The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-03-05


than creditable to the boasted refine
ment, intelligence and culture of this
century? He would not call in ques-
ton the desirableness of physical de-
velopmpnt But when people become
more anxious to display the animal
than the intellectual, and measure a
mans worth by the size of his mind.
he was decidedly of the opinion that
they (the pr4aehers) ought to enter
their vigorous protest. 1t is the AMI
NAL quality Of the game that makes
base ball so exciting and popular an
amusement. The same is true OF the
prize ring, the cockpit, dog-fghting.
etc. He would not put rowing
matches on the same level with the
trained human beast in the prize ring;
but only wished to call attention to
the fact that the physical, animal.
sensuous character Of the popular
amusement of the day is decidedly in
the predominence.
There is no possibility of averting
the injurious effects that invariably
follow in the wake Of demoralizing
amnsements. At the same rate of
rntrogression that has been made In
the past four years, it will not be
long until we shall have gladiatorial
combats in the arena. Speaking OF
the attitude of the church toward
amnsements, Mr. Minehart said that
in the extreme anxiety to correct the
wrongs and eradicate the evils of So
ciety, they were in danger sometimes
of neglecting important interests In
their own hearts and homes and
homes and churches. Tt is absurd for
the church to discuss the best meth
DDS Of evangelizing the masses If. at
the same time there are enough
worldly-minded professors within the
fold to hold the balance of power.
The work Of puriGcation must COM
mence within and work out. The
popular passion for amusement has
entered the sacred portals of the
church. The wicked world is craving
entertainment and the church is sup
plying the dpmand-musical, dra-
matte, sensational, money-making,
gustatory, grotesque, farcical and al
most endless variety. These
have been INDUCED in to such
an extent, and encouraged, too,
by persons high in position, that
the church contains as many lovers OF
pleasure as lovers of God. Christ did
not teach that the gospel must be
made attractive to the carual heart;
otherwise the "offense of the cross
would cease" Judging from the
present order of things Christ and the
Gospel are no longer equal to the de-
mand of a human soul. In order to
keep the people from the theatre and
the opera, the churches have been
made semi theatre and semi-opera.
The speaker gave a list of the nu-
merous devices employed in announc-
ing local church entertainments dur
ing the past year or two, with the
most ludicrous effect. Often, too, the
principal actors in these entertain
ments also furnished music for sa-
looms, beer gardens and dances. He
had heard Methodists speak sneer-
ingly Of the ridiculous methods Of
the Salvation Army, who at the same
time were very enthusiastic in their
support Of the things here spoken Of.
He knew Of nothing that the Saliva
tion Army has done that is half so
ridiculous and improper as these
shows in the churches. He had no
desire to be censorious. but in the
name of all that is Christlike, he
would ask. can these kind of enter
tain nments be productive of spiritual
or even moral good? He related the
story of young man who was I'M
priSoned for forgery, and who, when
called upon by a minister at the re-
quest of the heart-brcken parents.
reminded the clergyman that he had
begun the business at a Sunday
School fair years before, when rattle
was inaugurated. He began CHANGING
his luck and went on until lottery
gambling became mania with him.
And yet the church will continue to
advertise religious raffles" and "be-
nevolent grabs"
The speaker said it would be more
sensible and consistent to deal with
such things according to law than to
indict the lowest dens Of vice in the
city. for religious raffies" and "be-
nevolent grabs" are sugar-cOated and
heaven liveried and hence all the more
alluring and deceptive Children
would flee from such sinks of iniquity,
when they would consider religious
raffl4s" harmless because given in. by
and for the church. Must the child
ren Of Christians dress like lewd wo-
men and rogues. and dance, read no.
vels and sing comic songs evoking in
decent jests, in order to get such peo-
pile into the church and keep them
when in?
Mr.. Minehart took up the argu-
ments used in support of popular
church entertainments and answered
them in detail. He opposed them as
useless and harmful from every point
Of observation. John Wesley's warn
ing against inviting rich men into the
church affairs so that rich members
would be necessity, was quoted, as
we'll as the testimony of other reli-
gious authors in support of the speak
er's position.
The above is but hasty abstract,
and scarcely does the paper justice.
Tt was discussed by Revs Crook, Craft
and Presiding Elder Miller, but the
hour of adjournment having arrived
it was decided to continue the discuss
ion at the next meeting, when the
question of what can be substituted
for the popular entertainments Of the
day in order to meet the demand for
social entertainment. and have none