The Cecil Whig., 1874-05-23
THE RELIGION OF RECREATION.

The practice of setting religion apart by
itself as something too sacred to enter into
every day life-of confining it to certain
times and places, and limiting its influence
to special portions of our natures-is both
unfortunate and pernicious. The religion
that does not enter into the whole of life is
unreal and imaginative. If its influence
does not permeate the individual and vital
ize his character, it is mere sentiment
and loses its significance. This separation
is pernicious, because it strips daily life,
with its labors, cares, hopes, joys and sor-
sows, of its grand purpose; divorces it from
the spirit which alone can purify and ami
mate, and thus sullies and degrades what
should be ennobled and elevated.
Perhaps nothing is more commonly dis
sociated from religion, in thought and feel
ing, than our recreations. The time was
when they were considered adverse to it,
aud part of religious life was thought to
consist in their renunciation. Even now,
in many cases, they are only tolerated,
while a very impression prevails that relig-
ion would lose something of it's sacredness
by being brought into close contact with
them. We believe that were this error
thoroughly effaced from the human mind,
it would contribute much to the improve
ment and refinement of a large part of life,
which is now, by common consent, deprived
of the best influences. Whatever we find
to be necessity of nature, or whatever
tends to its best development, becomes, by
that very fact, obligatory upon us. and
thus enters into the domain of religion.
That recreation of some sort comes under
thinks at all deeply upon the subject. In
cessant toll is impracticable, and alterna-
tions of labor and rest are not sufficient for
our needs. Both body and mind demand
light and varied occupations, that shall
employ, without taxing, the powers, espe-
cially those that have lain dormant during
long hours of toll. Without this, we lose,
not only the vivacity and sprightliness
which are important elements of happi-
ness, but also by degrees that very energy
of will and purpose which alone can make
labor successful. If this be so, then recre-
ton becomes a religious duty, for all duty
is essentially religious.
If this be once conceded, the whole mat
ter of recreation is placed on far higher
plane than it commonly occupies, and we
pass naturally to the consideration of how
h,,o ,
its abuses. There is nothing, however
good in itself, but what by excess or abuse
may become evil, and one reason why
amusements have incurred so much CEN
sure is that, not having been allowed their
rightfnl place in life, they have overrun
other domains and choked much good fruit.
They have been treated as some good men
treat politics. finding them corrupt, they
retire from them altogether, when in truth
they are for that very reason the more
urgently called upon to throw the whole
weight of their influence into the work of
purifying and elevating them. The effort
to extirpate, or even to ignore a necessity
of humanity, because it is grossly abused,
is worse than futile. 1t not only fails utter
ly of its object, but it actually cultvates
the very abuses it condemns Men and
women must be and ought to be amused,
and if debarred from pure and innocent
pleasure, they will seek that which is i'm
pure and demoralizing.
If, then, the religious duty of recreation
is based upon its necessity to our best
development, the best test of its value is
the degree to which it promotes it's object.
If, instead of refreshing our powers and
renewing our energy, we find that our
amuscments enervate and weary us, there
is something wrong-something demand
ing instant reform. If they engross us to
the detriment of our regular labor, and
make it distasteful; if they lead to impure
unfit the mind for thought, the body for
action, and the moral powers for command,
then let us stop. If they draw away the
affections from the pure delights of home;
if they lead us into evil companionship, or
undermine the sterling principles of honor,
integrity, and virtue, their mission is unful-
filed, and their influence unblest. Let all
our efforts, then, tend TO encourage, not to
restrain, the proper amusement of the peo-
pie, and at the same time to purify, refine
and elevate them. Let parks, gardens and
fountains refresh the weary; let birds and