The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-05

Rev. DR.. A. B. Riker last night
preached on "The Better Way" at tho
Fourth Street NJ. E. church, it being a
summing up of his series OF sermons on
popular A~musements' preached dur
ing November.
In an Introductory way DR.. Riker
said he was grateful for the large hear
ing given him during the "Amuse-
ment" sermons. He had not thought
there was SO large an interest in the
subject, as the series just completed
had shown. He expressed a feeling of
thankfulness that the press had re-
ported his sermons in such a correct
manner.
For his text last night DR.. Riker
took Corinth. 12-3l.-"Bus covct earn
estly the best gifts: and yet shew l
unto you a moro excellont way"
"Pause to consider first, that amuse-
ment is not the main business of life.
We arc not hero for the purposes OF be-
ing pleased and amused. We are here
ior something and purposes far better
than the mere by-play OF life. There is
alarger destiny for US than the smile
and the laugh.
az wonder how many there are in
Wheeling who have real and adequate
purposes in life. There is surely a large
number in this city who live for to-day,
without thought for the morrow. To-
morrow is not thought OF by many, and
when thought Of it is in an unpleasant
sort of way. To live and enjoy, some
thing to fill the hours, amusements
through which to become excited; this
is the routine OF life OF a large number
of our people. They do not think OF
the morrow.
Notlong since a train laden with an
immense treasure started from San
francisco across the American CONT
nent for New York. 1t was guarded
during the entire trip by q detachment
of soldiers, and when it reached its des-
tination all who were aboard felt q great
sense of relief. They had been on a
constant strain, fearful that the tempta-
ton to gain such an immense sum
would cause them to be attacked by
desperadoes. Though the experiment
OF sending q treasure across a continent
in this way was in this instance success
full, the papers announced that it was
decided to not try it again. My friends,
YOU are crossing the continent OF your
lives from the sunrise to tho sunset,
with a far more important treasure to
be guarded. Satan is ever ready 10
waylay you androb you OF that treasure.
Life Is earnest, worthy OF the best
thought, OF the best enterprises, yet, as
l have said, amusement is the main OBJ
1ect in life of q great number. be-
iieye in laughter and smiles. Laughter
is a good thing for the brain and Tor
health, but who ever dreamed OF a
great boiler being built for the sole OBJ
iect OF blowing off the safety valve. So
with men. l remember hearing OF 4
little steamboat on q southern river,
with a big whistle. When going along
the stream and it became necessary to
blow the whistle, the wheels and ma
chinery had to be stopped. There was
not enough steam to propel tho boat
and blow the big whistle at the same
time. When whistling the boat
couldn't run, and when running the
boat couldn't whistle. Just 80 with tho
people who blow SO loud that they can't
get along in life.
When YOU see q young man who is q
deyotee OF the theatre, dance and card
table, YOU see u young man not fitted
for the battle of life. He will live to
say: oh, that l could but reclaim my
youth =,
only indulge in moderation Tho sys-
tom on a wholei is bad. l I'm aware GER
tain phases are not so bad. 1t is the
institution that is bad.
On the other hand there is a wide
range OF worthy recreation open to all.
At n meeting OF clcrgymen in Boston
the wine question vas being disguised.
One minister arose and advocated the
moderate use OF light wines as the only
remedy for drunkenness. AS he was
concluding his remarks a venerable old
gentlemen came in, Just fromthe funer-
nj Of his son. This son had in early
manhood drank tooXcess, but later had
reformed and abandoned the habit. Tho
father had great hopes for his boy. At
the table OF a clergyman under per-
suasion ho drank a glass OF wine, and
starting then and there he again con-
tracted the drinking habit, and it was
not long before he died OF delirium tre-
mems. and filed a d%runkard's grave.
Concluding, he said: Tho man whojust
tack his seat, sent that young man, my
son, TO his ruin and grave 1t is dan
gerous and hazardous to tritle with
these a~musements.
Many a man has lost his balance in
the theatre and zone TO ruin. Many a
man has lost his honesty and honor
from constant attendance at the euchre
table. Many a man has sought the
haunts OF vice and dobauchery from tho
influence OF the dance.
There is surely enough genius in u
people to invent harmless amusements
TO replace these harmful ones.
a mar overcome in the snow by in.
tense cold sinks into a lethargy. Would
you allow him to lie unwakened? No.
Istand before you and say: Wake upl
Don't sink into the lethaFgy from
which there is no Weakening. You are
built on a broader plan; q larger basis.
Which il the better Way2 Become