The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-28
Cards and Thenters.

Our esteemed fellow-citizen, DR.. A. G. Will
kips has communication In the Baptist
Courier wherein he invelghs agaips cards and
theaters. His remarks are on q much higher
level than the average article on the subject
and 1t is far above the average vulgar and
unjust pulpit arraignment of men and wo-
men who are the keepers of their W con-
sciences and who refuse to be ruled by pulpit
ediot. But for all that, we question the pro-
priety or the expediency OF the Doctors re-
marks.
The Doctor concludes his article with these
words. r.
The tendency OF such amusements, like
card.playing, dancing and theatre going, IS to
render one thoughtless and careless about
true Rodliness. A star actress In Chicago has
recently proposed that people go to church
Sunday mornings and to the theatre Sunday
nights, especially the poor who have no other
that the theatre gives. Horrible! Yes, buI
It shows how worldllness grows and what DE.
mands II comes 70 make. See the hangers!
The card player, as a general rule, is not q
regular attendant at prayer meeting, seldom
! II ever you see him there. The prayer meet.
ing Is to him q bore. He Is not helpful in the
Sunday school, with possibly an exception
the devoht petitioner at Gods throne, is moi
the devotee OF the card party.
The player is not able to work for nor give
to The various enterprises that are bringing
and truth. The noble, selfdenying worker
and the card player are nor the same person
The two things are tncongruous. The one j.
engaged In for exciting, worldly pleasure; the
other Is engaged In 10 honor God and 10 grow
Chrisl-like and 10 do good 10 men. Every
man, woman, pnd child should long for the
spirit ane character Of the great Son OF God
especially should every professor OF relig on
terferes with Christian growth and usefull-
ness; he should enter into everything that
will serve true goodness. Adopt this, and
where will the card party be?
The charges above, while made with some
caution, are unjust to both the card. player
and to the on-playing man or woman
whom the Doctor would regard as most de-
won't. He makes one too good and the other
he makes too bad. We assume that the Doc
tor does not speak from experience In the
matter Of card.playing. II not, then he is
an Incompetent witness. and the tendency OF
such testimony from such a source Is TO i'm
pair the writer's influence. The tendence OF
such tirads against the purity of women and
the manliness OF men is to question the
writer's. knowledge OF either and more i'm
portant matter. There can be no question
tQRL LuOb6 WIN pl6J Cdiuo III ~
Just as good as those who do not play,
and 1t is not susceptible Of proof that any
have been Injured. The objection to cards is
not greater than the censure which should
attend the playing Of other games.
- II we are not In error, our good friend and
esteemed brother raised no objection to the
receut tent show by the itlnerant temper
ance lecturer wherein moving pictures were
the chief attraction. II we may have NOV
pg pictures, with the accom- paying lectures,
why not the theatre. There is no more REQ.
aon. or justification, In condemning all the
, aires than there wonld be In condemning all
hooks, Whether condemned or endorsed,
the iustice OF the criticism would depend en-
ttrely upon the purity of the book and the
. Of the theatre.
There are three great powerslby which the
peoole are moved, namely: The theatre, the
press, and the pulpit And until human
nature is changed IL is idle to preach against
either. The thing for all good men 10 do is
N demand q pure pulpit, a pure press. and a
npre theatre. All three OF these forces should
he utilized In bringing glory to the Grert
Head OF the church.
II people play cards, or dance, or too often
a,,end a theatre, the proper thing TO do Is to
onnesl 10 the heart, and TO inspire II with
o~ni,nSess the heart will dictate TO the individu
al the proper course.
some very good men do not attend prayer
meeting or superintend Sunday SCHOOLS. The
fact is, we believe the Wednesday evening
nrsyer meeting is intended for the special
heneftt of the women. They need to get out
.f,be house oftener than once a.week. The
orsver meeting furnishes needed recreation.
Tbsv can't loaf around the hotel Hobbies or