North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-02-24
Pulpit Com mon Sense.

| EUlpht common sense.
| We alluded week or two since to tn,
Rev. Henry Ward Beechers lecture OF
amusements, and showed that he shoult
not discuss theatrical matters, because al
he said about the drama of the present
day proved his utter unacquaintance with
its current record. We remarked, how
ever, that he said some very sensible
things in regard to other species of ira
tional amusements." Among the pastimes
he alluded, for instance, to billiards, and
Of that royal game he spoke in terms ol
the highest praise, recommending the use
Of billiard-tables in all associations organ
ICED for social enjoyment.
1t is pleasant to see man who stands
in the foremost ranks Of the evangelical
priesthood thus taking ground against the
Mawworms, Caatwells, and Aminadab
Sleeks of the day, who would have the
world believe that amusement and sin were
synonymous terms. Mr.. Beecher does no,
look upon this sublunary sphere, so won
drously beautified by the hand of Heaven,
as a place of penance, where there should
be weeping and wailing and gnashin, of
teeth, but us o bright and cheerful vesti-
bule to the paradise beyond, where Joy
reighs etsrnally. The duties of life, be
thinks, should be faithfully performed; but
in order that men may work efficiently, he
deems it necessary that they should, from
time to time, recruit their energies by
indulging in wholesome bodily and mental
recreation. Billiards is bis prime favorite
a. an in door pastime. His lecture, from
first to last, was . protest against the
irrational clap-trap which insists that all
games of skill and chance must be wrong,
because they are sometimes prostitu:ed to
bad ends by profigate scoundrels. We
should like to know what good thing there
is under heaven that is not occasionally,
and indeed frequently abused and made
the source Of evil. Are there not sancti>
monious wolves in sleeps clothing who
cast a stigma upon piety itself-or would
do SO, if thing SO excellent, per Sc, could
be made infamous by the acts of clerical
hypocrisies?
The pastor of Plymouth Church is the
energetic advocate of many healthful
MISUNDERSTANDING, baseball, cricket,
skating, yachting, racing, velocipeding,
billiards, ETC., etc. He surmises that the
''coming Christian man" will indulge in
all these sports under proper moral re-
straints. lie expects that individual to
make his debut on velocipede, with a
billiard cue US his truncheon, sett of
balls in his coat pocket, and 1--WE presume)
one of p. clans combination cushion
tables us future of his domestic estab-
lishment. This is the right kird of talk.
Christianity and love for many sports are
so far from being incompatible, that they
naturally dovetail into each other, and
their combination, as Philosopher Square
says in ''Tom Jones" is according to the
fitness of things
Mr.. Beecher, DR.. Bellows, and several
other divines Of high standing, have
stricken Cant under the fifth rib so many
times and SO forcibly during the last few
years, that the long-faced bugaboo is fully
nearly on his last legs, and ere long, it is
hoped, will turn up the whites of his eyes
for the last time and Idle amid his wor-
shippers. Sunday Times.