The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-05-30

on the contrary, 1T has corrupted
tens of thousands, and driven from
their minds every serious thought
The dance, like the theater, mus,
be judged by its aggregate influence,
and l thoroughly believe that liz
influence is to stimulate the pas.
sions and to corrupt the conscience
If l were forced to decide whether
there should be no dancing at all in
the community, or such dancing as
now makes up the aggregate of this
amusement, would instantly say
Let the whole thing be swept oul
of existence. It's evils infinitely
overbalance the occasional recrea
ton found under exceptional cir.
cumstances. When Christians are
invited or importuned to givetheir
countenance to an amusement SO
stimulating passion, extravaganza
and frivolty, lev them take counsel
of conscience and the Word of God;
and they are always right when
they can so act as to satisfy both.
In disputed questions the Christ
ian's place is on the safe side.
There are assuredly quite enough
innocent recreations open to a fol.
lower of Christ without venturing
over the line into amusements that
are dangerous or even doubtful. If
Christians do not keep up to a high
standard, they will inevitably be
dragged down into sinful and soul
wounding compliances with "the
world"
4. A word or two now on "cards
and wine. glasses" One of the cor
respondents ..of The Independent
lately complained of me for coup.
ling these things together. l did
80 purposely. Of course, I did not
mean to assert that every drinker
plays cards, or every card player
"tarries long at the wine." meant
that both are dangerous, and are
dangerous; for the one leads
to gaming, and the other to drum
kenness. If no man handles cards,
there will be no gamblers at the
rd-table; if no man tampers with
alcoholic beverages, there will be
no drunkards. When a young man
becomes fond Of cards, he is on the
road toward gambling; when he
grows fond Of the social glass, he is
on the road toward intemperance.
| would not assert that every per.
son who sets out on either of these
two pcrilous roads goes on to the
two terrible goals of ruin; but l do
mean to assert that the one safe
course is to keep out Of both these
roads entirely.
An eminent clergyman of New
York once said in published dis
course that on coming into the par
lor of a prominent and benevolent
gentleman, on q certain
evening, he found him sitting at a
whist. table with his family He
was surprised, but did not feel like
censuring so good man, who was
supposed to be acting conscientious.
ly. The Clergyman did not tell the
whole story. He failed to tell US
that the sons of that whist. playing
did not turn out peH.-|
Many q well-meaning parent has
given ian inch" to temptations, and
his children have been embolden.
cd to "take the ell" For myself,
| confess that | tremble for the fam
ily whose domestic arrangements
include the card table and the wine-
glass. l have never found them
very valuable helps to household
piety. On the contrary, gener-
lily find that such evil spirits must
be- "cast out" before true religion
gains full sway in heart and home. !
In conclusion, let me reiterate that
al amusements that stimulate the
passions are dangerous; and those
'ecreations only are to be com.
nended which either give health
% the physical man or vigor to the
mind and purity to the immortal
Ioul. "No man ever gets lost in a
straight road"