The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-03-23
Mr.. Beecher on Social Pleasures.

In bis discourse at Plymouth church Brooklyn,
Sunday evening 10th, Mr. Beecher said
/ bold thar in social usages there l. nothing
always right Or wrong according 10 the effect II
PRODUCES The effect varies under different cIT-
culHstauccs. y man NAV drink wine Ia Palestine
without harm, but / think not IN New York.
Right and wrong j. % be determined IN every
community. in every family. Christianity -
favorable. on the whole. 10 reasonable enjoyment
IL j. cheerful, happiuess producing. joyful. Inc
language Of the old Testament and tie New Il
i1vyu-. Religion dues not shut men up II 1t u
necessary az critical periods 10 give up the night
hand a man must do il, but that i an exception.
All pleasures that injure men are forbidden
because they injure their happiness. Any man
Rbo squauders the resources II hI~ body SINS
against the laws Of health, and InJerleres with
lis true happiness. No man has a hight 70 q
pleasure that units him for Lis next day : work.
This Is common sense. An innocent pleasure
NAV be harmful under certain circumstances. y
dance is no more than walking. In a seminary
the Young ladies must not dance, but they have
caIisthenics. What Is the difference Both are
motions in time with music. But l wUuldn I
have dancing where there was a funeral. l would
time the dancing. If you are able TO put a
billiard room into your house to keep your boys
at home, do it.. But if there is a billiard saloon
in conjunction with liquor IN a village, | would
not 20 there. / would cut of my hand sooner.
We are per petually 70 Judge according to cIrcum-
stances. Do that which helps you, and makes
you grow, and build you up. II an amusement
hurts YOU let it alone. You ask me ii you may
plav cards at home. Ask your father and mother.
| don't play; but | don't say you shan,t. You
know what time is to you, what your influence h
on others, and you must decide for yourself. IL
you ask me about theatres and operas and cir
cuses, | tell you to form your Judgment with large
views as christian men and women. There |
defend YOU. You must decide unselfshly, and
then YOU have a right to follow your decision.
If YOU don't think it right to wear feathers, 90
to parties, dance or touch cards, then 1t ism I
right for you. But you must not sit down and
groan over your - poor darkencd sister over the
way who wears feathers a foot long, and goes TO
parties all winter" | have seen more humility
In houses Of wealth than IN those who detract
against them. | am sorry that there Is so large
a division Of ointment in regard TO temperance.
Some cay that alcoholic liquors should be excluded,
and vInous liquors not others believe in total
abstinence | do not propose TO discuss any OF
these questions. 1t is IA great misfortune that Its
division should create acrimony and unch&rlta-
bleness. affirm the right of a man to form his
own opinion on what is right and expedlent- IT
IA man thinks he may drink mild wine | differ
from him. l wish ne thought different but !
affirm his right to his own position. On the
other hand, | have the right TO appeal to all men
whether they use their liberty according TO the
laws of love. Your right is to be administered
under the charter of love. Is there any other
single source OF so much danger anu JUSTICES as
the drinking habit of society? Does it not lead
downward? Do you not know hundreds of
men who have run themselve into ruin by drink
ing? Have YOU not seen men worn out by cares
! and disappointment who drink TO drown sorrow,
and so 90 down. There is nothing so takes down
the health, SO dims the honor, So fills hearts with
sorrow as this very habit of drinking. You have
a right to your own liberty. but was there ever n
case where your liberty ought to be laid on the
altar of love so plain as this You may be safe,
but will you let example lead the young to de-
struction. Was there ever a case where a man
should use his conscience for the welfare of others,
if this is not one? | beg of you, in all public
places, to forbear. Do something for the good
cause. You don't know how many men will be
saved by your example. l ask you, in the pres
ence of God, to look at the matter again. The
holidays are coming, and ! make my atfectionate
appeal-maintain a conscience void of offence.
l appeal to every young woman-disown the
temptation Of wine. If there be one thing that
women should stand for it is for temperance
May | not beg Of you now to say, by the help OF
God will use all L have so that men shall be led
to safety, ard not to destruction.