Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-04
Sinful AmuSements.

'aSCN'
Cleveland Herald as using the following
language in sermon in Prospect street
There are few illusions in the
early records of the Old Testament to
dancing as religious exercise; but the
modern dance is wholly unlike the an
cieut. The illusions to dancing in the
Bible are mainly designed to express Joy
tiguratively. The most notable case of
dancing mentioned in the Bible is that of
the daughter of Herodus, when good
man loses his head as the result of the
dance. Far worse results have followed
the modern dance, for many have lost
their souls. Dancing, card playing, the
theater, circus, ETC., are clearly of IA
worldly character. They originated with
the world and not with the church. They
are claimed by the world and supported
by the world. How can Christian glo-
rify God in the common dance, ut the card
table, or at the theater, where everything
dstracts the mind from God, where prayer
is out of place and religious feeling dissi-
pated Sin is sin, and all the culture and
refinement that you can give it will not
alter its aspect. Let twenty penitent
persons bow at the altar one night and
then let them mingle in the social dance
for three successive nights, and nineteen
out of the twenty will dance away their
religious convictions. 1t is seldom that II
room is ever cleared, even for Il parlor
dance. where the family altar has been
erected.
Lovers of popular amusements them
selves can see the inconsistency of Chris
ton profession with attendance upon these
places of worldly pleasure. While the
Bible does not specify popular amusements
by name, yet it inculcates great principles
that strike at the very root of these evils
A young man having become converted.
was urged to attend Uncle Toms Cabin -
He refused saying that he once attended
such il place and found it marred his
religious enjoyment. What is the invaria-
BILE tendency of the theater? Forgetful
ness of God and estrangement from Him.
1t is place where religion is ridicued,
and the followers of Christ often held up
to scorn and contempt;a a place where that
which is vain, impure, and goddess crowds
from the mind thoughts of God, heaven,
and eternity The ballroom, too, with its
late hours, its bad associations, its physi-
cal prostraton, and its lust. stands con-
demned by the divine teaching to abhor
that which is evil" The proposition tc
reform the ballroom, theater, and billiard
hall, and consecrate them to the church is
simply shocking. You might us well
talk of sanctifying the drinking saloons
by opening the business of each day with
holy song and prayer, and placing elders
deacons, and class-leaders behind the bal
to deal out the liquors of death. That
which was once said by Mr. Beecher OF
the theater and The church can be said
with equal force of all these sinful amuse
ments: " Let not this vagabond prostitute
any longer pollute the sacred precincts o
the church with impudent proposals o
allegiance" The path from the home
circle with its wine table, parlor dance
and lis game of cards to the saloon, ball
room, and gambling hall is short and di
rect. The main use of cards is not amuse
ment. but gambling, Who is to determine
when dance comes under proper regula
tions. and when it exceeds the limits o
propriety ? How shall these evils b.
checked as regards the church ? Let ;
high standard of piety be maintained anc
held up, let the wrongs of these evils b
frequently and kindly pointed out, let ther
be no concessions made either publicly OF
privately, and let the teachings of our dis
cipline be explained and prudently enforc
ed and let all members, old and young
for the sake of their own usefulness ant
happiness, and for the sake of Christ, b.
brought to abstain from these evils.