The Evansville journal., 1870-03-15

[ do not say no ono can be true
Christian, and frequent such amuse-
ments. But I ask, In view OF the
facts, is the modern stage a scene to
be patronized by the followers OF a
Divine Master, aud the guests OF his
holy Table, and who pray daily, I
Lead Us not into temptation"
Can your baptized children be en-
couraged to attend such places and
associations?
Let me call your attention to an
other fact. Take those Christians
most addicted to these lascivlous
dances and theatres. Is it found IN
ana case that their influence is favor
able to high spirituality and the
growth of earnestness, and humility,
and firm principles?
l believe L can say, without harsh
ness, that those who most allow them
selves to fall into these temptations,
are among the greatest stumbling
blocks in the Church. It is the effect
of causes which are natural Their
own indulgence vitiates pure tastes,
and makes a self-denying, religious
life distdsteful. They awaken evil
thoughts, and stimulate Imagination.
Their presence units the heart for
prayer, and good works, and daily
serving. They draw away the soul
to uncongenial habits, and thoughts,
and passions. Their meretricious
pomp and glitter feed the appetite for
sensation. And hence, such persons
are generally most neglectful of dates;
oftenest absent from the quiet and
solemn assemblies of Gods children.
Place your mind upon ten people
| hGbitadL attendants upon theatres
examine your o11n feelings and condl-
ton when you have been there, and
you will find prevailing disinclina-
tion to holy thoughts, and habits, and
Gedly practices; self-excusing dis
position, with a readiness for levlty
and worldliness more than in others.
1t is because the mind and affections
assimulate to their own nature that
which they feed upon: which most
ministers to thought and attention.
Such people you will see rising from
their knees where they have sked
God that they may be kept from
temptation" passing by the open
doors Of His holy place to go where
there is more correspondence to their
own hearts.
The reason is, they love Gods SER
vice less, or they love those more than
the other. They live only to be
amused, and when not entertained, I,
life to them is insipid and dull like
man who is just recovering from
state of habitual intoxication.
But, it may asked. are we then to
have no ah1useDaents? Must the Chris
tian, then be morose ascetic, froWn-
ing upon all joys, and freezing out
every genial recreation by an eXter-
minating hatred of the world2
Now, all this proceeds upon the
iallacy that there is no suitable
amusements but these midnight rev
els and theatrical shows.
1t does not follow that because
some confections are known to be
adulteT0ted and poisonous, therefore
all are SO.
Because it is not fit for. child tc
. bathe in a horse. pond is no reason
why it should avoid the pure stream
,, or the limpid pool.
IF there were no other amusementS
, than a common billiard saloon with
its accomplishments of liquor and
profanity and coarseness, would
that then be the only proper place
F for the refined Christian gentleman
And if the sole recreation for Gods
, people were the vulgar and often
sensuous exhibitions of the present
f theatre, or the unreasonable dance
breaking into every week and almost
every night of the week, it would be
ground for serious question whether
these things were not evil and only
evil, and that cORtinlLdLty.'
But here again we run across this
> French notion Of home. Is it only
! another word for ennui2" Mus
) "every one go his or her own way?
Haze we any homes? Must children
/, be banished from the domestic world
: to seek entertainment? The days
! acere and instances still are when the
Christian home was so dear and de
! lightful that pleasures elsewhere were
poor and weak In comparison; homes
where herds of crude boys and girl:
; were not encouraged to make exhlbl.
tions of themselves and fine dressing
: at hours when they ought, every SOU
! Of them, to be in bed, and a Christian
! father or mother praying by theil
j bedside that God would keep them
E from temptation and from the eVi
that is in the world"
It is this perverted 0nd unreasonable
idea of amusement that 1t must be
) something external-outSide of US
r something to play upon the senses
? which makes it the business of so
r many to be dnluSed, just as certain
people are religious and earnest only
at times, and when acted upon from
? without-peorle who must be stirred
Q atp, instead of stirring themSelUe
} and looking within and to God fol-
! the perennial spring Of a spiritua
life.
2 Let parents give one-fourth of The
time and labor to make their home;
) pleasing and refining, that they be
stow in making shol0, and keeping
!. up appearances" and heaping VI
: means of luxury and self-indulgence
: and pride, and future trouble, we shal
o see less of this street-gatheriDg, anC
) ball -frequenting, and saloon haunting
and theater- going, and billiard resort
ing, on the part of our short. .frockcC
; and beardless democracy.
, We have a world of purest enjoy
2 ment, locked up from ourselves ant
/ children, in our literature-books o.
travel, and fiction, and poetry, anG
natural science; and we have the ke2
4 in oar olCn hands.
: See the beautiful pictures which
4 cheap art puts within the reach o
] all; the household games, and sports
j and music; then the leafy woods, anC
: the grove, and the rural pio-ni
= But instead of wholesome home en-
? tertainments, which cost little and dC
: good, the general mass of these man
= ikins and girlings, as well as parents
: and heads of families, seem to have
l., no earthly notion of any recreation