The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-02-02
Rational and Harmless AmuscmentS.

IWttOtttpHti LltSO'ol
1t may we'll be questioned whether It Is wise
for chriatinnS to set their faces against popu-
lar amuscinentS as essentially irrcll2)ouS, ana
to dcrrv all indulgence in them as licoNslSt-
cnt with Christian character. me inc
church is not OF the world. 1t Is in II; anu Sec
ular vocations, interests and cares must en-
gross n large STARE Of the thoughts and actiri-
tics of it's members. To di>charre the uut'eS
OF life effectively there Is nccdci an aileIEu'
ton not only OF rest but Of rIcreati0n. Eli
icyment IS an obligation as well as work. Our
God is God OF eladncsS. and His service, IN
stead OF Il dulcfui slavery, iSa perfect lfeedHfl.
Religion cannot accommodate lis STANDARDS 10
the ASSIGNS and ~intirni,irS Of man, nor Is 1t
desirable that the strict rule OF ideal rerttude
should be regarded as otGcrw!Sc IMAM every
where and always binding. CoLS"lencc, the
saccrdutal element Of human nature, attests
continually the paramount verify ana tlu
ctcr nal, imperial primary OF right; so 'hat
each man bears within himself AN incXorabie
witness OF moral lazy. hut tiicrc Is no gam IN
the multiplication OF sins by branding assuch
ac.s that are intrinsically innocent. Lie IS
indeed q solemn thing. but he who iooiSSS"SLF
ugon its sonbcr side and sees not u afilucncc
oi gaycty and brightness fml5\Nlniernret ~
Alright. The asrrtic chcus himself out OF
much tbs he would be the better for enjoy
ard his morOSe abstinence from Suiitic>S
pleasures is not only !; wrong TO h,nlSe!, nu.
to his neighborS, whom he comes 10 look DOWN
urOn from an emincncc OF spiritual pilIc,
and toward whom he ncglcciS TO exercise tDat
charity which is the sweetest oil the ChTlstiah
grac,S.
their conduct to the manifest and uhdoanted
requirements OF duty in The various re'a:!nh-
ships they bear to cach othcr "lthTnt peiiS
innate occasions for hardship ana sc:i-dciilal
arc sufficiently abundant to call ior no a.ui.
tional privationS. The Master tcl'S us t1at
His woke Is easy and His burden ilght. his
gospel is one OF benciaclion as well as sacri-
ice. and the religion He established upon the
earth, while the prophet Of iMmo:tal hopes,
has reference also to the prcSci' sphere Vi Our
existence, and promises happiness mere noiess
than hereafter. TO reject the BLESSINGS "i inns
lie and to refrain from using the priyl!eSeS
that are voucl!Saicd to US in TINS ochuillulhila
plad>onic world, Is one OF the worst phases OF
practical !ntideiiiy. 1t Is unsrateiul and dis.
ioyal TO God and q wicked fraud upon our
selves. 10 dclouncr what's harmless rs SIN
Implies Il confOundlls OF tthlcal Vl>tlhctiohs
which is altogether us pcrilouS rs the c;tSulatry
that AYERS the prOpr!e!y under certain circuin-
stances OF committing immoral acts: IN el-
Their case there Is 4 breaking down OF Inc par
tltion between right and wrong. II Is danger
Gus as II is iinpiuuS to add anything TO the
Bcca!ogue. An undue extension OF the iI>to
things prohibited irnlairs the moral scmse;iid
belongs to Il healthy mind. The young, man
who soIs forth into the world instructed thai
ii Is Just rs really Il sin TO Ounce, 10 80 u lle
theatcr, or to visit the park ON SuhGay, us ltls
to steal or commit murder, Is very. poorly
cluipp. d against temptations. II he btilcveS
what be la, been taught, he Is likely To be Il
dangerous member OF society. len 10 one, mt
will break down under the load given him TO
carry. and, instead Of being preternnturnlly
good. get to be a very bad man indeed.
AmuSemeats OF some kind arc 4 necessity OF
human nature. All history declares this tobe
true. AS q pious and discreet clergyman OF
the Anglican Church said recently, the de-
mand OF the Roman people for bread and the
circcnSiaa & iincs was not merely a pagan but
q human cry. Every parent finds proof o.:
ill.,. in the instinct 6 his little onIS for play.
Men arc d.. children Of a larger growth, and
they can no more do without paStimcS and d.
versions than they can get along without
f0Cd. II would Le well for Christian men and
women to thoughtfully consider this whole:
They should ask themselves whether. instead
OF putting the drama and other institutions
which minister TO the need of amusement UNI
der the ban of their diSapproval, 1t would not
DC better TO use their influence 10 elevate and
purify them. SO far as they have relaxed the
old puriianical rigor on this point, and sought
TO make thin.:s pleasant for the young people
by getting up fairs and sOc!ab.e>, they have
done we'll. But there Is room for an advance
in that direction. An eminent evangelist
sets his revival melodies to popular airs, on
the ground that the devil ought not TO have all
the best tunes. 1t wuuld be II sagaciouS step to
carry out this idea still further. II surely is
NOT wise to abandon the wide field OF popular
amusement almost wholly 10 the gentleman
in black.