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2 RECRE ERSUS DISSIPATION THIRD OF THE SERIES ON RECREATION, BY DR. J. L. WHITE, BAPTIST TABERNACLE, SUNDAY NIGHT, APRIL 18. Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1. “To everything there is a season.” 1 reason for preaching this series of ser mcns is that multitudes of peop’e are pro foundly interested in recreational life has turned away from the thing that nine-tenths M of his people think about, talk about, and plan for. A preacher ought to be in sympathetic touch with the things that interest his people; and he should be able to wisely counsel them. The day for the recluse, or, the practice of aestheticism in the pulpit is over. John the Baptist lived in a desert apart from the people; Jesus came eating with the people, and living among them, and was interested in all that concerned them. Jesus is a better model than John the Baptist. The parent who fails to appreciate the desire for recreation in his children and properly guide that desire is sadly recreant to his duty. The father and mother should be able to intelligently discuss the various outdoor sports and amusements with their children, and at the proper time and in the proper spirit should engage in and enjoy some of them with the children. It must be admitted that recreation is carried to excess, and to many has become dissipation. There is in it a waste of time, of money, opportunity, arid of physical strength. Any recreation carried to ex cess is dissipation, and is therefore sinful. On the other hand, proper recreation is an antidote for dissipation. Outdoor sports require “clean living and quick thinking.” They give vent to locked up vitality in youth which otherwise is often expended in dissipation. Then, for all there is less tempta tion in outdoor recreation than in indoor amuse ments. The great question is, How far shall we go? When shall we stop? We must adhere to the Bi ble law of temperance and moderation in all things. “All things” means all good things. God gives no permission to tamper with evil. A brilliant editor in another city in this state used to argue that it was just as sinful to eat too much as it was to drink too much; therefore, it was no more sin to drink in moderation than it was to eat in modera tion. And how he did fool lots of people. The fallacy is apparent. Whiskey is not necessary; bread is. Drinking at all is forming a dangerous habit and creating a thirst which is abnormal. I knew a gentleman who boasted of his ability tn drink when he pleased without fear. He died a drunkard at the age of seventy-two. He played with fire and was burned to death. Men can live without drinking at all; they must eat to live. However, it is sin to eat too much. So one may play too much, he may sit up too late; he mav over-tax his strength; squander his money and misuse his time in the pursuit of recreation, and so sin. Some things are clearly circumscribed by the law of God. It seems harmless to make a little image and bow down to and worship it. but in so doing, one breaks the second commandment and becomes an idolater. The great seventh command ment as interpreted by Jesus forbids even the lust ful look, and excludes therefore a’l appearances of evil and contact which would create impure de sires. I lay down a few general principles which I be lieve will appeal to every sensible person. First, our distinction in the matter of recreations must be real and reasonable. Tell a boy that it is all right to play croquet with little round balls, but it is all wrong to play pool with little round balls and he will insist on knowing the reason why; and he is erHHed to know. The pool room is the resort of sports, and there are very few public ones that are not gambling places. The association in the pool room is evil and should be avoided. Croquet is in the open air, on the green grass, free from all contaminating and harmful influences. Tell the boy that he may play dominos with ivory blocks with spots on them, but he must not play cards using pieces of cardboard with spots on them, and he will ask why; and he has a right to know. Card playing is the most noted gambling institution in the world. Cards have a character which is altogether bad. A boy might play cards and nt; cr gamble; then, again, when he knows how to play cards, he has the key to any gambling hell. The temptation is too risky and too severe. There iore, he had better let cards alone. Second. Recreation must be held in its proper place, h lowers on the table are very pretty and attractive, but they cart not take the place of the beefsteak, and the bread and butter. One will ne\ er succeed in life because he is a fine dancer or expert billiard p ayer. The world is not waiting to give its money, its position, or honor to such chaps. There is a time for recreation, but it is not all the time. Wholesome recreations must be subordinat ed to the great objects of life. Recreation is an incidental; work and worth are essential. Third: Recreation must help and not hinder. It must give more than it takes. Recreation is re creation of strength, of energy, of nerve force, of vitality, and of enthusiasm. All day the mind must be fresh and the nerves steady, to keep step with the swift. Those who take up too much time and break up regular and needed sleep, injure them selves. Those who spend too much money on their recreations may damn themselves. I knew a young man in another city who was full of promise and occupied a responsible position in a large firm. He was inclined to be gay, and lit tle by little he let himself loose in wasting time and money, until at last he was suspected of rob bing the still. The detective caught him in the act, and when he discovered that he was caught, he drew a pistol from his pocket and sent a bullet through his brain; crying as he fell, “Tell Mother lam sorry.” The wise young man will take warn ing and escape such a tragic end, but he must guard his pleasures, recreations, and amusements. Fourth: Recreations must never be accepted at another’s loss. The world is getting heartless in its pleasure seeking as well as in its money get ting. Some few weeks ago in the West, a building in the process of erection collapsed and fell. It was announced in the morning papers by the au thority of the contractors that no life was lost. A gentleman passing by viewing the ruins, remark ed to one of the head men, “It is very remarkable that no life was lost. Is that true?” asked he. “Oh, some wops were killed.” “What do you mean by wops?” Oh, hoboes, niggers and Hungarians. A number of those were killed, but they don’t count.” There is much of the cannibal spirit in the mod ern craze for a good time at any cost. It would s eem that there are people who wear silks, collars and cuffs, and eat with a fork instead of a knife, rut are willing to enjoy themselves at the expense of the flesh and blood of their fellows. Virtue and even life are too often of little value when pleasure is involved. There is demanded the loss of aspira tion or fitness for the highest things, and of mod esty by many in order that they may have a good time. «<w harleS R ’ Brown ’ in his University lecture, said, Men who gather in the theaters and hope to see girls come out on the stage dressed—l mean un dressed, in away that means the destruction of t at fine modesty which is a woman’s crown, are cannibals. For the gratification of their own de sires, they have eaten up the modesty of those girls who have not sense enough or strength enough to resist the temptation to sell moral del icacy for so much a week. You would cut of your right hand and do your best with your left, rather than have your wife, daughter, or sweetheart ex pose herself that way. You are a cannibal if for your own gratification you help destroy that fine modesty in woman. Carry the principle all the way through, and right-minded men and women will not find pleasure in the loss or degredation of any life.” The man who finds his pleasure in gambling has lost the high sense of manhood and honor. Who ever gambles on any form of recreation err sporl GOLDEN AGE 4 has debased the sport and degraded himself. The introduction of money into any sport is fatal. Bet ting is the deadly foe of all true sport. The true sportsman is a man who loves sport for sport’s sake. Measured by these principles which I have set down, what must be said of some institutions of amusement and recreation in Atlanta? It is charg ed that Atlanta has public dance halls. I am in formed that licenses in a few instances have been granted for dance academies, where dancing is taught and exhibitions are given. It is evident that these have abused their licenses and some of places have been converted into mere dance halls. The licenses should be forfeited, and they should be closed. There are many pool rooms. Perhaps no more than in other cities of the same size. Pool rooms are hard places to control, and they are al ways of doubtful character. They are the resorts of sports. If there is no gambling on the game, gambling generally goes on as a side issue in such places. No young man who hopes to accomplish anything in this life can afford to visit the pool rooms. As far as I have been able to discover, most of our moving-picture shows are good. However, there is an exception. There is one place in our city which presents nothing, as far as I am able to discover, that could be called decent. It can be said to the credit of our good people that this place is not largely patronized. Very few women are ever seen in it. I don’t see how the managers can afford to run it, but since it is being run and is of such questionable character, it ought to be closed immediately. I believe in a physically clean and beautiful city, but it is infinitely more important that the city be morally clean. Immorality’s stain is scarlet and crimson. What I am saying tonight bears directly upon success or failure in life. Recreation influence multitudes. Through them men and women go up or down. I appeal to those tonight who are too much bent on pleasure. You are wasting vour time and opportunity. If you want to do some thing worth while, arouse yourselves. Poley, a noted Englishman, threw away the first two years of college life in carelessness and noise, One of his own idle set said, “Poley, you are a fool. You are wasting your time and chances. Your way of going is silly and senseless. Why don’t you rouse yourself and do something worthy?” Poley pondered over his way that night, and then and there began that career of development and use fulness which is one of the glories of England and of the Christian church. Others are not only wasting their opportunities ior usefulness, but they are sowing wild oats in their reckless recreations which must bring an abundant crop of evil. “Boys,” said Josh Billings, “If you want a sure crop and a big yield, sow wild oats.” Ruskin said to the students at the Royal Military College at Woolwich, “Remember, youl soldier youths, who are in every way the hope o J our country, that your fitness for all future depends on what you are now. I have no patience with people who talk about the thoughtlessness of youth indulgently. I had infinitely rather hear of the thoughtlessness of old age and the indulgence due to that. What excuse can you find for thought lessness at the very time when every crisis of the future hangs on your decision? A youth thought less when all the happiness of his home depends on the chances or the passions of an hour! A youth thoughtless when the career of all his days depends on the opportunity of a moment! A youth thoughtless when every act is the foundation stone of future conduct, and every imagination the foun dation of life or death? Be thoughtless in after years rather than in youth. However, there is only one place where a man may be nobly thoughtless— his death-bed. No thinking should ever be left to be done there.” From the real and plentiful har v est of a misspent youth every young man should pray to be delivered. He should seek in his pleas- (Continued on page 5.) April