The Monroe journal., 1922-02-07
DIR. BURRELL breaches
ON SHADY ADJUSTMENTS
Says That an Enlightened Conscience
Should Be the Guide for One
to FLEW on the Question

In his Sunday evening sermon DR..
w. r. Burrell, pastor of the First
Baptist church, preached on the sub
ject of questionable amusements. His
discourse has been much commended
as fair and sensible presentation of
a most difficult subject. He largely
left it to the conscience and good
sense of each individual.
The minister referred to the conse-
Grafton of Aaron and his sons to the
priesthood, and declared that, accord
ing to the New Testament, all be-
levers in Christ are consecrated
through his blood.
In the conservation OF priests, the
minister explained that the blood was
placed on the big toe of the right
foot, the thumb Of the right hand
and the tip of the right ear, signify
ing that the right side is where the
major powers lie and that the right
foot should be used to carry the body
in the service OF God and humanity,
the hand TO perform deeds of sacri-
flee and mercy and that the faculties
of the mind should be consecrated to
service.
Then, If believers are also conse-
Grated with the blood of Christ, DR..
Burrell took the position that they,
too, should be set apart to special
service and worship. This being the
case, the question arises, he said, as
TO how far a christian can afford to
surrender the services of the foot,
the hand and the senses to question
able amusements. He used the mod
ern dance, the card table and pro-
miscuous theatre going as examples,
but explained that these were only
intended to serve as examples, since
there are hundred other things that
We do that are just as wrong. He also
explained we are social beings and
must have wholesome recreation
that we have a right to the pursuit
of happiness.b in view of the fact
that christianity n particular and
life in general offers countless ways
in which one can be extremely happy
without engaging in questionable
amusements, believes that we ought
10 follow our conscience and engage
in nothing about which we have a
doubt as TO its being right.
He also suggested that If doubt
exists in our mind as to whether we
should do a thing We should give our
Maker the benefit of the doubt, in
asmuch as the Scriptures emphati-
cally teach that Whatsoever is not
of faith meaning OF a clear con-
science-'is sim He called atten-
tion to the fact that anything about
which we have q doubt is question
able and should be left undone. He
believes that even if the conscience
should be enlightened and mistaken
certain things are sin anyway.
The speaker gave instance as to
how consciences may differ in peo-
pie and al different ages in the
worlds history. He cited an instance
in particular of church in New
Jersey that he once served as pas
tor, upon whose account books there
is to be found an item of certain
amount of money that was expend-
ed in 1887 for the purchase of toddy
and snuff for the pastor and deacons
in business meetings. which could be
done with perfect propriety at that
time but certainly not in this age.
In speaking of questionable amuse-
ments. the speaker also referred to
Paul's statement that II eating meet
caused his brother to offend he would
eat no more meat while the world
stood, although the eating OF meat
within itself Paul considered no
harm, and warned his hearers to be
careful about doing things that
might cause a weak brother to go
astray.
DR.. Burrell has no objection to
theatre attractions and
pictures, but he stated that
while decent. elevating attractions
take in thousands OF dollars, the re-
ceipts from low, degrading ones run
into the millions and he thinks peo-
pie ought TO be careful as to what
attractions they patronize.
Next Sunday evening DR.. Burrell
will preach from the subject, DUTY
of the Church TO Meet the Needs for
arra ngananfa