The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-11-12


church Tuesday from altar TO gallery,
many being attracted by curiosity to
hear what the SPEAKER had to say
against these amusements, for it was
generally conceded that he would de-
nounce them. The curiosity seekers
we've not disappointed
Before starting On his lecture, Mr..
Munhall stated that the expense or
the revival movement in MankatO,
which closes tonight, was about SoOo,
and that $135 had still to be raised.
Severa! subscriptions of sums from 70
down were made by members of the
audience. When the plates were
passed, Mr.. Munhall remarked that il
any of the ladies wanted to put in
their watches, these would be accept
able. Some one in the audience took
him at his word, and put cheap
watch on the plate, which called for
special mention by Mr.. Munhall.
In bis lecture. Mr.. Munha!l quoted
literally from Scripture and applied
the quotations to the support of his
argume Mt. His opening propositions
were that people cannot serve two
masters and that they should not in
dulge in that which is sinful in itself.
He said that nine tenths of the plays
at theatres are indecent and nine
tenths of the actors immoral. The
Bible says, "Whatever you do, do in
the name Of the Lord Jesus and for
the glory of God" If people can play
cards ia the name of the Lord it is all
right, but If not it is sin. When
people start game Of cards, or dane
ing or go to the theatre they do not
open with prayer or give thanks to
God, and therefore these things are
wrong.
Mr.. Muuhall turned his attention
to progressive games of cards and said
that they are a species of gambling,
and cited town in Colorado where
some one secured twenty-siX convic-
tions and broke up the playing Of pro.
gressive games at parties. He said
that those who play these games can
be convicted of gambling. He said
that there is no gambling school like
progressive euchre. He had known
young men who went from progressive
euchre so gambling.
"Be not unequally yoked with the
unbeliever." The speaker made use
of this bible quotation as showing that
a Christian cannot indulge in the
pastimes referred TO with an unbe-
lever or one who is not Christian.
slave no fellowship with the un-
fruitful works of darkness" Mr.. Mum
hall said that his applied to the case.
He said that many have been led to
ruin by the theatre and the dance.
John the Baptist lost his head through
the dance. A person cannot go into
a saloon, dive or bagnio but what he
finds cards there. Cards are associated
with everything that is wicked, de-
graded and sinful. Suicides and muir
ders have resulted over cards.
Mr.. Munhall's second proposition
was thai person shou d not indulge
in anything that is sinful ia It's ten
dency. The tendency Of dancing. card
playing and theatre.going is toward
that which is ill-toward the destruc-
tion of spirituality. A Christian does
not see how near he can get to sin
without SHINING himself. Ii a person
goes to three theatres or three card
parties he loses his appetite for prayer
meeting. Those who go to theatres,
card parties and dancesare SELDOM
ever at prayer meetings and never
contribute more than their presence.
The indulging IN these pastimes leads
to the participants opposing a work
like this revival. The greatest hin.
derance to evangelistic work is not
from the saloon keepers but from card
playing, dancing and theatre-going
people in the churches. These not
only do not go to the meetings but
criticise them. The sons and
daughters of these are the hardest tc
reach and bring to salvation.
The stage is getting dirtier from
year to year, said Mr.. Munhall. Card
playing is getting more and more prev
alent and fashionable, and with il
the gambling spirit. The dance is
getting worse and worse. & started
in with the Virginia reel and from
that went to the cOtillion, and from
that to the polka, and from that tt
the schotti che, and from that to the
waltz, and from that to the German
and from that to the racquette. anc
from that to the devil. The Roman
Catholic church in almost every dio
cess has forbidden the indulgence i[
tho mOdern rOnnd dance on Denalty