The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-15
REV. DR., TALMAGE
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE
NOTED DIVINE.
Subject: "Our Social Recreations."

|
make US sport. Judges xvi, 25.
There were 5000 people assembled in the
temple OF Dagon. They had come to make
sport of eyeless Samson. They were all ready
| for the entertainment. They began to clap
and pound, impatient for the amusement to
begin, and they cried, "Fetch him out, fetch
him out!" Yonder see the blind old giant
| coming, led by the hand OF a child into the
| very midst Of the temple. At his first appear
| ance there goes up a shout of laughter and
derision. The blind old giant pretends he is
tired, and wants to rest himself against the
| pillnrs Of the house. So he says to the lad
who leads him, "show me where the main
pillars are!' The lad does 80. Then the
strong man puts his right hand on one pillar,
and his left hand on another pillar, Snd with
the mightiest push that mortal ever made,
throws himself forward until the whole house
comes down In thunderous orasbA grinding
the audience like grapes in winepress.
'And 80 1t came to pass, when their hearts
were merry, that they said, call for Samson,
that he may make us sport. And they called
| made them sport"
In other words, there are amusements that
are destructive, and bring down disaster and
| death upon the heads OF those who practice
them. While they laugh and cheer, they die.
The 5000 who perished that day In GAIA are
as nothing compared to the tens OF thou
sands who have been destroyed by sinful
amusements.
But my first text implies that these Is a
lawful use of the world, as we'll as an unlaw-
full abuse of It, and the difference between
the man Christian and tine man un-Christian
Is that In the former case the man masters
the world, while In the latter case the world
masters him. For whom did God make this
grand and beautiful world? For whom this
wonderful expenditure OF color, this grace
fulness OF line, this mosaic Of the ground,
this fresco of the sky, this glowing fruitage
OF orchard and vineyard, this full orchestra
OF the tempest. in which the tree branches
flute, and the winds trumpet, and the thun-
ders drum. and all the splendor Of earth and
sky come clashing their cymbals2 For whom
did God spring the arched bridge OF colors
resting upon buttresses Of broken storm
cloud? For whom did He gather the uphol-
stery of fire around the window Of the set
ting sun? For oil men, but more especially
for His own dear children.
If you build a large MANSION and spread q
great feast after it to celebrate the compile
tion of the structure, do you allow strangers
to come in and occupy the place, while you
thrust your own children in the kitchen, or
the barn, or the fields? Oh, no! You say,
VI am very glad to see strangers in my man
sion. but my own SONS and daughters shall
have the first right there" Now, God has
built this grand mansion OF world, and he
has spread glorious feast In lit, and while
those who are strangers to His grace may
come In, I think that God especially intends
to give the advantage to His own children
those who are the sons and daughters Of the
Lord Almighty, those who through grace
cannot make me believe that God gives more
advantages to the world than He gives to the
church bought by His own blood. II. there
fore, people OF the world have looked with
dolorous sympathy upon those who make
profession OF religion and have said, "Those
new converts are going down into privation
and into hardship. Why did they not tarry
little longer In the world and have some Of
Its enjoyments and amusements and recrea-
tions?' I say to such men Of the world,
You are greatly mistaken" and before 1
who stay out OF the kingdom of God have
the hardships and self denials, while those
who come IN have the Joys and satisfactions.
In the name Of the King Of heaven and
earth serve writ OF ejectment upon all
the sinful and polluted who have squatted
on the domain Of earthly pleasure as though
1t belonged to them, while claim In behalf
OF the good and the poor and the true, the
eternal Inheritance which God has given
them. Hitherto, Christian philanthropists,
clerical and lay, have busied themselves
chiefly In denouncing sinful recreations, but
feel We have no right to stand before raen
and women IN whose hearts there is desire
for recreation amounting to positive neces-
sity. denouncing this and that and the other
thing, when we do not propose to give them
something better. God helping me and with
reference to my last account, I shall enter
upon sphere not usual In sermonizing, but
a subject which think ought 10 be presented
at this time. I propose now to lay before
you some Of the recreations which are not
only innocent, but positively helpful and ad-
vantageous.
In the first place I commend, among In.
door reureations music-vocal and instru-
mental Among the first things created was
the bird. so that the earth might have music
at the start. This world, which began with
80 sweet q serenade. Is finally to be demol-
lshed amid the ringing blast OF the archan-
gels trumpet, so that as there was music at
the start, there shall be music at the close.
While this heavenly art has often been
dragged into the uses of superstition and
dissipation, we all know 1t may be the means
thing to have our children brought up amid
the sound of cultured voices and amid the
melody Of musical instruments
There Is In this art an indescribable
fascination for the household. Let all those
families who have the means to afford 1t
have flute or harp or piano or organ. As
soon as the hand Is large enough to compass
the keys teach 1t how to pick out the melody.
Let all our young men try this heavenly art
upon their nature. Those who have gone
Into it fully have found in it illimitable
recreation and amusement. Dark days,
stormy nights. seasons OF sickness, busir ess
disasters, will do little toward depressing
the soul which can gallop off over musical
keys or soar in jubilant lay. 1t will cure
pain. 1t will rest fatigue. 1t will quell
passion. 1t will revive health. 1t will re-
claim dissipation. It will strengthen the
immortal soul. In the battle Of Waterloo,
Wellington saw that the Highlanders were
falling back. He said: "What Is the matter
there?' BE was told that the baud of music
had ceased playing, and he called up the
pipers and ordered them to strike up an in
6piriting air, and no sooner did they strike
the air than the Highlanders were rallied
and helped to win the day, Oh, ye who
have been routed in the conflicts OF life, try
by the force Of music to rally your scattered
battalions.
lam glad to know that in our great cities
there Is hardly night in which there are
not concerts, where. with the best musical
instruments and the sweetest voices, people
may find entertainment. Patronize such en-
tertainments when they are afforded you.
Buy season tickets. II you can, for the Phil
harmonic and the Handel and Haydn socie-
ties. Feel that the S1.50 or 81 that you
spond for the purpose Of hearing al artist
play or sing is profitable investm ent. Let
your Academies of Music roar with the ac-
clamation Of appreciative audiences assem-
bled at the concert or the oratorio.
Still further, commend, as worthy OF
their support, the gymnasium. This instltu-
tion is gaining in favor every year, and
know of nothing more frae from dissipation