The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-02
The Methodist Bishops Pastoral Address ON
Amusements and Sabbath Dissertation.


| The Methodist Bishops have issued
their usual pastoral address to the
Church, in which, after calling attention
to the spiritual prosperity OF the denom-
ination during the past year, and refer
ring to the increased need of holy livin q
because of the growing tendency 10 dis
sipation of all sorts, they touch the Sab
bath question and amusements on that
dav as follows:
| We have reason to fear that the grow
ing decentralization in the public senti-
ment touching the sacredness of the
Sabbath has crept in among us, and,
especially in the larger towns and cities,
is on the increase. The Sabbath, insti-
tuted in the beginning and confirmed
again and again by Moses and the proph-
cts, has never been abr0gated.
A part of the moral law, not one jot or
little ofits.sanctity has been taken away.
The Bible abounds in admonitions and
exOrtations and warnings concerning it.
Nature and religion both teach that It is
necessary to mans physical, intellectual
and moral well being; and history shows
that it is equally necessary to the well
being of society and the permanent suci
cess of the Church. .t
The Master himself has taught us that,
while "the Sabbath is made Tor man, and
not man for the Sabbath" only works of
mercy and necessity-made such by
providential circumstances, not by our
selves-are expected from the general
prohibition to do no labor on this holy
day. Dlscountenance and discourage,
then, all unnecessary work in the family,
all social visiting, all Sunday excursions,
all travelling for business or pleasure;
80 that the entire day may be given to
meditation and prayer, to social and pub
lie worship, to the Sabbath school, and
to such other means and opportunities
of religious enjoyment and usefulness as
may be within your reach. Thus shall
the Sabbath, as was intended, be day
Of rest and peace, day of holy lebor--a
blessed foretaste OF heaven.
We have cause for apprehension con-
cerning another growing evil-the fond
ness for social and public amusements-
to which we ask your prayeriul thought
and attention. Christians should not
seek their pleasure in those things to
which the vain and wicked resort for
their chief delights. "Whatsoever We do.
do all to the glory of God," is the rule by
which they are to BIZ guided. 'It any
man will be my disciple, let him take up
his cross and follow me-" is the requisi.
tion made by Christ. We do not refer to
the theater, the circus, the ball room or
Cuc WAHc pdIGys 4ucoe COulcSS0Qly lcdu
to spiritual death. But there are other
more strictly social ana less offensive
modes of amusement which offer, es-
pecially to the young, the enticement to
those worldly pleasures (which war
against the SOUL"
These occasion waste Of time, cause
dissipation of mind, and unfit US not
only for the duties of religion, but for
the practical duties of lite. We would
not desire to lay upon you burdens heavy
to be borne. But the world is 80 full Of
innocent pleasures, and religion opens
SO many fountains OF enjoyment, that
you can well afford to deny yourselves
Of those which are. of dangerous ten
dency, or, at best, of doubtful propriety.
The highest state of pleasure springs
from personal purity and holy and be-
nevolent living. Strive, therefore, for
the sake of your Christian character
and usefulness, and for the sake of 'the
weak conscience of your brother for
whom Christ died." "to abstain" in this
respect as in others, "from all appear
ance Of evil, and cleaYe to that which is
right and goOd.O