McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-05-15
DEVICES OF THE DEVIL.
Cleveland Preacher Denounces Cards
Theatres and the Dance.

DE vlCES VE InE DLtlLs
Theatres and the Dance.
Cleveland Herald.
Rev. DIR. Mueller preached at the
Scoyille Avenue Methodist church last
evening on "Christians and Amuse-
ments." The sermon consisted of an
attack on modern card playing, thea
tiers, and above all, dancing, and q
brilliant appeal to all, especially men,
bers of churches, his own in particular,
and Christians of all denomination to
depart from the paths of such sin, as
may have fallen into. Of course, as
the subject of the discourse signifed,
it was for the special benefit of Chris
tians, but naturally, although only ap-
piled to believers, was intended to
reach the ears of those who are not pro-
fessed Christians. The church was
crowded to suffocation to hear this SUBJ
ject discussed. r
The purport of the address was that,
as far as possible, all thoughts of God
and right are banished from the mind
by these wicked players of cards, visi-
tors to theaters, and "monomanical
dancers" Christians can not con-
scientlously indulge in such amuse-
ments, and if they do it is at a sacrifice
of all principle of religious feeling.
There is no such thing as serving two
Gods, and, as a rule, persons who fire.
quent such places and adopt such
means of amusement as mentioned
above are not noted for their excessive
piety, neither can it be expected from
them. Another principle in this direc-
ton is that no Christian has any right
whatever to do anything by which he
can not be distinguished from the more
worldly. In connection with this the
doctor drew the fine distinction that for
a person who has the reputation of be-
ing protested christian it looks de-
cidedly unchristian to conduct himself
in such manner as to stir up against
church members the reputation of fire.
quenting such places of amusement.
"Why," some one may say, sis it
possible that that man and that woman
is a professed Christian? Why, have
seen them at the theatre and at dances,
and have heard that they play cards. -
They of course do not realize that they
are doing anything wrong, but they
are, and other people, if not their own
sexes, notice it in them and talk about
it. OF course it is a surprising thing
that persons who consider themselves
Christians will engage in such amuse-
ments as worlds people do. In living
this way, said the doctor, protested
Christians are really denying Christ,
and it is false testimony against the
Gospel. People who have fallen into
the error of believing that their only
amusement is to be gained in a round
of gaiety, such as dancing, card play
ing and theatres are indeed in an error,
for testimony proves that persons who
have been reformed from such sin have
found more peace and happiness in
Christian lives. Some people of strong
temperament can engage in such
worldly amusement without any moral
harm resulting, but different persons
are differently constituted, and some
are liable, nay, led from the straight
path. Although by card playing one
can acquire certain amount of inge-
nuity, although dancing tends toward
gracefulness, and the theatre toward a
certain kind of mind cultivation, there
are other kinds of amusements that
will do the same, and here it may be
said that when one asks: "What harm
is there in it?'' it can be more truly
asked: "Wbat good is there in it?''
1t is the modern tneatre-the modern
theatre as a whole-persisted the
speaker, and not any branch of the
theatre, but as a whole, that exercises
baneful influence, and if they could
be banished society would be benefited
by the change, for the theatre is not, as
it has been said, an educator OF morals,
but the very reverse. The modern
theatre is not the representative of
legitimate drama, and it is as immoral
to-day in plot and action as it was 100
years ago. This is not puritanical big
otry, said the doctor, and it does not
require personal contact with it to
enable one to see the sin in it, for one
need not be hung in order that he may
have acquired sufficient knowledge
of capital punishment that will enable
him to write about it.
Public and promiscuous dancing,
from personal knowledge as q physi-
clan, averred DR.. Mueller, is physically
unhealthy, and more women are in
jured by it than in any other way.
Furthermore, the attractiveness of the
dance often unsettles ones mind. Per-
sons may urge the apparent harmless
ness of parlor dancing all they wish.
1t is merely an introduction to the pub
lie dance houses, where so many men,
as we'll as women, are daily ruined,
and the innocent square dances are but
a prelude to the fearful and much-op-
posed round dance that is the serpent
that kills so many pure and unsuspect-
ing girls. We must have exercise and
amusement, it is said. Well and good
but let it be obtained in some less dam
gerous way, and they are to be pitied
who limit themselves in their means of
IL