Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12

trance Of wisdom into the heart Of the OBJ
| jector; sometimes by reform In the matter
which is confronted by objection. But the
objection very often keeps straight on.
Prejudice perseveres. Once, the prejudice
represented a principle, but at last it, comes
to represent nothing atall except the con-
servatism of the human race.
We may set it down at once that the
Christian judgment about the worlds
amusements is almost sure to be judgment
predetermined. We made up our minds
about this thing two or three hundred years
ago. But judgment predetermined is pref
udice. And prejudice is all the time lead
ing blind men into bogs.
Let US get this clearly in our minds.
Whoever would solve the problem Of the
Christians right relation to amusements
must first make allowance for prejudice.
He must remember that as concerns this
matter, prejudice is inevitable.
And he must remember another thing.
He must remember that amusement is neces-
sary. 1t is one of the facts of our human
nature that we crave amusement. We need
it. The trouble with most people in this
country is that they don't take amusement
enough, and that when they do try to amuse
themselves, they take, as one has said, even
their pleasure sadly.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
are the most nervous race in the world. No
where else upon this planet is the strain of
life so tense as it is here. And the more
nervous we are so much the more need have
we for relaxation of the tension OF these
strained nerves. And that is what amuse-
ment is. God has so made us that amuse-
ment is helpful to us. We need more oft
rather than less.
The Christian religion was never meant
TO take any of the pleasure out of life. Its
purpose is take the sin QUITO take out, that
is, all that turns pleasure into safety and
remorse and pain: but to fill our lives full
of joy. Ours is the religion of the best hap
piness in the world. God is our Father, and
what father is not pleased to have his chill
dren happy? 'This is the day." cries the
Psalmist, (which the Lord hath made"
What shall we do with such day? Shall
we weep and lament in it? Shall we starve
our bodies and aff1ict our souls in it? Is
that the best use for the Lords day? The
Psalmist has an answer other than that-"let
us rejoice and be glad in it." This is the
life which God has given us, let us rejoice
and be glad in it. Let us open our eyes to
all its beauty, and our ears to all its melody.
Let US get all the good we can out of it; let
us have just the best time we know how.
Accordingly, when Christ came, He came
-as the prejudiced religionists of His day
complained-both eating and drinking.
Not as an ascetic, not as an avoider Of the
scenes of social joy, but as divine man,
entering, so far as the. high purpose and
hard work of His life would let Him, into
the pleasures of our human society. He
came to teach what one has called a
christian worldliness." He came to tell
us, and to show us plainly by His own ex-
ample, how we may live in the world, work
in the world, and be happy in the world,
and yet be good Christians. He sanctions
the amusements of the world, provided only
that we discriminate. He would not have
us taken out of the world, only out of the
evil.
The Christians duty, then, in this matter
Of amuSements is simply the duty of dis
elimination. GEORGE HODGES.