The San Francisco call., 1908-05-17

when ! was a student for this min
istry I was very fond OF the amuse
ment. and one day met a fellow stu
dent and he said he wished we could
have a game OF billiards. We were
then IN Boston and We started out to
find a place where we could play. We
went to a dozen or so and dfd not md
one where liquor was not sold Or the
surroundings were Unobj bjectionabIe.
II do not mean 70 say that there
were no places in Boston where the
conditions were desirable. but we did
not happen to find them. No Christian
could have played in such places. In
recent years, however. some OF the
church clubs have set up billiard and
pool tables in their rooms.
Il DO not care to go into an opinion
on the subject of dancing, but surely ia
must be admitted that young girls
should not be permitted TO go unchap-
eroned TO public dance halls and there
dance with anybody who may happen
TO be there. Yet there are such places.
and many OF them Certainly such
amusements as this cannot be counter
anced by Christians.
sc O3iE men are able 10 have wine
on their tables and TO hold them
selves in such perfect control tSar
they are in no danger whatever OF
yielding to overindu geuce In intoxi-
eating drink. AS a clergyman in the
Methodist church. however. I cOnsider
1t my duty to refrain from drinking
wines because it would be regarded "a
setting bad example
And, by the way. il seems to me
that every Christian should. in tbs
choice OF his diversions and anuse-
ments, consider the question OF ths 81
feet that his acts might have upon
others Card playing in itself II an
innocent enough amusement but tha
young men and women OF the Meth
odist church must consider to what II
Is likely to lead.
May IT not develop a love OF pIav
which is excessive and will eyentuaIIv
lead to racetrack betting and other
Objectionable forms OF gambling Ths
same rule must be applied to the going
TO theaters as to everything else hi
the way Of amusements. 7 would Ieavs
such matters to the individual con
science.
In connection with thu uaa a. tb.
subject I was recently placed IN a SaIsa
light before the community. There Wa
q young woman singing In the chfaaP a.
Calvary church who was also cor
nected with chorus IN oBe 81 ~.
theaters. I was not aware OF ths saot
and knew nothing OF Il until she eanss
10 my house one morning and told me
she had received an synonymous nota
to the effect that owing to the -,
that she sang IN a chorus her presanc.
was not desired In the choir.
told her to pay no attentfa, -
the note and told her that as Tar "A
was concerned she could remain In ths
choir as long as she wished.
She had hardly left my bou.a y.
fore the telephone bell began to rfns-
ana was oesieged with inquiries from
the newspapers concerning her. was
even quoted as saying I did not beliava
th4t q person could be a Christian and
yet remain on the stage. never ax-
pressed such view Had she 49, 4.
relative OF mine would have stronrIy,
@oVlseu her not TO remain in a comic
opera chorus. but as TO taking 90 80
row a view as has been atfribrtsd -
me. would not stand in the wav ~
any one who came to church for the
purpose OF taking part In the ralisior.
exercises. IL. however. the idea upper-
most IN the mind or such psrson
was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rather iran
sincere worship my view would be dir
II think that much IN rra r-...,.
vaudeville performances does nor 90
FORM 20 high ideals. and i 40 moi tbi,l.
young men and women who wish 10
lead Christian lives should SEEK SuSh
entertainments.
The Methodist church is trying 70
~ All that II can to point out that the
S,..'tss,l a.. ,..',ss,i'eh.s are secondary I'm the
Christian life and that they nrst rot
interfere with it's members aftstDt,,-
the highest ideals and. in short. wit5
their making the most of Themselves -
tnose who have followed the sltua-
ton IN the Methodist church baiis~.
mat the opposition to the repeal OF
ssSson 14S Will largely como from ths