The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-14
The PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON eY
pR. " e HARLAN.
subjec, Mora Amusement.

VI MS series OF StlAAohN Oh iIohltAlS
OF Power Tor Plain People" the spe-
cicl subject hcing The Problem 0f
Morally Hcalthfui Amusements," In
February he offered prizes for best re-
plies 10 questions covering the several
problems 10 be discussed he sent n
printed list OF these questions To sew
eral hundred people over the country.
The sermon was based largely on the
replies be received. The text was from
EcClesiastes iii:i There is time 10
laugh and a time 10 weep" Among
other things he said:
A few years ago. when q certain sup
posed ornament - 10 French society
was asked what he did, he replied
MY business is 10 amuse myself. -
the history OF the church is but his
tory Of the struggle between men and
women like this Frenchman, on the
one hand, and, Oh the other hand. those
who have had 40 place for n smile in
their religion. The w0rlG has never
lacked the stole and tie sensualist. To
the stole the church has seemed very
lax. TO the ScnSua!ist she has seemed
too strict The church always has
stood aud always will stand against
the purpOseess lives OF both of these
extremes. If 10 the mere pleasure
seeker the church has seemed dogmatic
and damnatory, We must remember
that pleasure has been tyrannical and
bra2en aud absurd. To him who wor-
ships the god of pleasure, even other
wise harmless pleasures become dissi-
patton till the world is full of the in
sipid in heart and the vile in character
and the purpoSelcSs in life. God did
not make the world for mere amuse-
mcnt. neither did He design that il
should be run by the mere rollickers.
Yet desire for food and clothes is no
more an indication of the physically
robust and normal man than are the
demands for laughter and amusement
indices Of the normal. mental and spir-
itual man. Tie question is not, there
fore, one of amuscments, but what
kind and how much.
No doubt that the church has often
been too closely allied with the stole
in exercising damnatory power respect
ing all forms of amuscments. But be-
fore We censurc too severely let us take
into account the conditions of her early
history. The church began her mighty
march of conquest in cities where all
sorts Of leWd and obscene amuscments
were the Tule-Romc. Corinth, Ephe-
sus, etc. In these cities the god of
pleasure held such high carnival that
Industry was throttled and domestic
life was weakened Rome's great am
2hithCatrc, seating 3SJ,00 people, could
easily be filed with the morbid crowd
that measured the worth Of the amuso-
ments by the fury of the entertain
ment and by the number OF men and
horses slain merely for their amusc-
mcut. The Emperor Traian gave q
three months show in which 10000
men and II 600 beasts were slain TO
amuSc the very best people of Rome.
Men would appear Oh the stage dressed
gorge oUsly, when suddenly flames
would burst forth all over their bodies
and they would die writing in agony
of flames 10 the delight of the god OF
pleasure. often Christians were forced
spectators and often unwilling particl-
pants in these brutalities Food and
fun was the hilarious cry Of these
amusement loving people that haunted
with its awful hiss the ears OF the
dying gladiators. The popularity Of
the ruler was measured by his willing
ness and ability 10 satisfy this cry for
food and fun An unwilling wit
ness TO these debaucheries in the name
OF amusement, can we wonder that
coming from such birthplace the
church has at times been extreme?
GiDbon tells us that in the days Of
ROmCS worst famines she dismissed
her senators and patrons of art, but To
satisfy her god of pleasure she kept
her vile yestal virgins and her COCO
dancers and singers of the lcwd sort
10 amuSC her as she staggered down to
death or lay in the last cOnvulSions of
her dying hour. He will not criticise
too harshly the church who has come
with her down her Historic way and
has witnessed her death struggle with
the professional dispensers of amuSe-
mCnt. who. - vile in purpose as the
VPStal virgins and who for financial
gain viii pandeT 10 the selfish and
sensual moods Of men TIL they leave
those who otherwise would be noble
men aud women, mere dcYelicts on
lifc's scl 10 the menace of the innocent
voyagers
Even to-day under the spe!, OF this
pleasure good men will pay m uncom-
planning tribute 20 her and DO not
hesitate 10 keep an open account with
oua amusements about dance halls and
theatres, while AZ tho samo time they
will become exceedingly poor and saw
ing IL approached for charity or philan-
thropy or justice. The mere vagabond
on the streets with his hand organ and
monkey. Of the grew some and discord-
ant curb stone band" take in the rev
cnuc that belongs 20 laundryman or
grocer. rs though these nountebank
dispensers of amusement were more
deserving than they.
Seeing how Rome amused herself 10
death and how Spain amused herself
with her bull fights ont OF one OF the
first rank powers into the imbeciie
skeleton she now represents. no won
der our Puritan fathers wcrc fearful
Of this pleasure god. lie is blind who
sees TO incOuSiStcucc iu the Puritan
ical bans Oh all forms Of amusement
till man must bC or at least appear
miserable before he can be happy But
he to-day is worse than blind who
does not sec. and especially in city life.
that the god Of pleasure has become
daringly despOtc and that she 'yrau-
nically inyadcs every shrine OF her
devotees, and that no day Is too sacred
for Eer ribai1ly and coarse Jest BY
nandcring 20 the ruinous passion that
would rathc, laugh than 20 think she
would leave our fair land tcn1ntlcss Of
the serious and the wise and fll IL
with q race of griuBing pigmies Any
amusement that hiudgrs me from doing
my duty in my business during the
week or makes no careless Of my du-
ties in the house of God or that would
lrnLn enIIlre fInnghfa q hnrn is fn 10