Hilo tribune., 1902-01-17
SOME TABOOED ADJUSTMENTS.
Continued from page 3.)

good and the pure novels. Perhaps \,
the day will come when we will be
as wise in regard to the theater.
What we need to do, not only in
TO amusements, but all
things, is to make sure that our
theories rest on reason and common
sense, and that we make clear and
right distinctions.
Let me put plainly certain cau-
tons in the use of the freedom
which this text gives to every man:
1. In exercising your right to use
amusements be very sure that you
keep them in their right place.
They are for your recreation, to
r~e-plenish your wasted strength, to
refresh your tired, fretted spirit.
Amusements are not the end; they
are to re-create you, so that you can
go back to your work with renewed
energy. Work is the privilege of
every man; that is the main thing.
If you have no work you have no
right 10 amusement, no right to
food, shelter, raiment, no right i'll
this universe. You are a parasite,
an intruder. If you have some
honest work to do you have a right
to Just as much amusement as will
fit you to do your work well, and
no more. When your play inter-
feres with your work it is an evil,
a wrong, no matter what the play
is, whether dancing or dominoes,
cards or croquet.
q. Guard against excess in
amusements. That is the sharp
point of the text: "Use the world,
but not to excess" Be OH your
guard lest your amusements make
excessive drafts on your purse,
your time, your strength. Here is
the great danger in those fascinat-
ing recreations, cards and dancing.
/ have wondered as / have studied
our Hilo social life, if some people
had not made the mistake of re-
garding these as the end of life,
while work was a grudged incident.
Are not some of you wasting your
time and your strength-changing
your recreation into exhaustion?
1t may be possible to dance an hour
or two without i'll effect, but to
dance all night is not recreation, il
is dissipation. At the end of such
a dancing debauch do you feel re-
freshed and invigorated for your
work? Such folly is an outrage
upon your body; it puts a mort
gage OH your strength, which ma
ture will relentlessly foreclose.
3. Bring this matter of indulg
ence in amusements to the bar o
your own conscience. as it RICH
for you to dance, to play cards, t.
go to the theater?" That is a ques
ton no church, no minister, M
friend, no man has a right to de
eide for you, much less to dictate
to you what you shall do. Yol
are free, a son, a daughter of God
You have your own life to live, tn
prize of manhood, womanhocd t,
gain. Are you striving to win
: If you are prepared to abandon III
struggle for mastery, you can do a
you like. But if you mean to win
then you must bring every amuse
ment to the bar of conscience
"Will this help me, or hinder me3'
A pure amusement, rightly used
will help you; abused it will hinie
you. Gods word does not settl
details for us in this thing, or an.
thing. 1t lays down broad prir
ciples, and leaves us free in the aI
plication. The principle whic.
should govern us in every amuse
ment is very plain: docs thi
II help me? Does it increase III
strength of body and soul?" If
i does you are free to use it. doe
it injure me2 Does it weaken IN
physically, mentally, morally?
Yes? Then you cannot as a Chri,
tian, you cannot as a man, affor
to indulge in it.