The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-28
Christianity and Popular Amusements.

tury Tor January, indicates the attitude Of
the Church toward recreative diversion iu
drawing the line between the clean and
the unclean, only insisting upon few gen
eral principles, such as Theses
1. Amusement IS not an end but
means--a means of refreshing the mind
and replenishing The strength of the body;
when itbegins to be the principal thing
for which one lives, or when, in pursuing
it, the mental powers are enieeOled and the
bodily health impaired, it falls under just
condemnation.
2, Amusements that consume the hours
which ought to be sacred TO sleep, are,
therefore, censurAble.
Q. Amusemenis that call US away from
work which We are bound to do are per.
nicious, just TO the extent to which they
cause us TO be neglectful or unfaithful.
a. Amusemenls that rouse or stimulate
morbid appetites or unlawful passions, or
that cause us to he restless or discontented,
are always TO be avoided.
8. Any indulgence in amusements
which has II tendency TO weaken our re-
spcct for the great interests Of charaster, or
to lonsen our hold upon the eternal verities
Of the spiritual realm, is, so far forth, Il
damage TO US.
More persons attend places Of amuse.
ment than attend church. Even the poor.
est people, those who obtain but meager
subsistence by their labor, and who often
appeal TO their neighbors for charity,
spend good portion of their scanty earn.
in IS for amusements A family, known 10
the writer, that sold the last feather pillows
IN the house for money 10 90 to circus is
type OF large class. Church.going is a
luxury too expensive for multiludes who
spend three times as much as seat in
Church wonld cost, on the theaicr and the
variety show.
Complaint Is sometimes made Of the
cost Of education and Of religious privili'
gcs but 1t is safe 10 say that people Of
this country, spend every year for amuse.
mcnis, more than they pay for their schools
and three times as much as they pay for
their Churches.
Amusement is not only great fact and
a great business interest; 1t IS also great
factof in the development Of the national
character. II II wise philanthropist could
choose between making the laws OF any
people and furnishing their amusements
il would not take him long to decide. Til,
robust virtues are nurtured under the dis
cipline Of work; it the diversions can be
kept healthfnl, sound national life will
be developed"
In discussing the drama he says: ut i:
not only nor chiefly by the questionable
morality OF the plays that the injury /:
done; II is by their flippancy, their sill
ness their sensationalism, their unreaity
Their effect upon the intellect is like tha
produced by reading the most trashy nov
els, only more debiitating. The effect o
amusements MS whole upon minds NOR
ais and physical health is not, MS they ar,
usually conducted, salutary; their produc
on the whole is evil; they do much good
| but more harm"
The elaborate thought upon subjec
that perplexes the Church and the home
covers about nine pages Of The Century
and cannot be condensed so as to give ah,
considerable portion Of what is vital {,
the interests Of community. But in sug
gesting plan by which Christian idea
and Christian forces shall permeate anC
give direction to popular entertainment
for those who cannot afford high.pricet
lectures, and concerts and readings, tn
writer cites the case Of the Cleveland Edu
calional Bureau and its success through
Mr.. Chas. L Bolton, Mr.. Doane and 9th
ers, in providing course Of ten entertain
ments each year ut the Peoples Taberna
clr," ut one shilling each for season ticke
holders and fifteen cents single admission
The iormer last year were also entitled Il
FIVE illustrated lectures by Miss Julie
Corson on cooking, which had an averag,
attendance Of three thousand women
Those who have read the Cleveland pa
pers know how popular. these entertain
meuts have been, what privilege to pee
pie Of small means, and what an educate
while they keep thousands away from de
moralizing places o, amusements. MI
GLADDEN., describing one Of the evening
audienceI says:
"That 1t Is an extremely well.behave,
audience, will be understood when ] sa
that II has abolished encores and the pan
demoniac practice Of stamping the fee
and that II keeps It's seat respectfully unit
the performance Is concluded. This grea
assembly is in itself IN inspiration, and Il
Its decorum, its self restraint, and II
g0od.naturc an incarnate Gospel; goo
music charms their ears; u proIusion q
flowers on the platform delights their eyes
they join In the national songs and thei
best emotions are aroused; they recOgniz