The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-07
CHURCH ADJUSTMENTS.

The subject of church amssements
is beginning to be one which creates
much discussion and in some cases
cavilings which, if severe, are in many
instances deserved. The BAZDo has
been criticized-not unkindly however
by few of the church people in
this city for It's denunciations of GER
tain amusements under the auspices
of the church, but it has the satisfac-
ton of knowing that while this is true,
it has received the thanks personally
of many of the very best and most
consistent church members and church
workers, for its insistance that there
should be distinction between church
amusements meaning by this express
sion, the amusements that are given
for the benefit of any stipulated church
and participated in Sy church members
and those which the wording pat
ronize and applaud.
II the church is to lose its sacred
aud peculiar influence. then it may in.
dulge in and uphold all things which
pertain to the devil and his works, but
if it is to retain that sacred and pecu-
liar influence then it must draw line
and that line must divide the devil
and his works from the church and its
calling.
Ofcourse itmay be asserted with some
truth that certain amusements which
have lately been accepted and utilized
by the churches are innocent in them
selves. but certainly no one will at,
tempt to deny that circumstances
alter cases. A deck of cards may in
themselves present nothing harmful,
but let the same deck of cards be put
in the hands of church people and
they be told TO use them for the pur-
pose of winning money to assist the
church, and the harmful nature of the
case is unquestioned.
So too, that form of amusement
which without the sanction of the
church is considered harmful, by the
church, does not and cannot lose its
harmfulness if merely presented under
the auspices of the church. A minis
ter cannot consistently denounce the
theatre and its harmful influence
when his own members. not only pat
ronize the theatre, but endeavor to
the best of their ability to follow its
presentations in their own individual
capacity he cannot point out the
evils of the public ball when his own
members persist inf not dancing
upon public stage-at least keeping
time to music in certain movements,
which have distinct and pronounced
connection with the movements of
those who participate i'll the public
bali he cannot inveigh against the
dreadful and fatal results of gaming
when his own members persist in the
"grab bag" and the rattle and FINALLY
he cannot stand up in defense of the
church and its sacred mission when
it becomes so nearly allied to the
world that it is difficult thing to tell
from any outward NANTES
tation the difference between
its members and those who
live in the pres ut, who hold nothing
superior to their own pleasures and
who stop at nothing.w which, for brief
moment, pleases the senses,
Surely if 10 their liberality, the
churches propose to countenance any
thing. or everything which By its
novelty. perhaps, rather than its fit
ness, becomes q desirable adjunct to
build or sustain them, then they will
eventually find that they have made q
fatal mistake which they cannot rec
tify. TIE bloom of the grape, when
lost, may not destroy the taste. of the