Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-09-12
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
ANIUSEAIENTS.

The Rev. Mr.. Bennett delivered a
very interesting sermon on the above
subject Ut ~. Marks Episcopal church
in this city last Tuesday evening, TAX
ing his text from ST. Matthew XIV, 3:
| "Bnt IN vain do they worship Me,
teaching for doctrines the command
mcnts of men," We give the follow
ing extracts at the request OF 4 number
of our readers:
"Thc examples set 10y those who
name the name OF Christ are bad
enough, but men of unclean lips are
very much out of place when they sci
themselves up as judges of morality,
and much more so when they under
take to dictate to the christian world
what christianity Is. Amuscments
are indiscriminatcly placed IN the
blacklist catalogues Of sin, and all who
do not shan them come under the han
of these ZealUts who have made the
commandments of men equal IN an-
thurilv to tho doctrines of Christ. we
laugh nowadays when we read of
the provisions of the blue laws OF
Connecticut, and see how, thar IN the
times of the Puritan fathers, the small
est act of levity and even the Kiss OF
affection passed between a man aud
his wife were made to appear as viola
tons of the supreme law of Heaven,
but there are things rs absurd all
vanccd today by the fanaiical trans
muters of private opinion into COM
mands OF the Eterhal. Amusrinents
which in themselves are as harmless
as the pure air of heaven, are made to
SAVIOR Of deadly sin. Evidently this is
teaching for doctrine the command
InentS Of men,"
"All things which stand in the way
of eternal happiness are plainly pro-
hibitcd in the Word OF Truth, aud we
are not willing to elevate Il private
view or matter Of opinion to the rank
of cardinal siu--or virtue either, for
that matter. We are not going TO
submit to have them placed among
the vile things which meet the disap-
probation of God. We will not place
them where Jehovah did not place
them. Nay, we will leave what God
left no special directions about to the
conscience of the christian"
"Some men make theatre going a
sin, aud If in this their hearts condemn
them, let them not go. Others go for
instruction, and certainly VIC cannot
class them among fools who run in the
way of error. The Inconsistency lies
in the fact that men who give coun-
tenance TO the school boys theatricals
will yet brand with infamy the neigh
Dor who dares 10 listen TO the actor
who renders impressive and instruc-
tive the great pastoral drama of
Solomon, or tho sublime productions
of Shakespeare. Jealous devotees OF
some of these modern bugbears, or
tradition-made sins. il seems 10 NE,
often "strain at a gnat and swallow Il
camel" Now we neither believe in
Straining at the gnat nor in swallow
ing the camel"
"We try to make our code conform
TO tho decalogue, and leave the inn
where God left them. For
this, il is true, we are branded as "ihe
church without religion or politics"
Well, as 10 the last charge, we plead
guilty and in this l hope we may al
ways be found OH the criminals list
hut as TO the first, there is righteous
j ndgc who will decide that: and If
reljgion consists IN The .tdnaticai
elevation Of prirate bugdJoos 10 the
rank If sins or CirtUeS we will ac-
that we have no religion
either"
Il would say if my opinion was ask
Il, that dancing used in moderation
il hcaliiful; | cannot see that there
is any more sin in listening 10 the
moral drama than TO the school boys
The game of authors is
on a par with caris aud croquet Is, as
Il. w. Beccher says, but "billiards
gone 10 grass Gambling with any
at them is where the sin lies. and the
hoy who plays marbles "for keeps" is
as guilty ms the man who risks his
farm at horse race. Tho Episcopal
church does not prescribe or recon-
mend any amusement and leaves such
thugs 10 the consciences Of its men,
bers, II only says, love them not bet
Ter than the service of God. Ny
opinion is that she is about right: but
neither the church nor !, her servant,
will say that YOU are lost because you
may not coincide with us in these
views"
= M |.