Read Ebook: Belford's Magazine Vol. II No. 3 February 1889 Dec 1888-May 1889 by Various

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INTRODUCTION.

Subject one of Grave Interest--Rule of Discipline--Charles Wesley and the Ministers--The True Ground--Our Destiny, and on what it Depends--The Sentiment of the Methodist Episcopal Church--How a Minister may seek Recreation--How a Layman--Recommendation, Page 9

RECREATION A GOOD THING.

City full of Boys and Girls, playing--Play not wrong--Let the Children, the Youth, the Mature, and even the Aged have their times of Rest and Recreation--Laughter as pious as Tears--How shall we Play?--The World wants to Play with the Church, and lead us in their Path--Total Separation neither Desirable nor Possible--One or the other must Yield--The Church can not--Conscience Resists--Principles are in the way--The World can Yield and Lose Nothing--The World ought to Yield, 17

TRUE RECREATION.

What is the Aim of Recreation?--RULES THAT GOVERN: 1. Our Recreations must not be Immoral; 2. Not Damaging to Christian Reputation; 3. Must not Interfere with Our Duty; 4. Must not Injure Health; 5. Must not Waste Money; 6. Must not Waste Time; 7. Ought to Improve the Mind and the Heart; 8. Ought to Impart Pleasure, Page 31

THE THEATER.

Said to be a Good Place to Learn History, etc.--Some Plays "as Good as Sermons"--Doubts--Theater always a Haunt of Evil--Must be so or Fail--The Theater that tried to be "Respectable"--Failure, and the Causes of it--Strategy and Calculation--Who must be Pleased, and how--Immodest Costume an Indispensable Attraction--Circular, and Reply of Actress--Birds of Prey--Traps Game for them--The fable of Satan and the Monk--Theater can not be Reformed--Cage of every Unclean Bird--"Come out of her, my people," 47

HORSE-RACING.

Horse a Noble Beast, no doubt--Races prohibited by Civil Law--Revived under new name--Agricultural Fair, and what may be seen thereat--Ludicrous side of things--Twenty gawky Boys with their Colts--Strange Man and Horse--Science--Victory--The Effect on gawky Boys--Reasons against Horse-racing--Expense--Bets--Fraud--Riot-- Villainy of All Sorts--How the thing is done, and the People cheated--Quotation from Thomas Hughes, M.P., Page 63

BASE BALL.

The Ancient and Honorable Way--Latter-day Absurdities--"Great National Game"--Clubs; how formed--Science--Professional Players and their Salaries--Expenses--The Exotics challenge the Cupids--Game described--Victory--Supper--Speeches--Glowing Account in Papers--Pain-killers--Bubble must Burst--Decay--Reasons against the Game as now conducted--Foolish Exhibition--Bets--Cheating--Waste of Money--No Good Result of any sort, 77

DANCING.

"Dances not all alike"--Bad and Worse--"The German"--Mere motion not wrong--The Old Gentleman and his Exercises--Imaginary Scene in "Happy Family"--REASONS AGAINST DANCING: 1. Lacks the Elements of True Recreation; 2. Has a Bad Historic Name; 3. Inconsistent with Piety; 4. Leads to Undesirable Associations--Evil in many ways, Page 89

CARDS, CHESS, AND BILLIARDS.

NOVELS AND NOVEL-READING.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

No List of Recreations Furnished, and Why--One Suggestion, nevertheless--The Indolent have No Claim--The Busy need Recreation--The Sedentary need Air and Sunbeams--The Active want Books--The Solitary require Society--Talk the Universal Recreation--Social Life--Grand "Party"--More Excellent Way suggested--What the Fitzshoddies Think--Mrs. F.'s Disappointment--Mr. F. Doubts--Miss F. Trembles--The Reform Unpopular--The Author Despondent in regard to it, yet Firm in the Faith, Page 153

APPEAL TO THE YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.

Word of Exhortation--REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM ALL QUESTIONABLE DIVERSIONS: 1. Our Church has always Condemned them; 2. Solemn Vows bind us; 3. Offenses disturb our Pastor and our Fellow-Christians; 4. Our Errors injure the Unconverted; 5. Error mars Usefulness; 6. Compromise Positions hard to hold, either in Argument or Practice--Fight on the Right Line, 169

APPEAL TO THE CHURCH.

Lafayette's Witty Illustration of Compromises--Mr. Bright's Description of Fashionable Religion--Compromise bad, even as a Policy--The World despises a Timid Church--Methodism has Prospered--Our Laws strict--Folly to Come Down now--How the Worldly Parson angled for an Accession and caught nothing--What Mr. B. said--The exact Right is the strong Position--Hold it--Let others Hive the Drones--Where other Churches Stand--Testimony of the Presbyterians--The Methodist Episcopal Church South--Young Men's Christian Association--The Roman Catholic Church--The End. Page 189

INTRODUCTION.

The subject of which this book treats--"Popular Amusements"--is one of grave interest to the Church and to society in general. The Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church has always required its members and probationers, as an evidence of religious earnestness, to refrain from "such diversions as can not be used in the name of the Lord Jesus," and also from "singing those songs or reading those books which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God." In the following passages of Holy Scripture, worldly amusements or pleasures are denounced by God: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man." "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasure, that dwellest carelessly." The consequences referred to in this quotation are stated in the following verses of the chapter. Being "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," is classed by Timothy as one of the worst attributes of wicked men. How terrible is this statement: "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth!" Consider, also, this Scripture precept: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." In view of these and like Scripture utterances, how is it possible to believe that exciting, dissipating, worldly amusements are compatible with spiritual life or devotional enjoyment?

The experience of multitudes corresponds with these teachings of the Discipline and the Bible. Take this instance. On one occasion Mr. Charles Wesley was warning the people against so-called "harmless diversions," and declared that by them he had been kept dead to God, asleep in the arms of Satan, and secure in a state of damnation for eighteen years. There were three ministers present besides Mr. Wesley. Mr. Meriton cried out, "And I for twenty-five!" "And I," exclaimed Mr. Thompson, "for thirty-five!" "And I," added Mr. Bennett, "for about seventy!" These cases of Christian ministers suggest how general and how baleful is the influence of these diversions.

This evil, perhaps, is not peculiar to any clime or age. Diversions, indeed, change with the times. The fashionable follies of the last century are now deemed matters of wonder and derision, just as the follies of our day may be laughed at a hundred years hence. But worldliness, fashion, and frivolity are always at work inventing questionable pleasures and ingenious arguments for their defense. Possibly it is unreasonable to expect but one opinion as to what is allowable in the way of recreation. As there are various degrees of knowledge and piety in the Church, and various degrees of conscientiousness among even those who do not profess religion, there will be conflicting opinions on the subject, one condemning what another defends, and each wondering at the scrupulousness or the laxity of his neighbor. On this, as on all other subjects, Christians should judge each other charitably, but by the Scripture standard.

This little volume takes what I believe to be the true ground in regard to the diversions discussed in it--the only ground which is defensible in theory and safe in practice. The Methodist Episcopal Church is strong in numbers, in wealth, and in social position. If we maintain the strict morals and the deep spirituality--and they go together--which have hitherto been our aim, we shall be in the years to come, in the hands of God, an instrumentality of unlimited power for good. If, on the other hand, we become weak in our belief and lax in discipline, the members of the Church fashionable and frivolous, and the ministers doubtful and indefinite in doctrine, and feeble in utterance, we shall lose the position we have held among the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God will raise up another people to take our place and our crown. But we trust in God we shall never, as a Church, be moved from our old foundation in doctrines or in morals. Though worldliness and unbelief may continue to assail her, yet the Church is strong in that power which overcomes the world.

Recently the advocates of popular amusements have been both bold and insidious. They have used the pulpit, the press, and so-called "Christian Associations" to propagate their views. In some cases they recommend what are considered the less objectionable diversions to prevent indulgence in the more objectionable ones--on the principle "of two evils choose the less." But in morals the lesser evil always tends to introduce the greater. The proposition, therefore, is a most mischievous one. To those individuals among us who have been disturbed in their religious convictions on this question, by the deceptive pleas of those who defend or advocate worldly amusements, this book will be found an effective helper. In it Dr. Crane speaks the sentiments of the Methodist Church. We believe the position we have hitherto held on this subject is Scriptural and safe, and that, rigid as the world deems it, our disciplinary rule is wise and needful.

These fashionable diversions are not necessary for the health of the body or mind, but are harmful to both. All the recreation that any pious, sensible person needs is provided in the variety of his duties, and the many and ample sources of rational enjoyment. Does the studious, hardworking minister need recreation? Let him find it in turning from the severe study of theology to biography, or poetry, or rhetoric, or logic? Does he need a still greater change? Let him take up for the time being astronomy, or geology, or history. Does he need physical as well as mental relaxation and change? Certainly he can find them in his pastoral work--in visiting the sick, in instructing childhood, in looking after the general interests of the Church, in walking, or riding, or attending to the interests of his family, or enjoying their society. Surely, here is a vast realm in which he can find rest and recreation both for soul and body, and grow wiser and better all the while. Does the layman of the Church need recreation as a relief from the monotonous and exhausting labors and cares that come upon him daily? Let him find it in gardening, in cultivating flowers, in reading, in music, in Christian nt an envoy to ascertain the truth of the report. The return of this messenger confirmed the statement, and filled the sultan's soul with envy. He knew that he could not purchase the gem, but he determined to stimulate the efforts of his fishers, and for this purpose he caused it to be announced that any slave who should find a pearl more brilliant and larger than that possessed by the Indian monarch should be given his freedom and one hundred thousand pieces of gold.

To Irar, for such was the name by which the northern diver had elected to be known, this proclamation brought no joy. Others of the fishers made desperate exertions to obtain the prize. He brought his daily pearl and went away, basking in the sunlight of his garden, or climbing some rough cliff that he had not scaled before.

When questioned concerning this indifference, he smiled, a scornful and bitter light burning for an instant in his eyes, as he answered:

"Why should I desire to change my life? I have food, a home, clothing; and life can give nothing beyond these. I have no country, no friends. The foray that brought me here swept my people from the face of the earth. My labor is light, my holidays are many. What benefits can freedom give me?"

If the philosophy of his questioner could find no adequate reply to this argument, the passion that slumbered within the slave was not to be so dumb.

He had finished his daily task, and was loitering through a shaded lane just outside of the walls of the city, when he saw approaching the veiled form of a woman. As she came near him, the wind, that kindly agent of man, came blustering down the lane, and before the little brown hands could grasp the filmy white gauze that told of maidenhood, blew it back from the face, and gave Irar a vision that no time nor distance could efface.

He was a strongly-built and handsome fellow, young and brave, just such a man as would please the eyes and heart of a maiden whose love was waiting the call it would so gladly obey; and though a heightened color was hidden by the quickly captured veil, a pleased smile made answer to Irar's look of respectful admiration.

To his salutation, a voice sweet as the nightingale's responded, and then the little form went tripping on, and disappeared through a gateway a short distance from where he stood.

The sunshine of his garden, the conquering of mighty cliffs, ceased to have an attraction for Irar, and his feet seemed drawn to the secluded lane in which this vision had come to him. It was strange how many errands there were calling the little maid along that shaded way; and the wind was ever at hand to give one or more glimpses of the face that was growing sweeter and brighter every day. But while joy was always a portion of these meetings, now and then a dark thought would give its stab; for was he not a slave? And how could he dare to look forward to a time when one so beautiful should be his own?--aye, all and all his own?

He had discovered that were he free he could claim this jewel, for she was a peasant's daughter: and yet how far above him, for she was free.

He had but just left her, having felt the warmth of her breath so near his cheek that it thrilled him like wine, and the clinging clasp of her hand was still tingling in his blood.

"Oh that I could own this pearl!" he cried: and then he shouted aloud in great joyfulness, for the sultan's proclamation flashed up in his mind, recalled by the word he had used.

He would find the sultan a pearl; he would be free--yes, and rich. But his northern blood was cool, and he made sure that his dear one should not suffer should he not succeed at first.

When he met her the next day he said:

"I have come to bid you good-bye for a time."

Her little hand trembled, and her bosom heaved as though a sob were welling up for utterance.

"Only for a time, remember," he went on. "And when I come again it will be to claim a bride."

There was a supreme confidence in his tone, a foreshadowed success that inspired even himself, as he asked:

"Will she be ready for me?"

For answer she nestled in his arms, and no wind was needed to tear the veil aside that his lips might claim love's pledge from hers.

"Shall I have to wait long?" she said.

"No, perhaps a month; but I hope it will be less even than that."

"Oh that Allah would make it less!" she answered.

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