The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
Pleasures the Christian May EMO,

Three weeks ago the sermon preached by
Mr. Gordon ut the evening service was on
the subject, The Pleasures the Christian
Must Forego' synopsis of which was
given In this paper.
On last Sunday evening Mr.. Gordon
preached u 1t quel that sermon on the subject,
"Tbe Pleasures the Christian may Enjoy"
His text was from Phil. a: s. He started out
by saying that everybody needs pleasure.
God endowed man with sense of the beaui-
tul from the fact that He causes tie glorious
tints OF the sunset and has made the beauties
and gra andeur Of nature, the many-colored
rainbow. the pretty flowers and green foliage
OF the trees aud shrubs. God has q humorous
nature, from The fact that He made monkey.
No one could long gaze at a monkey and not
laugh. Man had been called laughing anil
nal. Christ while here in the flesh was not
nipurniul and saG-iaced, but was cheerful and
pIeasant. and more than likely laughed often.
Man should have amusement and pleasure,
hut not II nj pleasure in and at the expense of
others. at cruel sports, at Indecent pictures
or immoral acts. Mau shoul Id not crafty his
desire for Amusement with low pleasures.
The pleasures that the Christian could enjoy
were, first, the reading of good literature.
especially funny books. that were moral and
uplifting, such as MARK Twain" for instance.
People don't read enough, but, instead, talk
the Christian may patroniZe lectures and
musical entertainments, but not variety
shows and other immoral performances, such
as are are generally played by the average
JThVeIluS tDcdIIlCdi I1o was eldQ LDdI
Abbevllle has secured a lyceum bureau tor
the coming winter. An advance agent a
short while ago gave him complimentary
ticket and told.him it was show that preach
ers should 20 to. He replied, mo show
should he given that preacher could not
come to-" Ladies 60 TO the theater and look
ut the Short.skirt, the ballet and the cooche
cooche dances without blush, and would be
dumbfounded TO see the preacher there. La
dies. nor In fact men, should 90 to any show
| that the preacher could not go TO. Man had
| a great love for music. A good choir draws
better at Il church than good preaching.
There should not only be In the church choir
good voices, but the cornet, the violin and
the piano should be used. Some people OBJ
jected because these instruments are used in
reason why they should be Kept out OF the
church choir because the devil had had them
for so long. Good music at home was one OF
the best ways to hold the children contented
around the tireside.
Christians should by no means indulge In
such pleasures as the dance, the average the
nter or the card table Gbbon, a man OF the
world, wrote that indulgence In such things
| led TO destruction. CrOquet, lawn tennis, and
such games, afforded just as mucn or more
pleasure and were perfectly harmless The
pleasure of knowing you were a ch lid OF God,
and having your faith centered upon Jesus
ure this world could give. The DEVILS pleas
ures were simply empty bubbles.
"'Tis religion that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
TITS religion can supply
Solid comfort when we die
w. II. NJ.