Morris tribune., 1911-06-23

vention =
| Amusements are as much an ele-
ment of character building as are the
ordinary duties and work of life. 1t
is not my purpose to discuss all So
called popular amusements for such a
subject would be sufficient for three
days convention discussion. | shall,
perhaps only touch four of the most
popular amusements of the days and
of these it is only possible that l ex-
press my views and opinions which |
realize at the start will not coincide
with that Of many who are here.
However, l have been asked to write
upon this subject and the views here
in expressed, come from an honest
belief in their truth.
What shall l say of Sunday Base
Ball, the Sunday Outing and the Sun
day Picnic? I put these all in the
same category for the reason that
what applies to one will apply to the
other. In contrast to the old Purl-
tanical, strait-laced Sabbath we find
in the present age the younger genera
tion and even the old indulging at
least now and then in one or more of
the above mentioned. And yet you
will agree that the world is not grow
ing worse. What then shall be said?
| shall answer it thus. Can it be
done to glorify God or to increase in
the Soul feeling of great reverence
and harmony with Gods Universal
Plan? If it does not then it fails as
worthy time for any God loving
man or woman. / am. coming but
slowly to the harmful tendencies but
on questions like these where the in
dividual must decide much for himself
,, it is with difficulty tnat We particu-
larize. Boisterous shouting at Sun
day Ball Game can hardly be said to
be conducive to reverence on the part
of the participating individual. or to
that of the gentleman who lives just
across the way and is strenuously en-
devoring to enjoy prolonged slesta
on hot afternoon. Amusement is
necessary for all healthy minds and
bodies but there is a time and a.
place and a kind. Prevailing Sun
day Amusements vary so with diffe-
rent communities that only the most
cursory discussion is possible. Even
among christians there is great
range of standards, but can we not
get at the foundation principle by
saying that We are to keep in mind
that it is God 5 day on which we are
to bring ourselves into a truer COM
munion with him. All things which
keep US sane in our spiritual as we'll
as wholesome in cur physical lives
can find place on the Sabbath. The
time has passed when Gods out-of-
doors is a closed book on that day.
We know now that there is a moral
as we'll as physical healing in ma
ture. The psalmist understood that
when he said, II will lift up mine
eyes unto the hills from whence cometh
my strength.
We must not bind ourselves to the
danger of intemperance along this
line. Suppose we accustom ourselves
to the days out of doors and later in
dulge in a crowded pleasure trip, a
Sunday picnic or an outing. In what
condition do we find ourselves? The
mind is not soothed but stimulated,
instead of rest for the body there is
over exertion. The spiritual life has
been either positively harmed or for
gotten. In short the excitement of
the crowd has profaned the temple Of
Gods out-of-doors. Many people are
not Incorporate in this matter. Here
is the weary worker who goes for the
days rest, to the country feeling too
tried in body and soul to be benefited
by church service. Has he trans
gressed in his observance of the day u? !
1t is question that l can not an
swer. But light lies in this sugges-
tion. Even if he might be better
equipped in every way for the COM
ing weeks duties, what about his du-
ties to the church. We assume cheer
fully our domestic and civic duties
and yet shirk those demands which
the church makes upon us. We be-
lieve in the maintenance of the
church. We know that a church of
empty pews can accomplish nothing.
So let US do our part to fill the church
on Sunday even if we know that for
US the day could he just as sacredly
kept were We not there. We must
not forget that old question of inf1u-
ence and our duties to one another in
the matter of example.
Dancing is perhaps the most often
discussed of the so-called popular