Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-07-27
ADJUSTMENTS A GIFT OF GOD.
By Rev. C. g. Wright

ADJUSTMENTS A GIFT OF GOD.
By Rev. c. q. Wright.
Shall he not with him freely give as
all things ?-Romans 8: 81.
The earth is the Lords and the full
ness thereof.-I. Corinthians 20: 81.
All things are yours.-I. Corinthians
3: q.
How shall we amuse ourselves,
sanely and in good conscienceT was
the question before recent meeting OF
young mems social organization in
Philadelphia. This is question of
public morals that must be considered
and settled by the common council Of
the kingdom of God.
Says one editorial paragraph: III you
once make rule that man cannot be
gay and at the same time godly, you
will be more apt to, decrease godliness
than to destroy gayety."
Last Thanksgiving day | heard a
prominent Presbyterian minister say IL
his sermon: Religion that brings mis-
cry is not born of God. Make
the people happier and you will make
them better" And one of the conser-
vative religious papers recently said
LET us never be afraid in innocent
Joy. Ask for the spirit of joy
and that genuine and religious optim-
ism which sees in God Father and
asks no pardon for His benefits
We need heartening up, invigorating
diverting-we need more of Gods out
doors and return to our childhood fol-
n season-to unloose the pent stroke
from our arms. the caper from our
heels, the call from our lungs, and the
song from our hearts.
As to the moral character of sports
and pastimes, it is well to remember
that they have no character of any kind
except that which the individual give:
them. 1t is for every man to decide
whether his amusements shall be limo
cent or otherwise, as he does with his
tongue and hand
Why should Satan be allowed to car
ry off every joyful and useful diver
sion, as the Philistines did the ark OF
God? 1t is for the good people to recap
ture them-tO retake the high places
and pleasant strongholds-tO make q
crusade to reconquer and cleanse and
occupy these God-given gardens of the
life that now Is.
Misuse has created much of the pre-
Iiudice against the expurgated pleasures
They have an acquired reputation
"Vice is perverted virtue" and the
evil use of good things brings many vir
tuous things into disfavor.
How unfortunate that the abuse OF
good gifts from on high should have
been allowed to give them bad name
and place them upon the social and &c
clesastical blacklist. But most unfor
tunate is the selfish intolerance that 50
multiplies forbidden things" as t.
make it next to impossible to enjoy lift
in good conscience.
i The fine humor of the Masters re
buke I'VE strain at gnat and swallow
a camel" still applies to many self-ap
pointed misguided kill-joys who g
about labelling forbidden fruit and pla
carding edicts against everything whicl
they themselves do not enjoy or whicl
gives them occupation.
The young and vigorous want recrea
tion. the old and heavy laden want re
taxation. God gave this relief to both
and his people should rejoice to ALLOW
It to them Nor will they necessarll!
abuse the indulgence. The foolish, whit
also abuse food and raiment, will oft
times persist in the wrong use of pleas
ures. and in pursuing pastimes tina
waste mind and body; but the reason
able can be guided and trusted in al
the healthfrul outdoor and indoor diver
SiOnS