28
Christian Education
moral health? Will my mind become so infatuated as to forget God?
Shall I cease to have his glory before me?
Card-playing should be prohibited. The associations and tenden-
cies are dangerous. The prince of the powers of darkness presides in
the gaming-room and wherever there is card-playing. Evil angels are
familiar guests in these places. There is nothing in such amusements
beneficial to soul or body. There is nothing to strengthen the intellect,
nothing to store it with valuable ideas for future use. The conversation
is upon trivial and degrading subjects. There is heard the unseemly
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jest, the low, vile talk, which lowers and destroys the true dignity of
manhood. These games are the most senseless, useless, unprofitable
and dangerous employments the youth can have. Those who engage
in card-playing become intensely excited, and soon lose all relish for
useful and elevating occupations. Expertness in handling cards will
soon lead to a desire to put this knowledge and tact to some use for
personal benefit. A small sum is staked, and then a larger, until a thirst
for gaming is acquired, which leads to certain ruin. How many has
this pernicious amusement led to every sinful practice, to poverty, to
prison, to murder, and to the gallows! And yet many parents do not
see the terrible gulf of ruin that is yawning for our youth.
Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. In-
stead of being a school of morality and virtue, and is so often claimed,
it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propen-
sities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low
songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagina-
tion, and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such
exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no influence in our
land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious
impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober
realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes
increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink
strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater,
the circus, and every other questionable place of amusement.
There are modes of recreation which are highly beneficial to both
mind and body. An enlightened, discriminating mind will find abun-
dant means for entertainment and diversion, from sources not only
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innocent, but instructive. Recreation in the open air, the contempla-