Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-03-02

Mas outf Regarding ths ks~ and
Popular Eafafuatsoa.

TlHAt&E Lftt2A~ 1ftAtts
Rev T. Il brooks, a. the Secona Baptist
enErch, spoks last evening aoon the sabieet
Progressive Eashrs, taxing Tor ts1t l.
Cor, xsa. ~ hetfssr tksFefore ys sat Or
drink. o. Whatsoever - d. % al ~ the glory
Of Gsd kes. BrOJks started out sith the
assertion tbst be kneS aoznlnz u IIe aetalls
of ths game Of progressive sachFs, from
personal kno~lsdze tat his god cesersp-
tlon II tne popaLar craze SOQld lead oEs ~
bellese thar he had stadisd hls sobleet upon
al sides. Ihis amusement needs 10 be
weighed sl0Hg viEh those whieh have some
bearing upon moral duties and the ChFlstlan
life. First, what should be the attitude OF
the Christian toward this class Of amuss-
mentss II l. powerful characteristic Of
The haman race tO 20 b eoniTarles, and per
hats parents are too severe IA their mandates
" their children. Ii may be they bear down
too vigorously upon them, require too much
and grant too pittie- Nothing can be
gained b. harsh rules; none can be driven.
As Christians, We should draw pleasure
seekers toward u; make home and church
more attractive. We must exhibit and ex-
emplify the true course IN order 10 draw
others The lines should be sharply drawn
between the church and the world, and if
people are bound 10 20 away from us Ne can
do nothing but suffer them 10, hoping for
their return. The love for amusement l.
not sign Of deprayity. twas not intended
by the Creator that man should be man Of
81 A t..Ftfz -
necessary; man needs relaxation from the
worlds cares; work must be offset with play.
Many Christians live with too long faces. and
have shown by their actions they believe the
love for enioyments 10 be a sign OF de
pravity, and the amusements themselves TO
be devices of the evil one. We should re-
eognize the laws of demand IN our natures
and be free to exercise the convictions of
our eonsciences. The best Christian il a
happy one. Mirth and sport should
rule in our homes as freely as should love.
The late martyr President, it Is said, before
leaving home on the day of his assassina-
ton, frolicked with his children. Christians
make a grievous mistake when they force
the devil 10 furnish amusements for their
children We must furnish enjoyments
such a. shall administer to the natural wants
of man.
Ia the second place We should consider
what amusements are right and proper.
Life's pathway is beset with evil influences and
the principal haunts of the evil one are
places of pleasure. Ii is easy fer most of Us to
become fascinated with some amusements.
That there is peril is no reason why we
should abandon all pleasure. Never go to
excess, is a safe rule. Amusements often
occupy too prominent place. They should
not be allowed TO antagoniZe any lawful
obligation or Interest," should not interfere
with a Christians influence for good. A
Christian has no right TO engage IN any
amusement in the pursuit of which he could
not pray; and the same obligation rests upon
all. for IL is everyone's duty TO be Christian.
Any pleasure on lower plane of life should
he used as a means of some good, either
mental, moral or physical. If our minds are
in doubt "a TO the propriety of any amuse-
ment and its influences that doubt should be
given to our Savior. The great evil in pro-
gressive euchre Is not in the game itself, but
in its excesses and associations.