The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-05-14
SERMON ON SHOWS
AND DANCES, ETC.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE


There has been no work of grace 10
speak Of in any church in this city
for more than a year. Some Of the
pastors, perhaps all have devoted
special labor and attention 10 evan
gelism, and openly confess that a
like condition they have never met
before. The most alarming thing
Of it all is that the churches them
selves do not seem 70 see it. Pastors
hearts are aching and they question
how long they can stand TO toll with
worldly, pleasure loving. CARELESS
churches Truth slides off the world
ly church like water from ducks
back. An honest, serious professor
Of religion, when shown the wrong
will thank you for the favor, aud will
try TO be helpful and not harmful TO
the life Of any Just look at Il,
Our officers pull" crap game o. a
gambling joint and punish .he onend
ers, and we pat the officers OF the
back. Now. are these crap shooters
and poker players sinners above all
others that dwell in Ardmora5 Nay,
verify. To play cards,-42 or H.
in the fashionable parlor afternoon o.
evening party for silk hose. lace col
lars, cut glass dishes. silver table
ware. is gambling, always gambling
and nothing but gambling, though
played by church members. The
dusky denizen Of the alley rolls his
big white eyes and grins as the
court hands him his dose The poker
player who knows he is guilty, with
a hang-dog look takes his medicine.
Neither does he expect nor receive
exemption from the law. Before God
and an enlightened conscience, how
much better is the gambling church
woman or man who plays for prizes
in a fashionable party; and under
what consideration of a square deal
for all in a democratic country can
he or she claim exemption from the
law DR.. Williams deliverances were
punctuated with loud "amens' and
hand-clappings all over the mouse,
even backslidden Baptists and dry
Presbyterians joining in the chorus.
Iealins Win the SHOW subject, DR..
Williams said that the most drastic
condemnations of shows were from
the lips of play writers and critics,
and not from ministers or church
workers. To most Christians The
theatre is of such doubtful expediency
that it has been relegated to the cate
CORY Of doubtful amusements Efforts
have been made to elevate the stage
bat il has constantly sought rs own
level and has ever grayitated down
ward He has been unat's t1 learn
of single theatre in this country
that does not constantly allow not
simply trash and rubbish, but open
filth, on its stage. Drgnatic critics
and daily papers teplore the condi- !
ton They use such terms as these:
Trash of the most unadulterated de-
scription," Outrageous indelicacy,'
disgusting" "posi;iyely shocking
"demoralizing." And these things
are said not OF the vaudeville" and |
the ten-cent varieties but Of the
average play. Passion. lust intrigue,
iouble-dealing, coarse epithets, pro-
family ridicule of religion, loud hints, |
suggestive innuendos, are freely scat |
tered from the lips of actors, both
men and women. The only safe |
course is total abstinence for all good |
people
The moving picture show came in
for broad and discriminating dis
cussion The possible good of the |
movie is great, but the summary OF !