Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-11


essentials go.
Pauls Reason.
But there was still another reason
why I think Paul said, II will eat no
meat" What might have been n non.
essential to Paul in his spiritual life
might have been more than non.
essential to some one else. Therefore
think can hear Paul say TO himself
when this question came up: "Of course
II I give up eating this sacrifcial meat
/ shall have to work harder than I
otherwise would. may have shorter
hours for preaching. I may even have
to work at my tentrnaking trade when
I return home at night. But what OF
itp Again 7 say, what of it? can
AFFORD to 20 to any extreme rather
than put n spiritual stumbling block
in the way Of my fellow men. II meat
make my brother to offend I will eat
no meat as long as the world stand.
eth" And Paul was right. My broth
or, are you ready TO firmly and IN
equivocally refuse to throw any spir-
itual stumbling block in the wav of
your fellow men?
Certain amusements in Themselves
are harmless. hut those smusements
on account Of their evil associations
may be most pernicious to others. and
especially TO our young folks as n
whole. When | was lad nv fnther
hired for mo beautiful western mus-
tang. AS n riding pony he was simply
perfection. He could run like deer
over the toughest roads, and he was as
sure footed rs an Alpine goat. In the
few months had him learned to love
that pony as an Arab does his thor.
oughbred. Re would follow me around
like a dog. and he would carry me like
the wind. I begged my father TO buy
him. He was only a mustang and not
of much value, and the owner was
willing to sell. But my father answer
ed: NO You can have him as long az
you are in the country, but you cannot
have n horse In the city. | know how
you love the beast. Horseback riding
IS one of the most eXhilarating and
healthful exercises. but when n Young
man owns a horse in the city the temp
tations Of the stable and Of the road
taverns are too strong When n Young
man rides a horse in the city he too
often rides into sin" Horseback rid
Ing in itself is no harm. Theater going
for you may he harmless. but what are
the surroundings Of the average thea
ter? If you as Il church elder, If you
as church member Il you as n Sun
day school teacher go to the theater, do
you not see that the example YOU NAV
be setting may encourage some to
go who are not morally and spiritually
as strong as YOU areI 10 you believe
Jesus Christ, II he was upon earth.
would ever be seen in theater?
What would Paul say if YOU asked him
TO go with you to the theaterf | know.
You know. He would answer: Nay.
II this amusement. Ike the sacrificial
meat, cause my brother to offend. |
will abstain as long as the world
How about the card table and the
lance hall? You say they do no per
sonal harm. If you indulge in them,
will your personal example do any ora
else any harm? This Lords day
have made a most earnest plea for ev-
cry man, woman and child TO come to
our next Wednesday night prayer
meeting. You know and | know that |
the most essential meeting of all the |
church life IS the midweck prayer !
meeting. That young man IS going to
De at our midweck prayer meeting |
next Wednesday night. Will you be |
10y your absence? The |
next Thursday morning on his way to .
business he opens the paper and reads |
here Of a big dance or progressive eu-
hire party being given in this city. |
Ihe names of all the guests are print !
ii there. The names Of the prize win
lers are also given. Your name may |
re among the prize winners. You will |
hen he In the same position "a the
nan who wins prize at Monte Carlo
II at some race track. What will he
ay? viii he say, We'll, if the promi-
lent men and women Of this church
tay away from prayer meeting to go
tiic tdutc nan duu ~ tile cara Ia
Ne, must he more regular at the
'rayer meetings, for surely II such n
ondition exists in this church God
nows the church needs my prayers?"
Viii he say that, or will he say, "If
he social leaders of the church can
mt the card table above the prayer
Meeting. surely | may do the same?"
What would Paul do if you asked him
o go to a progressive euchre party or
0 dance hall? l know. You know.
Ie would answer, "If meat make nv
rother to offend, will eat no flesh as
ing as the world standeth." May God
zach us In our amusements not to
brow spiritual stumbling blocks in the
'ay Of our fellow men.
Reason For Sacrifice.
But there Is still another reason why
think Paul refused to eat that meat.
When these narrow Christians came to
i'm In protest, think | can hear Pau,
ly well, who would have imagined !
lot of men and women could ever
AXE such narrow, bigoted view of
, trivial an act? Well, the old prov
rb is surely right which says. 1T takes ,
II kinds of people to make up a
'orld' But must not be too abrupt |
nd severe with these critics. Perhaps t
am just as queer in my ways as they 5
In hot -, |