Smyrna times., 1879-06-25
The Circus.
MAY 81, 1879.

u.
Ayres pastor of Asbury NJ. E. Church, Crisfeld Nd
preached from jeremiah Kill.
After some critical remarks on the translation of
the text, and the marginal readings the speaker
called attention to the fact that the community was
garded it as thing of evil he felt it to be his duty to
warn his congregation against it, and thus act the
part of faithful watchman.
He said, II want to reason the case with YOU
whether you should or should not go; think you
should not go, and for the following reasons:
l. Because it is immoral in its teachings: in the
dress OF the actors especially is this true of the dress
2. In posture the bodily postures taken are such as
schools or streets.
8. The language is low. gross and insinuating
4. The appendage-side shows. gambling, conf
dence men and thieves. follow up the main card and
prey on the people.
s. 1t will make an occasion for an out let and cult
Vatlon OF bad tempers and dispositions as drunken
hints and actions will be damaging to young people
g. 1t is concrete sim open sin is not so dangerous
The money which they take of their patrons will be
| used to support crime, and party of consumers.
| They are nOn-produetive add nothing to the wealth
/ of the community They also consume our substance
| and teach us crime and nonsense.
z. 1t is deception. They promise more than they
is to delude and to deceive The biggest part and the
most decent part is the out side 1t cannot SO much
as boast the favor of popularity, for to use common
but very expressive term the circus has played out
with the good and the wise Society has its leaders
men OF heart and BRAIN their favor must be won by
any enterprise that would live long and prosper
otherwise the thing must fail. small shows in which
white men tried to play negro have had their day and
dropped out of line. for the reason that men and
women of sense. heart and culture, dropped them.
s. The propretors are sacrilegiOus they appeal to
the word of God to justify them in their folly. They
steal the livery of the court Heaven to serve the devil
| in"
g. But we are told that this is a big show :" Just
what we hear about all of them. If true, all the
worse for u.s. If little devil was coming to town it
would be well to give him the go by and kick him
out; but that big devil is coming we must fall
down and worship him, must me?
10. Stay away because TO go will be 10 waste your
|
churches are in debt you in debt your children
take your money and pay for good news paper and
Put it into your family. But | ara told that we
a W MAKE make me money oy going that they viii leave more
false as it is old. This can only be made true by all
hGads stdyilg az home and not by going to the show
If the argument is true then where do they get the
money and how do they keep up showing?"
IL. You who are members of the NJ. E. Church
should not go because the law of your church con-
demns it. and forbids your going. You have promised
to obey the law Now which viii you do violate your
sion and stay away But YOU may say the church is
wrong in the matter" " Then why not leave and
Join the circus if the circus is more loise and ruOa
u. If you go you will violate the standard Of
right as held up by sinners. They don't expect to
meet you in the show, and they wont have the same
respect or you afterward that they had before They
know your church VOWS forbid 1t, and they expect
13. Do you think Christ will go with you, and ap
circus Could you. as a Cody man one fearing Goo
and eschewing evil, kneel down in the ring and OpeI
the snow Win prayer Does your conscience approve
the act? Do you expect to your pastor there? FL
has as good right to CO. and much business Their
I as you have. Would you ddrtSe him TO go? Do yoI
l' rant him to go?
IA. But some may say my children want to &c
and we think we will take them Just once" Let M
ask you is not that dodge shift to get to go your
. self? You say your children never circus
Well IS that fact reason why they should go? Di
your daughter ever see inside of house of i-famG
and would you urge the fact a reason why sh
should visit one Just once. Once is a stert-al wh
fall. have to make the first step-do the thing onc
- Has your boy ever been drunk? Should he get drum
once2 Is 1t desirable necessary right to have baC
immoral, wicked experience? Shun the fatal argu
ment as uwould shun the destroyer-itis but Tn
Siren song Of the tempter In the fable of the SrcI
instrument singing sweety, while at her back lie
skull and bones. So the circus comes with musi
and mirth to make pleasure for the church of Chr
k departing IL leaves skulls and bones behind
while the stale wit Of the clown and the indeceI
posturings of women have carried off the none
from members of the church who are too poor to pa
their church subscriptions
10. The shOwmen hardly expect you to go at mos
they will give you small credit for your patronage,
the following incident testifes few years ago.
the State of Kentucky, there q circus traveliu
stepped into the ring and said. Ladies and gent
men, suppose have five hundred church membe
under this canvass tonight and you have paid yo
money to come here, while your pastors are in need
bread" And so 1t is. all over the country we he
. the cry of distress from the churches They are
debt TO their pastors and for their houses of worsh
many of which are in unfinished condition.
we must pay tribute to the devil, let give him o
surplus and our bread.