The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-11-15
Mr.. oru.aa ON DoubtfuI Amusement.

A large audience was gathered at Fort Street
Church Sunday evening to listen TO Mr. Cruzan's
discourse on Doubtful ADJUSTMENTS. The speaker
began by saying that the war of words is generally
over dancing, cards, billiards and the theatre.
Upon these the American Churches has put her
tabu. But there is growing federation of these
long forbidden Amusements IN Christian houses.
Some OF the best Christians claim their liberty
here. Christians are coming to ask whether the
prohibition of these things rest on principal or
prejudicel Whether they are sinful in themselves
or only the excess the abuse of these sinful
These prohibitions were inherited from the Pur-
itans. There was good cause for them in the
time Of the Stuarts where the amusements and
vices of English society were 80 interviewer that
the only way was TO heroically sweep all aside.
But the stress that constrained the Puritans pass
ed away, leaving set of distinctions in regard to
amusements all interviewer with religion, but
forming no essential part of il, and having no
basis in clear thought. Our Bible tells US that we
are free in all things not evil tradition says
are bound 20 abstain from certain things innocent
~ themselves because they can be abused. Is not
the wiser way TO discriminate between the proper
use and the abuse Applying this principle 10
Doubtful Amusements; Dancing, a beautiful
movement, teaching grace and dignity of bear
ing may be allowable in the home under the eve
Of parent but is sadly abused and degraded and
soul-destroying in the public, all-night misce-
laneous ball. Card playing as a hOushOld amuse-
ment is innocent. Who objects to authors But
does the sin lie in the difference between the print
ed words on the one set of cards and the spots on
the other Such reasoning - is absurd. BY
teaching my son 20 play cards may teach him to
become gambler" The facts are the other way.
Boys accustomed TO cards either out-grow them
altogether, little for them II is the stolen
bread that is sweet. Gamblers do not come from
homes where games the trivial sports of child
hood, but from homes where games innocent in
Themselves are fabtel and therefore come TO have
a terrible fascination. While not necessarily
sinful cards are liable 70 erroneous abuses. II is
one Of the least attractive Of games TO thinking
person. Life is too short and books too near TO
vaste time at cards. Said Horace Bushnell, the
pttre and the wise: 81 doubt whether any other
indoor amusement is less exceptionablo in itself,
OF has more to commend il than billiards." In
the house, or the gymnasium IS not only inno
cent, but helpful recreation. In the saloon, in
that obscene, swearing, drinking atmosphere, but
like bit Of cheese as bait to the gilded trap OF
the bar IL is utterly soul destroying. The Opera
gives music in the highest degree OF the art. Il
is nearly as good as good concert, and scarcely
more Objectionable when the iibretto is pure. but
sometimes the librettos drip with filth. The thea
tire is a field for the expression Of the highest
literature through genuine art The stage has
stood for 300 years because it has basis in hu-
man nature. II represents an an and society
never drops an art. The abuses that have cluster
ed about the stage, both,in the Opera and Drama,
are enormous. DR.. Bushnell does not over-state
il: :" The theatre is, ought to be, the most
robust of all ADJUSTMENTS not athletic, but in its
common associations II is lowest and really worst
Of an
II is useless TO wage a crusade against these
amusements The better way is to try to give
young people right views in regard to them and
20 learn them TO look upon each things as but
trivial and secondary matters. They are rot the
substance of life They do not face the heights of
our nature, but are turned toward the chd-side Of
IL The play, the game, the dance. may be all in
nocent in themselves, but they are not the things
out Of which manhood is built, should they
enter into it. Competition every year is becoming
more and more sharp. While the many are anus
ing themselves, only the earnest ones turn aside
and serve the prizes Of life.
Mr.. Cruzan went on to say that the home was
the place for, and the parents the persons to
provide, suitable amusements. A long list of in
nocent recreations given, and the pertinent
question asked: With such a wide rangeof health
giving, strength-renewing, innocent recreations to
choose from, what need is there TO turn to that
parents wise