New-York tribune., 1870-11-28
RELIGIOUS.
A BAPTIST VIEW OF ADJUSTMENTS.

A BAPTIST VIEW OF AMUSLMENTo.
The Rev. j. X. Kendrick of the Tabernacle
Baptist Church. secondaye., preached yesterday on
popular Amusements" from Ecclesiastes vii, 4. The
heart Of the wise the house Of mOurnng but the
heart OF fools is in the house of mirh' The Bible, said
he does not contain minute prohibitions touching seye-
raj STYLES of amusements ancently prevalent 1t no.
where says thou shalt not dance thou shalt not I've seen
at the Grecian games thou shalt not visit the theater;
thou canst he Christian and attend the gadlaoral
contests. But the Apostles were no cheap surfacere-
formers running off on this that moral tangent and
hunting down this that specific vice. They sought 70
evils OF society by curing its chronic hearS
eases So for our guidance what amusements are
allowable we are thrown back upon the general prescr1p
tions aud spirit of Christianity. whatever ainuseents
incvtabIy TEND t relax moral principles TO make vice
attractive aud ~ sap private and public virtue are to be
frOwned upon by all Christian people. we are bOnhd 10
resist as the most serious caamties any injury
integrity and il we might be assured that our own pow
er5 vrtuOus resistance would make attendance at sch
amusemens harmless ourselves bound to con
slider the effect dangerous pleasures upon Others less
thoroughly shielded II the natural regular, and demon
strabe effect of any particular amusement be To de-
hauch the public conscience, To nime evil passions, 10
demOralize society at large and to harden the individual
heart against God, such amusement Is certainly 10 DE
avoided
1t is enough to prove that occasionally certain
entertainment i Innocent and eeyang, while it, uni
form influence is cOnfessedy perniciOus. Apply tins
principle Obtrusve and aling Of all styles
of popular amus. nent the theater do not afirn M
broad denuncation the thcater has taught useful
lesson. will not take the position ol Tertullion, who
looked upon all art as counterfeit and lie, and pro
claimed the drama system of dlssimuaton and false
hood. prefer the lower ground Of respectable moral
lists, of multitudes OF dspassonae literary men, ana
editors Of secular newspapers-that the theater in is
ordinary and normal entertainments Is continually evl
The opera though less Objectionable than the thea
ter should not he visited by professors OF Christianity
The race course tried by the foregoing standards Is I'M
moral on account OF the mania Tor gainDng IL creates
cruel account OF the suffering inflicted upon the
horses, and therefore, like the spanish buEtght it
should be summed Much Of the dancing of the present
day deserves the sernest repObai0n Of CHRISTIAN pa
rents although as conihen 10 tG paflog hept Wi,
cise this diversion does not merit the severe eensre
churches Another evidence on tlis subject Is the bad
character of many of those who furnish ainlsement
Still another is found I'm the cost of attending tem both
in time and money for it is plainly repngant TO scrip
ture 10 spend too much OF either III any dNefsoh now
ever innocent II may be.
THE GOSPEL AGAINST CoRRUPTToN.
At the Murray Hill Presbyterian Church.
Fortiethst. near Loxngtonave., the pastor the Rev
George s. Chambers, preached yesterday to large audi
ence from Acts xiv, 25: "And "a he reasoned OF
righteousness. temperance, and judgment to come Felix
trembed, and answered, Go thy way for this time;
when have a convenient season will call for thee"
After describing the character of Felix the great I'M
preston made upon him by the teachings ot Pau anu
his subsequent return TO vice and crime the preacher
said: 1t is because men everywhere manifest tins
Gospel of righteousness, Temperance, and Judg
ment to come exists today. e osleGlalg ads
itself has become by-word, where bribery Is used 10
influence legislation and where the principal places IN
council halls sought mercy for the opportunities
which they afford of obtaining wealth Inc Gospel Op
poses corruption OF all kinds II opposes that spirit 0t
eXaction which takes an inch In measure or an ounce III
weight and which is indifferent to the wants OF the poor
and suffering il opposes the blighng crime OF nen
peranee, with its nnumerabe shames and gries 1t OPP
poses all npurity of talk conducts all shows and
places Of amusement, however attractive In garb which,
by word look gesture mar the Innocence or m0desy
Of any one; il opposes everything which III any way
tends to beite the sanctities of home OF make men
obvious to the duties which they owe TO God; 1t op
poses anything and everything which will not accord
with what honest lovely ana OF good report verify
poor humanity from Felix upon the throne to the poorest
vagrant, calls for this sturdy vigorous Gospel which
while 1t invites the sinner dcnonnces his sns wch on
sets it, pictures glory 10y its dark and terrible pesen
tatiOn OF the wrath 10 come.