Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-11-25
SERMON ON ADJUSTMENTS.
Dancing, Cards and the Theatre Among
the phases Of the Subject Which Rev.
q nIscussed-

G. 3. Lawson Discussed.
In "A recent Sunday evening address
Rev G. r. Lawson spoke from Cor, 9Th
chapter. 18th verse: IAN things are law
ful for me, but all things are not eXpe-
dent. All things are lawful for me but
I will not be brought under the power oil
any
At the outset he spoke of the Christian
faith as not consisting of set of rules or
regulations for our conduct on the CON
trary Christianity secured freedom to the
Individual, and the individual conscience
was to be the guide Unless a thing is
inherently wrong | am to be the judge
whether II be wrong for me-
He alluded to the necessity for recre-
alton. as written on all life, animal. veg
etable and even Inorganic, but for men,
he pleaded for more than rest. change
in occupat ton. or amusement, is necessary,
and he advised that the attitude toward
the youth in these matters should be one
of direction rather than repression, lie
insisted also that recreations should al
ways be i'm the line of mnistrants, or
real re-creations.
Leaving out Of account all amusements
which are inherently wrong, he stated
that there was an attendant danger sur
rounding everything of that nature, the
! danger of abuse. 1t Is true that with
| very many. their chief object in life seems
to be the securing of amusement. lie
! spoke of knowing one family who sold
| their cook-stove in order that the whole
| family might go to "A circus.
| He also spoke with great earnestness
| against the person who gives himself sole
| ~ to pleasure seeking, as being "A curse
! to humanity. and as sure to bring ruin
upon himself
| mo drunkard more surely sends himself
| to hell than he who lives simply and sole
ly to amuse himself"
As touching on the danger of excess
IL ,l
quoted as a safe guard Thou shalt love
| they neighbor as myself" Reject that
which does not minister to your uplft
reject that which does not minister to the
uplft of your neghbor.
! OF course. It was to be expected that
the three most popular forms Of amuse-
ment which are most discussed would be
alluded to i'm the sermon, namely: dane
1 ing. card-playing and theatre going.
He spoke OF dancing as being very early
connected with worship and claimed that
II should he kept at the point of sanctty,
/ grace and beauty Its place If at all is
in the home, the guests being received by
the parents and it should be discounte-
| nanced in the hail where whoever pays
the price may come. 1t is not generally a
recreation but dissipation. If a person
had absolutely nothing to do II might he
permissible to dance from l to in the
morning hut for a child In school or a
man who Is here for business IT Is en-
tirely wrong. If dancing Is allowed al
all. it should be attended by eyerey safe
guard.
As to cards. II they have a use. 1t Is
also I'm the home. Any game that de-
Ponds fully upon the elements of chance
is harmful. Christianity is opposed to and
dissipates in its essence the idea OF
chance. He spoke of cards as an amuse-
ment in youth. and a recreation in old
age. but absolutely useless to busy man
and exclaimed; "Oh. the absolute inanity
Of a card party
The theatre-the old criticisms of the
stage are not easily answered. The ap-
peal to the senses is perrorce unreal with
all that is claimed for the highest drama
swallows Don Giovanni. hut the roue
leaves the house with changed purpose u
1t has its claims but not as a school OF
morals. The stage stands and will stand
because IL represents an art and society
never drops an art, but as n rule the les
sons OF the stage are morbid. unreal. and
too often appeal to the lowest senses
There is need OF great discrimina ton
While certain plays and operas are per.
missible for Christians and pure hearted
harmful. In the main their tone Is low
and the atmosphere unhealthy.
The Christian church should swinl
away from the old and seek to provid,
new and better methods Of recreation. tina
and holy ends. Let us seek such forms OF
recreation as will build us up in order
that we may serve Christ better.