Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-09
DR.. Patton on Amusements.

Within the last few years, the Chris-
tian Church has begun TO take broader
and more liberal views concerning the
necessity Of amusements, and the duty
of good men to provide, instead of in
discriminately prohibiting them. DR..
Bushnelrs contributions to the New
Englander, Henry Ward Beechers
defense, both by precept and example,
Of novels, and the essay read at Jack
sonville, on Friday evening, by DR.. Pat
ton, ,.are signs Of general tendency to
look at the question with human eyes.
DIR. Patton's expressions are rendered
the more signifcast by the fact that he
has heretofore been known as Puritan
of the straightest sect by his declaration
that he had never been to ball or the
ater, and does not know the name OF a
card. Bat he now maintains that play is
not only good as a relaxation from labor,
but is good in itself, and that life without
it is only half life. He points out the
inconsistency of subjecting dancer to
discipline and leaving miser to count
his money-bsgs unreproved, justly add
ing that this is persecution of young
sinners by old ones. He considers the
circumstance that amusements, like pol
itics Tor even religion. he might have
added), may be and frequently are per-
verted into engines of evil, only an add
tional reason why the Church should
possess itself of them and make them
subserve innocent tastes and assist in
the development of Christian civilization.
DIR. Beecher's answer that it is "unre-
generate man alone who Graves amuse-
ments, and that certain forms of amuse-
ment, dancing included, can never be
sanctifed," is no answer at all. ltyoung
men and women are permitted to dance
proper dances or to attend the perform
ances of the legitimate drama, only while
uuregenerate, very few will care to be
regenerated. The Church can build its
walls as high as it chooses, but the more
ofthe good things of life it shuts out, the
smaller will be the number of young
people whom it takes in, and the weaker
will be its influence upon society. A
religion which ignores all but the psalm
singing, church-going, praying and
fast part of human nature, is religion
which most Of its professors put off with
their Sunday clothes AS the church
now almost universally reads the Scrip
lures by the light of science, and adapts
its Interpretation of the Mosaic record
to the facts established by geology, in
stead of denying those facts and insist
ing upon the literal accuracy Of the first
chapter of Genesis, so it must read the
precepts of the New Testament by the
light of human nature, and adapt its
Interpretation Of puritancal texts to the
fact that every one, in whom the Juices
of life are not dried up, needs amuse-
ment of some kind. 1t will not do to
close the barroom, the saloon, and the
theater, to taboo billiards and dancing
and cards, unless an equally attractive
substitute be provided. AS well take
away q girls doll, and keep her at Sun
day school all the time
What reason is there for supposing
that certain forms of amusement cannot
be sanctifed 2 Upon what principle
can decorous dancing with proper assoc
ciates and at suitable hours be distin-
guished from walking or riding on horse
back or q game at cards from game
at backgammon, the conditions seing
the same2 The Puritans would not
have organs in their churches because
sinful tunes might be played upon them
but what thing exists in this world OF
which a sinful use may not be made ef
The man who calls his neighbor
drunkard, because he takes a glass OF
wine with bis dinner, is likely to exceed
the bounds of temperance 10 eating or IN
tea drinking. He who animRdverts upon
the conduct of one who passes his Sunday
afternoon ip the fields, not improbably
spends his own in sleeping, or in talking
on other than religious topics. He who
is horror-struck by a quiet game OF
whist spends hours, perhaps, at chess.
He who frowns upon all amusements,
however Innocent, would probably be
better, a happier aud a more useful man
if be worked less and played more. Bot
il is as true now as in the days OF hudi-
bras that
4" We,ompeund for sins we are inclined 10.
By damning those We have 20 mind TO-.
No form Of amusement may u9t be
made harmful, and no form Of amuse-
meut nav not be made innocent IL is
for men and for organizations, that aim
at the improvement Of the world, to
exert their influence to purify the asso-
Citations and elevate the character with
out impairing the Aitractiveness OF
amusemcntA - Chicago Tines