The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-02
Amusements VS.. Churches.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journals
We recognize the Indianapolis Journal as one
of the great educators of public sentiment, and
it is always g. most welcome visitor to our house
hold But there are a few articles published
very few which we cannot altogether agree
with. So we feel like we want to say our
piece. In an editorial on the rink
question in the. Journal of March "a
you say, the wholesale objection to Kinks comes
from those who largely forget how they enjoyed
themselves when young" Now who are they
that are denouncing. not so much the use but
the abuse of amusementss The ministers of the
gospel. And they would not be true TO their call
ing if they should allow these thing to pass I'M
noticed. There can be no compromise
between the church and the devil,
when it comes to sacrificing human lives. de-
stroying happy homes. making physical wrecks
churches, racing, betting, etc. Is it not time,
when the abuse of such an amusement becomes
so antagonistic to the mission of the church,
that the ministers raise their voices against it9
Now, we do not say such is the case
with every one that attends the Kinks
nor are we opposed to the moderate
or respectable use OF roller skates, and
perhaps there are some managers of Kinks who
would not knowingly permit any of the above
named abuses, but all who know anything about
Kinks could, if they would, tell of some of its del
eterious effects. The family and the church
are two of the ordained institutions of God, and
where anything works to the detriment of either
of them we must condemn It, We venture
this assertion, that their have been
more bitter words, more heart aches, more
Caud.e lectures between husband and wife and
divorces on account of the Kinks than of any
other amusement of the nineteenth century.
The serious accidents that have befallen so
many are too numerous to mention; but one, in
particular, we must MENTION which friend
told US ola woman that fell and injured her
spine so she was confined to her bed for
months, and her five children had to be cared
for by others. How a mother who has precious
souls given into her keeping, after knowing the
dangers OF this amusement, can, and will indulge
in it, is an enigma which we would not try to
solve. Now, if the Kinks have come to stay, and
we must have them, let the press and the pulpit
demand that they be run on a moral basis at
least; that racing be condemned; that
be done away with, and in the meantime try to
instil into the minds of the dear people the fact
that it is the brains of the head and not of .ne
feet that makes this life grand inspiration.
1t has been said that the people of this country
spend every year for amusements more than
they pay for their schools, and three times as
much as they pay for their churches. Now, as
a matter OF inquiry, how much do the man
ayers of these amusements pay toward the sup
port of the churches? One other popular amuse-
ment we must notice, and then we
are done. Progressive euchre. What delight
full mode of gambling; but we do not believe the
participants in the game think it gambling, and
especially church members But if we under
stand the game and think it over seriously how
can we put any other construction upon it? Now
we are not puritanic in our religious views, nor
are we like John Bunyan, that we see evil in all
amusements, yet shall always insist that there
H. 1akxw~ -
cent A. L.
Upton, March 81