The Evansville journal., 1870-03-15

g1on IS but superstition to one and 4
an unpleasant bugbear to others of the I
family. Morals are appearances that /
which the Paris monde does not con-
demn is right. The object of mar
riage is Co barter this advantage for
that (AppletOn's Journal Of Grill
zdtion.)
Ana here the leaven of Paris is
working 10 car Christian homes.
Each goes his or her own way. How
long before morals, with US, will be
only appearances? 4
I'd. It is sometimes asked, how
far can the Christian go in these
amusements of the day which seem,
in the narrowed aBd French view of
amusements. to be the only ones
thought Of; [ mean balls and theatres.
AS have said, the enlight-
ened Christian conscience must
here guide the adult, and parents
their children.
Every one at his baptism is sup
posed to have renounced certain
things, which are called ''the vain
pomp and glory of the world" Now,
according to Brigham, among those
things renounced at baptism, was an
ciently included, theatrical exhibi-
tions; 'all promiscous and lascivious
dancing of men and women together" ."
leave it to every pure minded
mother to say whether certain dances
are not justly chargeable as "lascivi-
ous" Quietly and stealthily, some
years ago, new dances" were intro
duced into Paris. They were talked
of in a mysterious way, as something
sweet, delightful, wonderful" 1t
was borrowed from some rude peas
antry of northern Europe, whose
coarseness and freedom Of manners
| would not naturally be a model for a
refined and Christian people. But
French manners are shrewd at guild
| ing guilt, and dress up indecency with
politencss. And so custom Of Vul-
gar peasants, which allowed men and
women to walk about the house and
fields In close embrace, was set to
music and called the polka" and be-
came fashionable.
Without the music and intoxication
we should even not0 call such conduct
shocking, and such familiarity in pub
lie would load persons with scorn,
La a combination of this refinement
| Gal1Eu GnG LnO OuLIdkt
goes further, and the usage is more
exactiDg still. And this is delicacy
modesty and propriety, in SO called
amusement!
But, some one may think, SIS no
this rather exceeding the bounds of {
pulpit themeY is it proper for /;
pastor to speak of these things?'
Is it so, then? Must his lips bt
closed about q great temptation tC
evil, from fear Of departing from the
usual province of sermon?
Then Christians may do that publicly
which must not be spoken of. Their
children may indulge practice which
parents are ashamed of. Then meI
and women whose foreheads have
been signed with the sign of Sa
viour's self-denial and sacrifice, as
token for their course and duty, ma.
yet play with temptations, and dali.
among snares which may not be men
toned in church, and to ears polite
And the ground for censure agains
such unnatural amusements, beloved
+ would not be removed, even if, as j
so often the case, a resort to SOM
stimulus was not demanded, and tn
wine or the punch-boWl were not al
most as necessary as the music.
Every one knows that popular sa
tire cries shame upon some 0
these dances. When even Lord By
ron could be moved to pour tht
scathiDg fire of his ridicule upon tht
waltz, that lascivious daughter O
Rhine" it is time for Christian peo
pie, and Christian parents to paus
before they allow themselves or limo
J cent children in such immodest, am
J not Christian amusements.
Bishop Coke, in that little book
4" Moral Reforms, which ought to b
on the table in every modern hous
: has shown US how the Girl of. tn
Period " has become by-word.
THE nudity and leWd familiarity,
he says, "the drinking and late hour
of modern balls, are denounced i
r popular songs and caricatures; yel
constantly, | am told, as | go on u
t Episcopal journeys, that these thing
are patr0nized, as well as tolerated
: by Christians of all names, and b.
: communicants of the Church. In
5 deed, | am often asked what it is tha
: Christians 'renounce' under the nam
of pomps and vanities, and in wha
the life of communicates is suppose,
: to differ from that of the votaries o
pleasure and worldly living" (p. 94).
: Several years ago our venerable am
learned House of Bishops felt i'm
} PEELED to call the attention of tn
7 Church to these growing evils. Thei
voice will certainly be listened to b
a truly loving Christian man 0
7 woman.
W. 80 - boo,, =, .,.:I 49, cxoo
tacles and exhibitions which arc no1
tolerated and patronized by som
nominal Christians, would then havt
fallen at once under the supervision
J of the police.
} Only let it be remembered that tn
. Christian is one who has sworn to re
70Uace the pomps and vanities of thi
: wicked world.
The phrase is as old as christianity
) The Christians of the first centurie
/ we're not to attend the public specta
cles of the heather. They aCere n
] places for them. Now, | am not t
pronounce against all theatrical exhi
bitions as such.
But it is well known that sensibl
! Christians have long INDUCED th
hope that the drama might be mad
: not only safe but an elevating an
t instructive recreation.
People have long talked of wha
might be, but it has always ended i
2 disappointment. Some here may re
q member how, only ten years ago, a
q eminent Unitarian minister delivere
t some essays on Amusement, in whicI
3 he ably argued the possible reforma
: ton Of the IheGter, and finally be
!, came its advocate. He was publicI
g answered by distinguished actress
: no less than Fanny Kenable. Theor
!. was met by fact; speculation by ex
e perience; the divine by the actres.