Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-04-16

that our life is to be pre- eminentIy
one of service.
In the performance of the duties of
the various occupations and profess
sions there are varied demands for
recreation, arising from the ex-
haustion, WEAKNESS and monotony Of
daily care and toll. The laws Of
adaptation must be recognized. There
must be many who will remember the
story of the negro preacher, who,
when about to take short vacation
after fourteen years Of continuous Ia
Dor, was interviewed by friend who
said, "Brother you must be in great
need of rest and recreation; your
brain must be in a very weary con-
dition' The preacher replied, "No,
brother my brain is all right, am Of
| floating for a crowd who do not re-
quire much brain work, only old
| fashioned exhortation, and it is only
my mouth that is tired" If the brain
is worked SO as to require occasional
recreation, our productions, perhaps,
would have more of brightness and
power in them. Whatever the Occa-
sion for amusement, let it be sought
only as the method Of securing a
stronger, clearer and fuller ma nhood,
that the Master Builder may rear a
more loving, sympathetic, apprecia-
tive, useful character to illustrate to
the world the beauty and worth Of ap-
piled Christianity. / close by quoting
few lines from the popular book en-
titled Thoughts for the Thoughtful"
'sThe same occupation whether it be
work, prayer or amusement, if con-
slant, would make us stupid and
gloomy. You can dig in the dirt IN
til you become brute, pray until the
habit makes you monk, and play IN
til you become mere puppet. Com
bine the three and your work will be
more Truthful, your religion more
cheerful GEO. O. HOWE.
Island Pond
THE PASTORS ATTITUDE TOWARD
ADJUSTMENTS.
A marked change has taken place
in the last half a century, in the atti-
tude Of protesting Christians toward
the question Of amusoments. The re-
treat has been little short of stam-
pede. The change from the print
tive simplicity Of our people to our
present usage, is no less broad and
startling than would be the change
from our present usages to card play
ing and dancing at church sociables
by our grandchildren. The evidence
is positive that Methodists have great
ly weakened in their opposition to
popular amusements. And why?
Have they been proved harmless?
Have they been found help in win
ming souls to Christ? Who stand ready
to show that the change has been at
tended by corresponding advance
of the church in spiritual power? If
mistake not, many who are lanenting
the GOODNESS, Indifference and worldi-
ness of the church to-day, might
find at least q partial reason for it
here. How has this changed senti-
ment come about? VIII the ministry
dare to step forth and say, II have
not Stunned to declare all the coun-
sci Of God; am pure from the blood
Of all menu" Are the teachings and
methods Of the fathers no longer suit
ed to this progressive age? The Rev.
J. w. Hart asks certain questions of
his brethren in the ministry regarding
a line Of amusements common at this
al, <.1x,
to you.
"Can one Of you name man who
in the past was mighty in lifting men
from sin to holiness and God, who
used q popcorn ball for the fulcrum
for his lever? When Christ called the
fishermen from their nets at Galilee,
was it to catch jumping jacks in Jap
anese fish ponds? Did Paul find it
necessary to supplement the power
and glory Of the Gross with a butter
fly social? Were the prayers OF John
Knox feared because they would draw
a larger crowd to a necktie festival at
his church than the queen could rustic
to hers? When the Wesleys, Asbury,
and their coadjutors founded mighty
movement designed to revolutionize
the theology of the world and lead in
Christian thought and activity, did
they build with mush and milk mortar!
Did Jonathan Edwards shake New
England with baked bean bazaar?
Did any Of you ever know a success
full revival to go handin hand with
preparations for making Gods house
house Of merchandise? Is it not
time for the 'scourge OF small cords?''
The preachers attitude should be in