The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-26
The Amusements which Presby
tertanh May Safely Enjoy.

SaAASeAha W1AsA ANNNby'
terians May Safely Enjoy.
chic,sO Tribune Of The .ih.
The Elders Association Of the Presby.
terry Of Chicago met at their room, Nc.
COrmick Block, yesterday afternoon, FL.
der I. Z. Cayter in the chair, The object
oil the assemblNge was the discussion Of
amnsemcnts, and such as might be prop.
erly INDUCED in by members Of the
church. Prior to opening the question
Tor consideration, DR., D. r. Davis report.
cd from Dr.. Turpln upon the provision
Of entertainment for the coming meeting
Of the General Assembly, which was re.
ierrcd to the various ministers present.
Mr.. Merritt then took up tho subject In
well.wrltten paper. lie spoke Of the
innocent amusements made use Of by the
worlds people to deluds the unwary.
The question divided itself into three
heRds-Card5, theatre.going, and dancing.
He saw 10 objection 10 cards at home,
and thought billiards might come within
the same category. No harm could arise
IRON them, unless abused, and the abuso
Of anything mado It harmful. Baseball
was a Questionable pastime, as betting on
the result had become almost necessary
adjunct, Bat It was the duty Of every
Christian TO abstain from anything that
would dishonor the Master.
TheaIre.going he was opposed TO, since
tho Npnnnas t,.agnuNnI onl d. Ia.
.ot modern plays we're demoralizing, The
daily rress was beYailing tho decline OF
the legitimate drama, and it became the
duty Of Christianity to discountenance
such performances. He spoke Of spec.
tacular plays as most degrading, and then
took up tho music Of the day, which he
heartily condemned. Private theatrlcalS
had tendency to inure the young to a
love for the stage and the theatre.
He was unable TO see one iota Of good
to 10 derived from dancing, ~ indlscrim.
inGtely practiced to-day, as rendering the
human race monstrous before God. For
members Of family to dance at home
was NOT sinful, but away from home II
should only be INDUCED In by the middle
aged people, and not the young, who seem
10 be insepRrably weddedto 1t. To sum
marie, he thought It the duty Of Chris.
Elans TO deprecate oil these Rnusements
At all times, and thereby avoid the risk
Of encouragement. Amusements for
young people should consist in church.
meetings, which educated and could not
be abused.
The paper was accepted, tie Chair re.
marking that 1t met with the appreciation
OF all present, save perhaps "the gentle
men writing at the ble,"-meaning
thereby the reporters.
Mr.. Gray spoke briefly upon the side
assumed BY the paper, setting forth the
evils dormant IN the anusements named.
III response to the question il he would
permit his daughters to go to dancing
schools, he said: mo; l don't consider
dEncing.master q very good element Of
society. don't want him"
Mr.. Woodford spoke Of amusements as
social instinct, and one which manifest
ed itseli in all young people, and he asked
il turning the attention OF the youth TO
religious exercises alone would not be
ignoring that social instinct. He wanted
to know, too, if the Church should con-
slider itself bound to proyide amusements
where 1t interdicted.
Mr.. Barker thought II he could keep
his boy n: home by having cards or a
billiard.table in the family, go long rs
the players abstained from gambling, he
would make use Of them to keep that
boy at home. But balls he was strongly
opposed to as utterly demoralizing.
Mr.. Gray spoke again Of indulgenccs
in the amuGements named, and said he
was opposed to them, but he was inclined
to question the proprioty Of making such
indnlgences a bar to church membership
The Rev. Mr.. Burrell proposed to take
the amusements provided by the world,
emasculate them, ohliterate the bad, and
make use of them for the Church. The
evildisposed had taken church music to
dance BY, and there was no reason why
the Church cculd not elevate il the world
could pcrvert. He saw no harm in
dancing and in card-plOyirg at home in.
side the family, though he agreed with
the tone oil the discussion so far as indis.
crimiHate anusemGnts we're concerned.
Mr.. Z. NJ. Tcall had played cards and
billiards since he was 10 years Of age, but
never for money, nor had he ever seen
money up on game. He had taught his
mother and sister to play cards, and no
harm had come from Il. It was the
abuse and not the use Of these things that
hurt.
On motion, the subject was continued
uuti! next week, aDdthe meeting adjourn.
cd,