Year: 1867




we're recently considered. The reason


we're not found to be conclusive. Th


question now before US is whether, al
things considered, it is not better 70
! Christians to approve these amusements


and to regulate them with care and wis


dom, than to forbid them. Let us keel
it constantly before US that the only ques


ton is question of expediency. Ifthe,
are forbidden, it is not because they ar


immoral, but because it is inezpedisnt t.
permit them, because of the perils whieI
attach to them and the abuses which
grow out of them. And what we are tt
decide is whether it is not more danger
Gus to forbid than to permit them.


We start, then, with the admission
that these past:mes are in themselves in
nocent and excellent. Take, for instance
the game of billiards. This is almost
universally condemned BY Christians
and yet it is ore of the best games thai
has ever been invented. There is Just
enough excitement in it to make it in.
teresting, and not so much,as to tax the
nerves unduly. 1t gives US exercise with.
out violent exertiOn, it trains the mus.
cles to steadiness and precision Of move.
ment, and it develops, to some extent
the mathematical faculties. If we dis.
card it, I know of nothing that can take
its place.


Cards are designed to answer a differ,
ent purpose. They furnish to those who
are worn cut with labor pleasant relax
alton. a clergyman, who is a distin-
guished professor in one of our colleges,
and a man not inclined to looseness in
his opinions, gave his testimony on this
subject not long ago, in my hearing, sub
stantially in these words "There was a
time, said he, "When felt that the best
thing I could possibly do for an hour in
evening was to play whist. I was too
tired after the labors of the day to read
or to study; to listen for reading, or to
sit still and think would not do, for either
involved an intellectual actively which it
was necessary that should avoid. I was
too weak physically to attempt any ath-
letio sport, and it became serious ques-
tion how 1 should spend the time be-
tween supper and early bedtime A
friend in much the same condition of
health, was boarding with me; and we
cast about us for some suitable amuse-
ment. First We tried chess, but that
was too hard work. Then we PLAYED
checkers for few evening; but the pos
sibilities of the game we're soon exhaust
ed, and we concluded that whist was inst
what we wanted. 1t required no mental
application there was just enough ex-
citement in it to keep US wide awake !;
and it permitted a desultOry chat, which
would be far better for US than any con-
versation upon p.ofounder topics. This
tsstimony is7ariously confirmed hyper
sons whose opportunities for observation
have been ample, and whose Christian
character cannot be questioned. There
can be no doubt that among the quiet
fresids recreations this game is one of
the very best.


With regard to dancing, I can do no
better than quote the worGs of DR.. Chan
ming. We may not agree with this en-
inent divine in his theological views, but
no one can doubt the pure and lofty mo-
rally Of his doctrine and his life. "This
exercise" he says, ''is among the most
healthful. The body, as well as the
mind, feels its gladdening influence
No amusement seems more to have
foundation in our nature. X X x
1t is to be desired that dancing should
become too common amongus to be made
the object of special preparation, as in
the ball that members of the same fam
lily should enliven in this way their oc-
casional meetings; that it should fill up
an hour in all the assemblages for re-
Taxation in which the young form
part"


These amusements are good in them
selves but there is danger in permit
ting them, because of their abuses. That
we have conceded. So far as Christians
are concerned, there is no more danger
on the one score than on the other. One
who is only held back from these indul-
gences by threateEings of church disci.
pline might be in peril if these restrio-
tions were withdrawn. Such a person,
however, can hardly be called a Chris
tian. But one whose Christian principle
is strong enough to lead him voluntarily
to deny himself an enjoyment, which he
considers innocent, for the sake of others,
is able to use the enjoyment temperately
and with no danger Of abuse. All the
danger, therefore, is in the cases of those
who are not under Christian principle,
many of whom are young and ineIpe-
rienoed.


That there is danger in laying upon
such persons burdensome restrictions
with regard to things innocent no one
can doubt. The tendency of human ma
ture to throw off such restraints is very
strong. IfChristian parents forbid these
pastimes in their own houses, there is
reason to fear that their children will
seek them elsewhere, perhaps in evil So