Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-06-01
TALMAGE'S SERMON,
ADJUSTMENTS THE SUBJECT ON
LAST SUNDAY.
Let the Young Men Now Arise and PLAY
Before Us'-Second Samuel. Chapter
III. Verse 14-sports as q Means to
An End-The Home Life.

OF DIR. Talmage is in accord with all
innocent hilarities, while it repre-
hends amusements that belittle or de-
prave; text, II Samuel ii, a. LET
the young men now arise and play be-
fore u.s.
There are two armies encamped by
the pool of Gibeon. The time hangs
heavily on their hands. One army pro-
poses game of sword fencing. Moth
Ing could be more healthful and inno-
cent Inc other army accepts the chaI-
Ienge- Twelve men against II men,
the sport open. But something went
adversely. Perhaps one of the swords
men got an unlucky clip or in some
way had his ire aroused and that which
opened in sportfulness ended in vio-
lence, each one taking his contestant
by the hair and with the sword thrust
Ing him in the side, so that that which
opened in innocent fun ended in the
massacre of all the "a sportsmen Was
there ever better Illustration of what
was true then and is true now-that
that which is innocent may be made
destructive?
What OF worldly nature is more
important and strengthening and in
has counted more victims? 1 have no
sympathy with a straightjacket relig-
1on- This is a very bright world to
me, and I propose TO do all I can tn
make it bright for others never could
keep step to a dead march A book
years ago issued says that a Christian
man has a right to some amusements
For instance, if he comes home at night
weary from his work and, feeling the
need of recreation, puts on his slippers
and goes into his garret and walks
lively round the floor several times
there can be no harm in it. 1 believe
the church of God made a great mis-
take IN trying to suppress the sport
1ulness of youth and drive out from
men their love of amusement. If God
ever implanted anything in us, he i'm
planted this desire. But instead of pro-
Vldlng this demand of our nature the
cnurch of God has for the main part
ignored It, AS in riot the mayor
plants battery at the end of the
street and has it fired off, so that every
tnlng is cut down that happens to
stand In the range, the good as well
as the bad, SO there are men in the
church who plant their batteries of
condemnation and fire away indiscrim-
lnately. Everything is condemned.
But Paul the apostle commends those
VINO use the world without abusing it.
and In the natural world God has done
everything to please and amuse us.
In poetic figure we sometimes speak
or natural objects as being in pain, but
1t is mere fancy. Poets say the
clouds weep. but they never yet shed a
tear, and that winds sigh, but they
never did have trouble, and that the
storm howls, but it never lost its tenn
per. The world is a rose and the uni
verse a garland
Find Out for Yourselves
project certain principles by which |
you may judge in regard to any amuse- |
ment or recreation, finding out for |
yourself whether it is right or wrong. |
L remark. i'll the first place, that
you can judge of the moral character
OF any amusement by its healthful re-
suit or by its baleful reaction There
are people who seem made up of hard
facts. They are a combination of null
tipncat1on tables and statistics. If you
snow them an exquisite picture they
Will begin to discuss the pigments in
VOWED in the coloring. If you show
them beautiful rose they will submit
II TO botanical analysis. which is only
the post mortem examination of a flow
er They have no rebound in their
nature They never do anything more
-han smile. There are no great tides
or feeling surging up from the deptbs
of their soul in billow after bilIow of
laughter. They seem as
7 nature had built them by contract
and made bungling job out of it. But
blessed be God, there are people in the
world who have bright faces and whose
he is a song, an anthem, a pean of
'1ctory- Even their troubles are like
ne vines that crawl up the side of a
sreat tower on the top of which the |
sunlight sits and the soft airs of sum-
ner hold perpetual carnival They are
ne people you like to have come to
Tour house; they are the people I like
o have come to my house. If Won huts
ouch the hem of their garments Won
re healed.
Now. it is these exhilarant and svn-
'athetic and warm hearted people thar
re most tempted to pernicious amuse-
nents. In proportion as a shin is
witt 1t wants strong helmsman in
'roportion as a horse is CAV ii wants d,
stout driver. and these people of ex- I
Ioerant nature will do well to look ar
ne reaction of all their amusements ,
an amusement sends you home at !
LlEnt nervous, SO that vou canno< 9