The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-03-03
Religious Department.

the manager OF the GLOBE-RRPUBLFCAN shall see
fit to publish. Auy one who feels like7c0ntribut-
ing anything for publication is at perfec. liberty
to do so. In fact. we shall be glad te receive
anything in that line from any one, regardless OF
what denomination the writer may chance to be
in fellowship with. provided it be not in the ma:
ture of argument or contention concerning mat
tiers on which sincere followers of Christ differ in
opinion or belief, which we regard mere matters
Of expediency. We expect to have much more
of this kind of literature than our limited space
| will admit. and shall doubtless hold many accep-
table articles until long time after they are re-
ceived. Therefore those who send manuscript
need not expect to see it appear Immediately.
Some may be delayed for months. and even long
er, and some will no doubt be rejected eltogeth-
| er.l
Some of our good friends are puzzled
to know why we admit amusement adj
vertisements to these columns. The
Democrat says:
BRO. Shinn notified Mr.. Pearce, man.
ager of the opera house, this week that,
he had appointed Lloyd Evans amuse-
ment critic of that paper, and that any
cOmplimentaries due that paper fox fan
cy puffs and write ups. should be turned
over to him. We surmise from this that
Bro. Shinn is too good since he was con-
verified to attend these wicked shows
(where in the past he has Always had a
front seat.) bat he is perfectly willing
to have his assistant get the benefit of
their immoral performances. This Ger.
tainly is a christian spirit for Bro. Shinn
to manifest. OF one thing you can al
ways bank on, Shinn will look out for
No. L. This christian business will be
worked for all there is init for Bro.
Shinn. No matter how many other souls
are lost, he, at least, wants to be on the
safe side.''
We admit there is reason in what Bro.
Petition says, provided his premises were
correct.
If we regarded the shows which Mr..
Fearce brings into this city as immoral
it would be wrong in us to publish the
advertisements or permit our assistants
to get the benefit of them. We do not
hold to that idea, however. 1t is wrong
to violate contract, and we have made
covenant with our new Master that
if he will accept our services, We will
devote all the time we live upon earth to
His work. We have received the assur-
ance that this dedication of all our time
to this work has been accepted. 1t is.
therefore. in the nature of a solemn OBJ
legation. binding alike upon both parties.
Attending a theatre for the purpose of
enjoying the pleasure of witnessing the
performance. even though it is not i'm
moral, would be violating the contract
by taking time rot our own, just as GER
tainly as if man should agree to work
stipulated time per day, between GER
tain hours, at some especial work. but
should do some other work instead.
Lloyd Evans has made no such contract.
He deliberately prefers to enjoy the
pleasures of the world for awhile yet,
rather than enter the service of God, and
so long as we cannot persuade him to
make this agreement with his Maker, it
is not for us TO prevent him doing any,
thing that is not in violation of our laws.
1t is our duty to warn him that he had
better get right with God now, but we
have no right to interfere with his free
moral agency. There are worse things |
than theatres. and if we make it difficult |
to 60 to the opera house, he may seek |
places where influences would be more
harmful in every way. Uncovered |
persons, especially the young, are bound |
to have amusement, and while we know |
that every moment they stay away from
the Lord is fraught with danger to their
souls, and should warn them of it. we
cannot compel their choice. The only |
thing we can do is restrain them from
those things which are most hurtful by |
turning their attention to the least harm
full pleasures that they can be induced |
to accept.
This is why we do not join with Bro.
Petition in his efforts to drive theatrical
from our midst. We
simply suggest that if our esteemed Can
wants to fight evil, let him
search the city over diligently and see
if there is not something worse than the
opera house among US.
Though we still publish opera house
advertisements in the secular depart
ment of this paper, and do not forbid
worldly people from attending them, it
would be unfaithful in us not to say this
to protesting Christians: If you enjey
attending such entertainments it is an
evidence that you are not
right with God. He does not accept a
dedication of your lives to His service
unless it is full and complete surren-
der. You must give up the pleasures of
his world if you want to enjoy eternity
with the redeemed. This is not fanati-
,ism. You will find it plainly estab-
ished by the teaching of Christ, which