Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-10-18
MRS. GOES PAPER.
What should be the Attitude Of the
Sunday School Toward Social

Amusements.
The tyranny of the world is nowhere more
apparent or imperious than in the amuse-
ments of people. Courage of high and
lofty sort is required to cast off the bondage
to regnant social customs. Many a pro-
fessed Christian does practically dethrone
consc ence and enthrone worldliness in bow
ing to the mandate of society. He would
not bow to the idol if left to himself; he
yields because the crowd ia against him.
We do object to the world of fashion and
pleasure thus forcing its way into the fold
of CHRIST to compel by its DEGREES the child
of God to bow at the shrine of pleasure in
stead of at the throne of the Most High.
Christians are set to transform society in
stead of being transformed by society. The
worlds bondage mustb broken, conscience
and conviction must not be stranRled
Christ must reign in our pleasures as well
as in our tolls. Between the young life aud
the temptations of an evil world God has set
the Christian home. Can anything be more
pitiful than that this home should open its
doors to temptation, letting the poisonous
atmosphere of unnatural excitement Danish
the sweet serenity that should breathe
| through it.
"There is no harm in cards; they are but
bits of pasteboard covered with significant
spots and pictures. No harm in burglars
jimmy or skeleton key; no harm in metal
die" But persons found with these articles
in their possession are invariably looked up
on with suspicion. The card player is al
ways on the defensive because whether in
! the vilest saloon or in the most respectable
parlor he handles the instruments of the
gaming table. 1t Is card playing, under GER
,ain moral restrictions or ideal conditions.
that many well-meaning people defend and
patronize. But in moral as in physiological
questions tendencies are ascertained by the
study of general effects and not by excep
tional ca es. We must deal with the ordi-
nary not the extraordinary. Take the card
table as an institution. What is its record?
Ex-Chief of Police McOlaughry, of Chicago.
is reported to have said that gambling is the
direct evil in this land, not excepting intem-
perance. There is no otter form of immor-
allty in which as many well-meaning people
are led to participate. Think of the lotter-
| les, raftles and other similar expedients re-
sorted to by societies, lodges and even
] churches as means of raising money. Ar
/ ticIes "sold on chancesl' 1t is he element
of chance in gambling which renders it SO
seductive and dangerous. "But,n says some
console ntious young lady, do YOU think
card playing for mere pastime will do us
! any harmP 1t may not if Sop are capable
of rare discrimination, but how will you feel
/ if in the great day of Eternity, when we are
(, asked to give an account our influence some
man shall say to you, II was introduced tc
games Of c ance in the year 1894 at yonr
house, and | went on from that sport tc
something more exciting, and went on down
! until l lost fny business, and lost my NOR
ais, and lost my soul; and these chains that
you see on my wrists and f. ct are the chains
OF gamester's doom, and am on my WY
to gamblers hell" This being the result
what excuse can be made for the one who
permits his influence or example to put il
jeopardy the immortal soul of one for whom
Christ died. There are many instances
where young men made familiar with cards
in the home under unusually favorable NOR.
| al conditions have developed passion foI
/ gaming which has led to lasting infamy fol
them and unqueDchable sorrow for theil
loved ones. Pleasure and exhileration al
the start, raving brain, shattered nerv.
GUS system. a sacrificed property and de-
stroyed soul at the last.
Remember, all the paths of sin are banked
with flowers at the start, and there are plen.
ty of helpful hands to bring the gay charger
to your door and hold the stirrup while yor
mount, but further on the horse plurges Il
the bit in slough inextricable. Dear youns
Christian choose the safe road. Why seel
flowers off the edge of a precipice when yoI
may walk knee deep amid the full bloom
of the very paradise of God. One reason
young people find the questionable amuse
ments SO hard to shun is not because thei
own inclinations are utterly frivilous or bat
but rather because there is in their hearts
desire for recreation amounting to a posi-
tive necessity. They scarcely know how t,
spend social evening together.
hope the few suggestions offer ma,
prove helpful. | want to make an earnes
appeal for conversation in its best sense
not the inane compliments, frivilous jestin,
and gossip which usually fill the social hour
Conversation in any worthy sense has be
come lost art. In this day of literary club
OF all sorts, home college courses and book
without end-to say nothing Of the concerts
sermons, lectures, etc., to which everyon
has access-it does seem that topics for int
eresting conversation would never be want
ins, but such unfortunately is not usuall
; the case. One college professor, whom W
might name, has for years made it a rule Il
walk through the rooms at reception
speaking to everyone whom he knew, ant
then quietly taking his leave as soon as h
, could do so unobserved, the reason appear
ing to be that he could not easily descend Il
the small talk usually induiged in, and h
, realized that conversation, no matter hoy
: agreeably or elegantly conducted on hi
part, would probably not be acceptable at
fashionable social function. Is not this al
a mistake? Should not sensible people b
able to find enough that is witty or wise, en-
, tertaining or instructive, to enjoy in room
full of congenial people, if they but make al
effort to bring it out? Perhaps they do no