Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-16

contributed to lead the world into
the conditions which characterize the
present century, we find that the drama
stands out boldly and is centre of
interest and power; but not until it is
transformed from the GOODNESS Of the
written page into the warmth and glow
of action by human interpreters does 1t
reach its legitimate fulfillment and
become the most magnetic of arts, the
vivid means of instruction, the most
popular of pleasures" Our truism
applies. The stage is neither wholly
good nor wholly bad. There are an
endless number of plays in modern
times which ring forth a moral lesson
with no uncertain sound. A careful
attention to which will improve the
moral tone Of every man and woman,
including our student. But all plays
are not of this sort; many are de-
signed solely for amusement, for
recreation. Should they for this reason
be condemnedp It is a part Of our
Godg given nature that we should have
amusement and recreation. 1t is one
of the great pressing demands of the
time that the ever busy brain should
be relaxed and refreshed. God creates
us physically, but we must recreate
ourselves or suffer the sure penalties
of a broken physical law. l look upon
recreation not only as privilege, but
as duty. Show me a man who denies
himself all amusement or recreation
and will show you a nonentity, u
cumberer of the ground, burden upon
his friends and an insult to the Creator
in whose image he was made.
Granting tho necessity for recreation and
amusement which surely our student cannot
successfully deny, we are left only TO con
slider the means. AS the natures OF men
differ 30 do their requirements for rccrea.
tion. That many tired brain. troubled
mind and exhausted body have found recre-
alton and rest in the theatre cannot he sue
cessiully controverted. That II is one of the
clear. Our student cannot successfully
MAINTAIN that everyone attends the theatre
for an evil pnrposc, or gains any real harm
from such attendance. Some people are SO
constituted that thoy rather owl iinprea
sions from good thipRs. Every ono who
attends church is not benefited thereby. and
may reap positive injury. A woman In Door
worldly ciIcu instances WI o sits Throughout
II church service wrapped up in envy of her
more fortunate and b, tier re ssed neikhbor,
gains nothing but harm from her church 20.
ing. Our student would not for this reason
stop attending church, lie would very
properly insist that he obtained real bench,
fIom his attendance at church, and that a
good thing should not be stopped because
some one derives harm from n misnpplica.
| ton of IL and It's priyIlepes MANY intelIi,
gent mon have studied the Bible only "a
| become infidels nnd doublers. vet oru
student properly urges Bible study as a ben.
eft TO man.
Our student will say of the above easos
! the parties we've unrsqrucraie. had not the
| grace of God I'm Tn ir hearts. g,antsd. but
we must insist that he apply the same rule
| in Judging those who gain injury from any
| of the unforDid d. en- ssociattons of man, "foi
| thou that judgcst doest the same thing"
| lyon spreading oak was once the scene o
| n brutal murder. that is no reason why We
should not enjoy its shade; nor IL II any rea.
| son why all the oaks In cEristendom abould
| be cut down
Down this beautiful country lano. laden
with buttercups aud daisies, two lover,
strolled day after day for weeks p.rbaps. hui
| he proved untrue and her life was a ruined
and n darken,d one, Is that any reason why
| we should not stroll down that lane and
enjoy its BEAUTIES? Ia IL u sufficient caus,
| for our student to denounce walking IN
| country lanes because to this socinl enjoy
ment 'many girl today In houses of I'm.
fanny can trace her downfallg" lie hn.
attacked our respectable ball rooms for thai
reason and IL is quite AS applicable to one
case "a 20 the other. "For thou that judgest
| doest the same things"
| The Bible contai ms but one reference TO 4
| theater, Gnd that in purely historical sense
| Acts 10 80 and alJ This was an amphitbea-
ter where men and beasts fought Pau
| wrote his first epistle 10 tho UorInthian,
| about the time of this occurrence and refer,
| to the incid mt, clearly declaring IL nm MN
| phitheater. list Cor. lb:82) Theater,
txisted in those times and many of theil
uses were oven more Objectionable than In
inc present uay' yet In all tho enumeration
OF sins ana wees 80 frequently found In the
Bible' the theAter has no part either directly
or by Inference,
30 look where we viii, we can find nc
cause for such denunciation OF the theater
We don't md II In the Bible, we don't find
1t among the laws OF men, nor do we lind Il
In conditions or facts which necessarily
condemn II. On tho contrary we ind 1t Al