrelaxing labor, and against any
theory that would rob us of our birthright of
smiles and laughter.
Kindred to the lesson of nature within us is
that OF the same teacher without and around us.
Who can look on the world - the infinitely
diversified world of Aowers-wlthout glow of
the heart threatening to break on the face in
smile? What colors, what odors what variety
of bothI We are lost in the thought of the in
genuity and luxury of divine bliss which thus
uttered itself-of the infinite and eternal smile
which actualized itself to the creaturely sense
the birds, their brethren in beauty, and the
gorgeous landscapes, which repose sublimely
under the glorious cope of heaven, proclaim
mans right and duty to be cheerful exultant,
gay, and to express these feelings in smiles
and laughter. If the world is strong if it is
sad, 1t is also beautiful and gay. If its brow is
damp with the sweat of work. and its cheek
turrowed by tears, the smile vlndicates its right
by drying up both with its ray.
Yes, there is time to laugh, and as we give
time expressly to labor, and TO learn how 1t is
20 ha hocf pxuau to ri no inn tn nfrth
and to understanding how 1t may best be en-
joyed.
Our theme for the morning is, "The Rights of
Mirth.n These rights, as we have seen, are
founded in nature. AS there is a time to laugh,
so there is In our nature laughing department.
Indeed, laughter is often powerful weapon
against an antagonist. When the keenest argu-
ments, enforced by the noblest eloquence, have
failed 10 convince or silence an opponent not
unfrequently has he been driven from the field
In utter confusion by turning the laugh upon
him.
This, however, is not the aspect of the subject
at which we would look. This is serious form
OF mirth, in which we may be pleased at the
expense of Opposers. 1t Is sport to some, but
often the keenest pain to others. We refer now
to that innocent sort of mirth which is harmless
TO all. Wit and humor are parts of our nature
and may be the sources of a purely inohensiVe
pleasure. Wits keen perception Of the curious
and striking aspects of subject, and such an
expression of them as will produce pleasant
surprise. Humor is more a matter of feeling
of things, accompanied by rich glow of play
tul mirth. These traits of mind are just as
natural as the gravity of reason or the flow of
tears. The rights of wit and humor may be
secured without violating the sanctity Of re-
ligion. Nay, they may enter the service of re-
ligion, and add to its attractiveness.
We have innumerable illustrations and proofs
OF this In the history of the Church and pulpit.
Some OF the ablest and most devout preachers
have been full of wit or humor, or of both.
Rowland Hill was most distinguished saint,
x,nka -
his discourses, that his audiences most fire.
quently have alternated between tears and
smiles. Said he on one occasion, 81 would give
nothing for mans religion whose dog and cat
not the better for it." There, too, is the in
epired, the immortal Bunyan, whatever he may
have been in the pulpit in his Pilgrim he is full
of humor, droll, until his very gravity excites
smile. The ingots of truth under his pen are
shaped into odd conceits. If we come down to
our own times, we find that some of the most
successful preachers are the wittiest. How do
me bold reproois OF spurgeon feather themselves
with wit, and melt their way into the soul by
the electrical heat of humor! And
look at Beecher, full of beauty, fertile
as -, tropical garden, mercilessly
yet he does many a thing which makes me doubt
his wisdom. Yet it is not beauty alone, nor
beauty Joined to boldness good rhetoric and
striking elocution that makes him popular. To
these are added the free play of his wit and
humor. He is moved by his own keen sense of
the ludicrous, and yields to the emotions and
thoughts it inspires. He smiles and acts and
speaks his feeling, and the people that wept a
moment before laugh aloud the moment after.
One OF the finest preachers l have known was
the Rev. James Sewell, now no more. His ex-
positions were rich in the extreme. The free
play OF his humor seemed to stir his imagina-
tion to creative power. The scenes of Scripture
seemed, under his hand, to live again. True he
sometimes carried matters too far, and excitable
auditors lost their self-contrOl; but still it was
his sacred humor which, so long as it was con-
trolled, gave effect to his sermons. George G,
Goodman possessed the same power, but with
him it never interrupted the flow of feeling. 1t
VAS always elevated into the spiritual region by
the intensity OF hiSreligious emotions.
Indeed, in the church, in authorship,
everywhere in public life, this element OF mirth
has contributed to success because 1t has min
istered to enjoyment, and opened the heart to
good
religion itself. IL not only helps the pulpit by
alliances with wit and humor, in It's best and
highest sense, it joins itself also to the deepest
enioyments of the religious life. The children
of Israel, returning from their captivity In
Babylon, and catching q distant prospect of
Mount Zion, break out in the song:-"When the
Lord turned the captivity of his people, we were
like them that dream. Then was our mouth
filed with laughter and our singing.n The
meaning of which seems to be that gratitude to
God for His mercies sometimes becomes 80
intense that 1t can only find adequate expression
in bursts of laughter.
We have the same idea where 1t is sad:-
f'Thou hast turned for me my mourning into
dancing; Thou hast taken off my sackcloth, and
9irded me with gladness.n When soul has
been bowed down for many days under con-
tcIous guilt and a sense of divine favor comes
80 It's relief, the natural expression of the
rUmnne is smile.