The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-02
May 2 1902
CHRISTIAN DUTY
And Privilege in the Matter OF Amuse-
ments.

And Privilege in the Matter OF Amuse-
ments.
DR.. Cowgirl of Centenary Methodist
church, preached last Sunday .on the
subject of amusements. The texts
used were: "Rejoice, D young man in
thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth, and walk in
the ways Of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes but know thou
that for all these things, God viii
bring thee into Judgment )" Eccl.
II %; and Col. 3:17, Whatsoever ye
do, in word or in deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus. The first
of these texts recognizes the exuber-
ance of youthful life, and the legiti-
macy of pleasure, put reminds the
young man of his responsibility to
God, 80 that he will be careful to
make his enjoyments innocent. The
second text emphasizes the principle
of loyalty to Jesus Christ, and makes
it clear that no amusements should
be INDUCED, upon which the Savior
benedicUion can not be invoked. This
principle is recognized by the Metho-
dist church, which in the general
rules, to which those entering the
church assent, requires that Those
diversions should be avoided which
cannot be taken in the name of the
Lord Jesus" This is the pledge of the
individual to the church, when he
enters upon profession of faith. AS
every one knows, the original inter-
probation of this rule was very strict,
and those taking it considered them
selves under pledge to refrain from
dancing, card playing, theatre going,
circuses, and some other amusements
But in the course of time the inter
probation and practical observance of
the rule became less strict. until finally
the general conference undertook to
compel a stricter observance of it,
by inserting "a paragraph of instruc-
ofenses, which blacklisted the amuse-
ments just named. Pastors in city
churches generally have found compll-
ance with the requirements of this
paragraph impracticable. Since then
there has been perpetual debate as to
the expediency of having this black
list in the discipline, and every gen.
eral conference for many years has in
one way or another considered the
matter of its removal, and the.judi-
ciary committee of the Iext to the
last General Conference reported that
the paragraph in question was uncon-
stitutional. There is little doubt in
my own mind that the paragraph
would have been expunged before this
but fer the false impression which
such an act might make. 1t would
be said far and wide that the church
had changed its position on the sub
ject of amusements, that it now ap-
proved, or at least had no objections
to such amusements as card playing,
dancing, theatre going. Now the real
position of the church is this. The
amusements under consideration are
not per Sc wicked. They are not ex-
plicit violations of the ten command
ments or of any precept of the sermon
on the mount. They are not to be
classed as immoralities. The disci-
pline of the church puts into one cate
CORY those acts which constitute sim
moral conduct and into another
those acts which constitute ''impru'
dent and unchristian conduct" and
into this second category it puts these
amusements, and further characterize
them as smusements which are of 6
misleading or questionable moral ten
dency." The point is thai. they are o.
questionable moral tendency" This
is due partly to the associations into
which they introduce young people,
partly to the excuses and temptations
to which those who practice them are
exposed. The church believes, OF
perhaps should say, q majority o.
the church people, believe, that TIT
best general rule in regard to thes'
smusements is total abstinence. Blu
there are many people in the Metho
dist church who do not regard them
selves as obligated to total abstiRenc
by their church vows, and maintain
their right to attend the theatre whel
plays of unexceptionable characte
are put upon the boards, their right T.
dance in their homes, moderately an
with unexceptionable society, ant
their right to a family game of cards
1t can not be denied that there is
great difference between a famil
game of cards, where father an
mother and brothers and sisters and
few guests entertain themselves, an
the game of cards played by boys i
some barn loft or saloon compartment
with the accompaniment of beer an
cigarettes and gambling. There is
clear difference in the matter Of mora
tendency between dancing at HON
or in select company at privat
house. and dancing in public ha
where all are admitted who will pa
the price of admission, and especial
the masquerade, where the princip
of social selection is practical
thrown away. And there is diffe
ence between the play at the theat
which dramatizes our noblest liter
ture, and the play that is an exhib
ton of base intrigue and vulgarit
of lust and violence. Ny Observable