The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-08
CHRISTIANS and ADJUSTMENTS.
What Should be the Attitude ofthe
Church Toward the Popular d.
versions.
me objections to the The atres,
scard Playing and Dancing.
Sermon By Rev. %. M. Pratt of VIII
!Iston Church.

Dwight NJ. Pratt at Williston church on
Sunday;
Q Pet. :3-1S-"But grow in the grace and
knowledge OF our Lord aud Saviour Jesus
Christ"
This is the divine direction for we'll ordered
progressive, normal, healthy, substantial Chris.
tian life. 1t Is the last legacy of a veteran
apostle to the church in all coming-time, II
embodies and summarizes the highest wisdom
OF one who had grown gray in the service OF
Christ and who Illustrated In his own spiritual
attainmenfs the life he commended to others.
In Christ Jesus, the world has perfect STAN
dard Of character. The Bible is Book of al
vine ideals. 1t seeks to awaken aspiration in
every human soul. 1t aims to stimulate in
every son of Adam desire for the noblest possi
BILE life. 1t arouses In every sluggish and slum-
bering heart that divine ambition which in
spired Paul to say: 81 press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God In Christ
Jesus" Growth In grace aud In the personal
knowledge Of Christ who is both the author and
and bestower of this grace, is the divine stan.
dard of character for man. There is no true
life that is not conformed or is seeking to be
c0nf0rmed to this ideal.
The only question OF supreme Importance tn
any human being Is that OF character OF man.
hood. He who consciously Introduces or tol-
crates anything in his conduct or thought. in
consistent with the highest ideal of Character
Is to that extent base or debased. lie only is
worthy TO be called a man, In the exalted ana
divine use OF that term, who is constantly
reaching mp In purpose and desire to the highest
and hottest conception of manhood ever given
the race.
There are two ways of looking at life. One
from the standpoint of duty, the other from the
standpoint of desire. In one case man is domi
mated by principles; In the other by preference.
In the former, choice and conduct are deter
mined by the revealed will of God; In the
latter by mans own will. A persons love of
righteousness, loyalty to truth and aspiration
OF soul may be exactly measured by his ready
acceptance OF Gods Will. Life issues from two
sources which in their very nature are morally
opposite and antagonistic to each other:-
Principle or pleasure, self-mastery or self in
dugence. the divine Will or the human will
No question today is OF more vital importance
In the realm OF character than that of social
amusements; q, question that deserves the most
prayerful and honest consideration. Like all
moral problems, it merits Intelligent recogni
ton in the pulpit. The minister Of the gospel
II true to his G ling is not dogmatist but a
Cnrlstlan brother who has sincerely set his
heart to the pursuit OF righteousness and with
loving sympathy is making study of moral
and spiritual problems In order to hello his Eel.
lowmen aud raise. the standard of life about
him. His mission Is not to criticize but II posi-
BILE to enlighten. counsel and encourage His
spirit ought to be that of his divine Lord and
Master who came not to condemn the world
but to save. The world is already condemned by
It's own SIN and folly, and he who would minis
ter help 10 men, must ever seek to lit them out
OF sin to,higher and still higher levels OF life.
speak today on the question of amusements
simply because 1t is already under discussion
andt be silent would be to ignore theme
about which all the young people of this COM
honestly asking counsel and help. And every
mature Christian ought to be in a spiritual con-
dition to. give them helpful counsel and ex-
ample. II has been my privilege to have had
in the past year many talks with the young
people OF our church and congregation on the
subject OF personal religion and almost with
out exception they Il I've OF their own accord
brought forward the question of amusements
as the one great difficulty In the way of confess
ing Christ It is wellnigh unanimous cOnvic-
lion on tue part of those who are not Christians
dom
ing, rd-playing, and the theatre are inconsis-
tent tent with TIA high type Of piety. If representa-
deem lawful liberty in these matters, knew
how constantly their names were quoted either
In defense of the so-called questionable amuse-
ments or as examples OF Inconsistent disciple
snip, there would not be a sincere Christian
among us who would not in love for the tempted
and perplexed adopt Paul's rule, "If meat
make my brother to offend, 1 will eat no meat
while the world stands, lest make my brother
10 Offend"
Very frequently pastor meets such state
ments as these: am not ready TO own Christ
as my savior until can give up these things
ana until can live In these matters in more
consistent way than many who now profess to
De followers OF the Lord Jesus This is the
actual state OF things 10 this portion of our city
at this very time. Within the past week have
had many young people refuse Christ stating as
tnere only reason that they were unwilling to
give up amusements which they themselves
deemed Inconsistent with spiritual religion, but
which were so tolerated aud INDUCED ID by
Christians themselves that they were In doubt
wrong or the protested followers of Christ in
sincere. This is the problem which confronts
the church and the Christian minister, and
verify between there is nothing which so calls
ior our united and prayerful study at this very
time as this
car can think and reason without prejudice. I
s @ eg pnse fS sp hs n sy a to
have IL. They need ENCOURAGEMENT and not
criticism. They covet the best and Gods .peo-
pie ought to be in position to give the high
lions by which they mistake the false for the
true. the transitory for the abiding. Perma-
nent JOY and success can only come from life at
in Christ.
In the discussion of this theme let us
constantly hinge our thought or argu-
ment on the text. The aim of life
is character. The true ideal demands unceas-
ing spiritual progress. Growth In the grace
and knowledge Of Christ is the divine standard
to which every aspiring soul must inevitably
respond. That which makes any person noble
and godlike is an unhesitating willingness to do
the right at any cost. 1t is always safe to trust
the better instincts OF the soul and the headings
Of the Holy Spirit. IL people never checked
these divine impulses they would gain most
delicateand divine power Of spiritual discrimin-
alton, and would acquire that prompt energy OF
will which would render decision and
choice easy and insure immediate victory in
times OF temptation and doubt.
Inc only way to settle any question of moral
ideal Of Christian manhood and attainment. is
to bring Il TO Christ for solution: In doing this
our conscience must be intelligent without be-
ing ascetlc, sensitive without being morbid. !.
perfectly consistent with all necessary and law
ful pleasures, In fact permanent JOY and salts
faction of soul can be secured on no other basis.
They who put pleasure before principle newt
ably, by the very law of moral progress, end
their days In unhappiness and sorrow. Paul
saa 5e EomaD ib. Of MS Gay were Lovers 81
misery and degradation can compare in history
win That OF Rome during the era just previous
to its downfall?
Amusement, as diversion and recreation, is
an essential factor In all healthy, wholesome
lie. The love Of childhood for sport is as ma
Inral az :, the song Of birds or the froicking Of
the boy element in his life is neither intellect
ually nor morally In a healthy condition. Paul
as man be said that he put away Childish
things. There is a vast difference between being
childish and chlld-llke. He who in the true and
mature sense retains likeness to childhood will
never be childish. His capacity for Joy VIII in
crease as the years multiply, and he will be in
Iellgent ana self.possessed, manly and Christ.
IKE III All that ministers to his desire for and
need OF pleasure. Let no one suppose that to
become "a Christian is to renounce enjoyment.
Inc words OF the Psalmist regarding the be-
life to come. I'm his presence is funess Of Joy,
az his right hand are pleasures forevermore."
LIE World makes no greater mistake than TO
supposo tldg the CnrlStlan lie Is restrictive ana
lrksome. How can life 10 its fulness and bless
edness be trks0me? A half hearted Christian
may be miserable and ought to be- but whole
hearted christian is the only one who knows
tne meaning OF true liberty and abiding, SOUL
The well-defined spiritual life is not only the
highest fe but it is also the most easily iived.
Inc whole cross is more easily carried than the
nan. 1t Is the man who tries TO make the most
OF Dotn worlds who makes nothing of either.
lie who seeks to serve two masters misses the
Denedictlon OF both. But he who has taken his
STAND, VINO has drawn boundary line sharp and
al beyond as forever forbidden ground 10 him,
finds the yoke easy and the burden light"
But on the other hand, what has been the
iecoIu Ol worldly amuSementS as far back as
| nlstory goes? Has not the pleasure seeking
anu pleasure loving spirit been at its height at
,,h he very nour OF national downfall? Has not
| at the periods OF greatest immortality and cor
IuplOnf Ihere came time in Rome when
every Italian city of importance was compelled
", ~ Lne Siamorlng populace, to provide games at
| lne puDnc expense, and the monuments OF her
| rum Today are the moss covered walls of thea.
Tres and amphitheatres in which the empire
| iost her virtue and her strength.
1 Evely prominent social amusement from the
| earnest times until now has revealed marked
tenuShcy 10 degenerate and become source Of
moral corruption. The greatest immoralities
IN nistory are associated with the pleasures and
festlvlteS Oh court life in medieval Europe as
well as In the ancient pagan world. Many at
tempts have been made to reform the theatre,
but always at financial loss. Those who de.
sire education and virtue prefer il in some other
way. A theatre cannot survive without enough
moral faint TO satisfy those who are willing to
pay high price for cultured impurity, and the
travesty OF virtue. The carnal heart loves sng-
aRa b arge ha e
not take secret or open delight In things i'm
modest and suggestiyely impure. Christian
cannot AFFORD for the sake OF an occasional good