The Alaska citizen., 1916-04-03

IS IT WRONG TO ATTEND THs PICTURE SHOW ON SUNC AY?

- IS IT WRONG TO ATTEND THE
 PICTURE SHOW ON SUNDAY?
 The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: : therefore the Son of Man !s Lord also of the Sabbath. Mark 2:27, 2S
 To thoughtful young people these questions oftsn arise: "Is il wrone to dIink if it does not enslave me- "ls it wrong to gamble with trifle IS the stake" ," "Is it wrong to dance, 10 smoke. or to attend the picture show on the sabbath ?'
 All must recognize. at the outset tGe cmancipatng principle ot lndi- yidual responsibility and freedom in dett rminirg ones own ethical standards. The flying motor racer as it speeds along the highway at d 125-mile-an-hour clip would say to the high powered touring car, Why, you seem to be limping along. v The touring car would remark 10 the smaller runabout, You appear to be barely moving at all The runab0ut in conversation to the hand ear. You certainly are stand ing still" Thus always has the individual claimed the right to set lis own standard of speed. And yet his claims may be questioned hy the rate of speed he actually does make. the environ of the high way over which he travels, the presence or the absence of the stern hand of the law, as to his personal liberties Life to many 10 nonen- tary, not eternal, and upon our many-sided experiences and ldeal- isms. and tutelages, and lite's pur- poses and duties, and our concep- ton of the higher laws will rest cur answer to the question, Is it wrong to attend the picture show cn Sunday?'
 The idling native of the Philippine Islands thinks his standard Of life quite good but in his tribe no word could be found for soap or 'vir- tue" If the higher ideas of clean illness and purity were current with him he would doubtless change his type of morals. Some VII say, When lived in the country l hated 3 game of chance but now in the city see no harm in it." ''l was wont in the early days to attend church with clock-like precision but now I do not go to church at all, but do attend the Sunday picture show regularly Has nothing been lost from such life? Have ideals that were the best now become bruised reeds A negro mammy came to serve in an eastern home, From the quiet southern plantation she had brought the customs Of her sincere cult Upon returning from the home of new found
 
 fused to find her using the day for sewing. Later upon returning with the same friend from the Holy Communion she was heard 10 have said II went 10 the movies today and had my picture taken also It is quite fair 10 ak why this change after a few weeks in the city? Does the city, with it's sla- nor and glitter. change the standard eye? Does it lure and lower and loosen the ideals purchased through a lisn of the highest morals anG standards of conduct and thought?
 When Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath he broke those band" that tied the hands Of mercy and necessity and set them free to help the OK out of the pit, and heal the hurt of His people, but t kept that day from carrying with it the idea of license when He also said, Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath" Jesus here reserved the right to give the juds- ment and standard of the conduct of men upon the Sabbath. After every question is put, "ls il wrong?" "Is it wrong?" The answer can never lie without the pale Of the right of sovereignty of the Son of God over every pleasure and over every question Of Sabbath keeping One has said, If you fail to keep sin out of all your pleasure, God will not fail to take all pleasure out of your sin" In answering this question, "Is it wrong to attend the picture show on Sunday" desire to offer these aids: First God has rights on the Sabbath ques, tion Second society has rights in the matter Third. self efficiency has a claim to be considered.
 We have not advanced beyond the fundamental demands of the Ten Commandments. In them we see con- stantly and definitely the authority of God, and a strong protest against the violation of these rights by any man. If any man has broken one