Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-09
A Logical Critic.


A correspondent Of the Chronicle takes
US to task for an article on the relation Of
the Church to the question Of amusements.
10 the course Of that writing we said that
"there were some games Of blindman's
buff that Il was not lawful TO play" such
as Credit MobiIer, branding goods falsely,
making incorrect invoices of goods sent by
railway, in order to cheaper freight, aud
added, "that more souls had been lost by
covctousness than by blindman's buff"
Whereupon our critic clops bis hands and
thanks us for the admission, which goes
against our argument, "that some souls
have been lost by blindman's buff" And
then he admonishes US with great wisdom
not to wink at game by which some pre-.
cious souls have been lost
And if we had said that it was easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for wise man to draw such an
inference from our statement, it does not
necessarily follow that we believe that a
camel had ever made that narrow passage.
Now if the correspondent would like a
statement that even be can understand, we
should like to say that we do not believe
that any souls have been lost by playing
blindman's huff. We have never studied
very critically the relation Of this game to
the plan Of salvation nor Investigated its
geographical relations to the equator or the
north pole. There may be things in it that
are subversiye Of the decalogue, or the pro-
cesson Of the equinoxes OF the law of gray.
itatiJn. If so, We ore utterly ignorant Of
the fact. But we do know that cheating is
wrong, and SANDER is an oifense, and rob
bing man Of his property or his good
name is criminal, and might stand in the
way Of an "abundant entrances; and when
we say that more souls are lost by such
rascalities than by blindman's buff, we wish
to be understood as saying, that We have very
little respect for men who 1.-THE mint, anise
and cummin about these trivial things, aud
have no hesitation in neglecting justice,
mercy and the love Of God by iactiously
trampliug on the peace of churches and the
good name of ministers; and except the
Righteousness of this correspondent should
exceed that Of such scribes and pharisees,
be would in no case get into the kingdom of
heaven.
1t is true that we have never carefully
examined the moral quality and saving 10.
fuence Of blindman's buff. If any danger is
threatening the Church, or the State, or the
public morals, from this unexpected quar-
ter, it should be nipped in the bud The
Christian public should embrace the first
opportunity to take this menacing bull by
the horns, and make a heave Offering Of the
taurine invader Of the order aud welfare Of
the religious community.
Or it, lacking any authority of Church
or Revelation 10 rank this and other harm.
less games among the mortal SINS indiyidu.
ais should attempt to bind their modes of
play on the consciences Of their neighbors,
We humbly suggest that such persons be set
off into a church by themselves sort Of
New Jerusalem let down from heaven to
this earth for the consolation Of mortal
eyes by the vision of superior sanctity.
1t would be far better that those whose eyes
are blinded to the innocence Of this ancient
game should be put into community by
themselves, and extend the commandments
by adding the eleventh law; " Thou shalt
not play Hindmans buff, nor enter into any
social game, for our Lord hath no pleasure
IN glad co,sntenance and deligateth not
in The joys Of men"