Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-01

hold new scenery. That there lis lesiti-
| mate entertainment lis not questioned.
That the art of amusing as now prac-
tlced is deba!Sintg, is beyond dispute
The modern theatre will serve as an
ILLUSTRATION. The stage has become al
most a synonym for gross immortality
The popular plays, such as the "Black
Crook, are an outrage to decency and
virtue.
In view Of these two facts the
church ought to realize that it has a
duty to perform in this matter. Nor
is this duty discharged when the abu-
sers have been condemned. Yet we
have to remember THAT the mission of
The church is ITO save, and not to enter
tain the world. 1t can ill afford to en-
gage IN any enterprise that will cripple
1t IN bringing men to Christ.
In a recent number of the Forum
ma zine we read of a Trilby social.
given By the E,pworth League of the
NJ E. church. at Suffern. N. Y. There.
1t is said the young ladies displayed
their feet behind a curtain lifted to &
height described AIS ''tantaIlzing." Men
in front of the curtain viewed what
was displayed of one female after an
other, and then Did for the privilege of
taking her to supper. Everlasting
shame and disgrace upon the society
ahat tclerateS such a performance
fBut We are not to believe that ali
entertainments are like this. Some in
deed may actually indirectly contribute
to the work of saving souls. For the
sunday school to have its picnic is
proper enough. For the church to have
it's social meetings is right For the
League to have its literary meetings is
comlneniahle. A lecture may be in
struct!ve; musical concert refining:
R lawn party refreshing. Each in its
way, may aid the church in catching
the attention of somebody.
The question that most perpI.4NpS us
Is that concerning the money. The OBJ
Jeet OF these entertainments is confess
edl; to replenieIn the tills of the church
1t may be said that if any wrong is
done by employing these schemes it is
not against God. nor against those Who
patrOnize the IN Entertainments. Those
that ought TO give voluntarily and do
not. are the sufferers. After having
contributed to the Lords cause all that
We are able to pay. if then We would
fain do more it can not be a sin to.us-4
our brains, hands and time and infiu-
ence for gaining the needed funds by
honest and decent method DIS"
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
AT the Second Baptist church Rev
Thomas J. tMackay preached to large
congregation both morning and night.
AT the evening service he took as his
text Genesis II I:-9--"W Where Art Thou?"
He said in part:
Il would to God could write lit on the
before the eyes OF all men, that life Is
battlefield, and that we are CONTEND
ing against forces seen and unseen
There is no such thing as neutral
ground: we are making progress
a ganSt the enemy or We are being de-
feated in battles. Defeat means more
to you than it ever meant to any gen
eral in battle. Its Importance is the
condemnation of your soul, or the sal
Walton of your immortal soul.
So i
and the strength of the army, and we
do Well to do the same. We may di-
vide my text under three heads OF
questicnss First. where art thou in re
lation to temporal uninS>? Second.
where art thou intellectually? Third,
where art thou spiritually?
In the tenn portll aIlalrS OF his S2.GIe
are men who are simply tools in the
hands of Others. They remind me OF
a ship without u rudder, driven about
by every wind of doctrine. They are
waiting a favorable opportunity to move
forward in life, when the fact is they
Should make their own opportunity in
life by using force of character, zeal.
ard what men call push. They remind
me OF the ma n at the pool lying there
years waiting for the
troubling of the waters. Note the fact
that men of mark in this life are men
who had as capital to start in life only
character and push. Joseph Roach, the
great SNIP lilt NEtdl fs>
dollars. He made a set of fire CRATES
for a tug boat, and was glad to get mis-
money to make more. Many of the men
of millions today We're boot blacks of
a few years ago. but they had a purpose
in life. Where did Armour, the head of
the great meat market, come from: de,
too, was a poor boy.
Where art thou? Have You placed
yourself where God can reach and use
you for his glory?
.'W'here art thou intellectually? o,
YOU say ! nave not had the advantage
of an education as some have had.
have taken care of mother Did You
ever think THAT You are in grand COM
pany and shat the brightest men of
She past and of the present. such as
Sturgeon, L ncGln, Garfield, Peter Coop
er. Cwllo used the night lamp IN study,
and from it sprang the Cooper institute
OF New York. where every poor boy
may receive an education) We're Gnen of
little education? Yes, you are in the
company of Jesus.
Where art thou spiritually? Are
YOU hiding among the trees of the gar
den, afraid of your God? Note the fact
that our first parents We're surrounded
with every blessing THE God of all wis
dom could bestow ON them. yet We're
forbidden one tree. Their eyes rested
on it and they sinned First. a lost
world Second, God as a seeker of man.
Where art thou? Do envy the man of
the world the pleasure of sin? No.
Would envy the man taken to the gal
lows with a band of music? No, poor
SOUL no. Where are you! l nope ana
pray you are endeavoring to get under
the cross of crucified Christ and say.
Lord, here am T. t"
Gave the Church 500.
AT the afternoon service Sunday Rev.
Dixon passor Uf the First Baptist