Year: 1872

the usage varies with different pastors


under one administration, these things


are permitted, and under the next for.


bidden. and IL is expected that as obo.


dent subjects, the church will conform


to these changing laws. These views


are all foreign to my conception of the


relations OF the minister and his con-


gregation; nor do regard any such
| obedience involved in church member


ship. However much these questions


may ag'tate you, they will trouble me


very little, for you and not the minister


or the church are responsible for Your


conduct But you ask, is II .ar ,lus


TO shelvc the vexed question well


am perfectly willing to express my opiu


ION; l say, do your duty, accept the r..


sponsibIities of life faithfully aud hon


estly, and then take just what meaus Of


recreation you please You say: Dance?
yes. Play Cards? yes. Billiards yes.


There i not particle OF harm reces


sarlly connected with any of them.


Where is the difference between came
OF cards and game of chequers WAY
is croquet harmless and billiards sinful
who shall say that it is wrong to dance
and right TO skate what sense in these
arbitrary lines But you say these
amusomcnts are prosituted, that the 81
loons ans bar rooms are full Of them.
know it, but cannot be resp ponsble for
other meu's abuse of my liberty. Take
music that appeals to the noble,t IN
s'inct Of our nature, music that lifts the
soul into communion with God that
klndles the most sacred and holy emo
tions--every lewd haunt of siu ia our
great cities is full of music But is that
any reason why we should take that or.
gan from this church, or remove the
pianos from our parlors? God says OF
every good gift, separate the evil from
it and appropriate it. If there i, auy
pleasure In game of cards, as child
OF God 1t belongs to me. 10 not ms.
interpret my meaning. If you ask
whether it is right to play billiards,
say certainly but if you ask whether it
is right to 90 to the billiard saloon 20
do it, | want to think about that. aud
think good while before | say 'yesr
too. The whole question is simply one
of use aud abuse. If young people want
to dance, clear out your large room,
send for fiddle and let them enjoy il
till bed time and then 20 home, aud
see no harm in 1t.


l know there are some very good
people who will regard these sentiments
as concession to the world, and gay;
"he would like to stand we'll with Ger.
tain class who want those privileges"
/ tell you my friends, while | stand in
this pulpit the young people shall never
have it to say that [ tailed TO preach
Christ, that / did not mold up to them
the christian life and urge them TO fol
low it, or that | failed TO unfold to them
as best | am able, the sacred truths Of
scripture. If any Of them waste their
lives ana finally go down to ruir, it shall
never be said that ! did not strive
to save them. But will not attempt
TO subject them 10 these arbitrary rules.
nor will | BE- bound by them myself.


Social gatherings and the pleasures
OF amusements are full Of peculiar
temptations 1t requires about rs much
grace TO 90 to IL social entertainment as
to attend prayer meeting, Many
root OF bitterness vegetates under these
influences and bears She worst kind Of
fruit, to avoid all deception and be true
to ourselves. and honest with Others, TO
avoid IN these relations all acts that are
unworthy, aud all feelings that are
base, will be a victory for us that not
many achieve Where 80 many shining
spheres are brought together by mutual
there is danger of fric.iou
and collision. Nowhere are the quail
ties of truthfulness, manliness and self
respect, a kind regard for the feelings
OF others, and caution that we give no
offence, more necessary than in our so
clal intercourse. 70 keep the desire TO
shine and attract in subjection, to cult
vate that true politeness which is the
out-growth of kind heart. to bear no
malice and cherish no i'll will, is TO ex-
tract the sting from pleasure, and the
poison from our Joy.