The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-04-06

and how much in the art of amusement.
If the desire of people is merely to be
amused and not edited, into what
whirlpool are we drifting? We shall
give the dance fair trial and acquit or
convict it on testimony that both from
without and within the church.
Shall we say it is no worse than some
other things? That is true. There is
gossip, as contemplate thing as ex-
lists, that SHUTS the reputation and
plays havoc with the character of in
nocent persons, smacks its chops and
thinks it has done a splendid thing.
Hypocrisy -despised by an honest per
son and condemned of God-yet mixtur-
ed by many a protesting christian.
Worse if anything than the dance
Slander too, is vile and to be detested
by God and man. but does it follow
that it is right for christians to engage
in popular dances of the modern So
ciety? The question is, of two evils
choose neither. Again 1t is said, if you
take this away, you make religion
gloomy and repulsive, and so young
people Will despise it. There may be,
there is force in this, if the only aim of
life is to be amused, if we are under no
obligations to remember our Creator in
the days of our youth; if 1t is right to
put off all thoughts of God, judgment
and salvation until our joints are too
stiff to dance or death arrests our
course.
But if it is our duty to seek first the
Kingdom Of God; to give diligence to
make our calling and election sure; if it
is wise and christian to cultivate habits
of self denial in the days Of our youth:
if we are required to glorify God in our
bodies and spirits and prepare for
eternal issues through the belief Of the
truth and sanctifcation of the spirit:
then there is no force whatever in such
reasoning.
We are to glorify God in all our &C.
tons and We cannot glorify Him by do
ing what endangers or destroys health.
If carried too far.
We must DO it in our enjoyments,
which must never be in excess. bv rising
above things Of time and the pleasures
Of sense TO contemplate heavenly things.
! have met this plea: some churches
are not so strict as others. are more
genial, more in conformity % the
dictates Of fashionable society. so the
young people may be driven away from
The strict church. Suppose We admit
this 70 be- true. Then what. just this.
the person who loves the dance more
than the Saviour, hash made an entire
surrender to Chris. or His service.
II their love for the dance keeps them
out Of the church. they are as well out,
and II the church mus, give up her
principles at the demands Of worldly
professors she might as well be blott,d
out Of existence. Il is not admission 10
the church that saves souls, but faith
in Christ which produces holiness Of
life without which no man can see the
Lord. ~ she that liyeth in pleasure a
life Of dissipation and luxury is spirit
ually) dead lin sim while she liveth.
The conditions Of the christian life is
denying ourselves, taking up the cross
and following Jesus. a conformity to
the world is violation Of the condi-
tons imposed by Christ
Its a little thing" Then why not
let it 90? II is no where to be found in
the catalogue of christian duty. and is
condemned by the majority Of all
earnest laboring and praying christians.
il brings sorrow TO many hearts; has
bought much trouble to the church and
has caused the ruin Of scores.
Why not then Just give 1t 40 for the
sake Of others and the church. Paul's
principle Of not eating meat if it caused
a weak brother TO offend. is a safe one
to apply here as well as to many other
things.
For the present this is enough, so /
pauea hpra