HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe New Era, 1884-03-21, Page 6$1.00 will, secure the CI.I=NTOIST I rEW ERA- to the end of the Year. wry t.
OU:iri;, LETTER BOX.
The New lie* does not sold itself responsible for
ideas expressed under this heading.
SKATING RINKS, CARNIVAI S, &O,
To the Editor of the Clanton New Era.
" violent censures, without dignity or moderation,
seldom attain au end."—]Macauley.
Before I plunge into the subject under die.
cession you will allow me please to pay my
respects to Rev. Jae. Gray. I thank him,
with a large number of others, for a candid
and full statement of his views, which no
doubt are the views of soa.e others,
upon the matters under discussion. Whether
we agree with, a man or not we should accord
to him any mede of praise to whioh he is en-
titled for honest, straightforward, couacien-
ions testimony, for the side which he thinks
right. I am sorry that my style and spirit
do not suit the reverend gentleman, and that
he should consider it not worthy of recom-
mendation "as a very exalted sample of the
beauty of cbristiauity," My letter was only
the outcome of an honest conviction thatsnoh
a communication as "Clinton's" misrepresent-
ed christianity, and would, unnoticed,result
in harm. For the style of my letter no per.
feotion was claimed, it was not sized and ad-
justed by the same rules of composition so
well known and used by Mr. Gray, but, in
spite of his insinuation, it was at all events
sent forth in a humble and christian spirit
with a hope of good. Mr. Gray belongs to a
somewhat large section of the ohristian minis-
try, who, whilst thoroughlyshonest and eon-
scientions, and terribly in earnest about the
welfare of others. are so opinionative, fearful
of innovat'ons, and jealous of the pet theories 1
of 30 years' ministrations, that they will not
tolerate an attempt to open up new avenues
that may lead to useft.lness and good. With.
them the discussion of a doubt, on the ex
p reEsion of a view not in accord with theirs,
is heresy. The favorable mention of a pas.'
time, which your conscience allows you with
perfect impunity to indulge in, is, to them, the;
sign of retrogression and impiety.
Mr. Gray reminds me of certain facts which
every writer should have before hie eyes.—
The rules be lays down as proper for me, I
presume he will b,1 willing to be judged by.
1f so, what do we find? He reminds me that
"calliug bad names is not the best method of
eonvinciug reasonable people that you are
tight." and yet :u•cuses me of cowardice and
an unchristian spirit, and further on he applies
to skaters generally sumo terms which certain-
ly looks like ceiling names. He reminds me
that "humiutyis one of the essential graces of
Christian character," and yet arrogates to
himself, ;tt the commencement of his letter,
the right to assume his sentiments as corning
from—not ,c christian standpoint —hut the
christian standpoint, broadly hinting that any
other views could not be christian. . He re-
minds me that "misrepresentation of the
views of others is not the best method of dis-
cussing an important question," and 1 appeal
to you, sirs, if ho does not try to make me,
mote especially in his closing paragraphs, the
upholder of ' • masked carnivals and- races,"
when no solitary word of commendation or
support of such can be found in my letter.
Your intelligent readers will be able to male
'he application. I do not think my letter can
be fairly open to these charges, and Mr•.Gray
has brought them forward without proof.
You will pardon me, Mr. Editor; if before
proceeding, I also ask Mr. Gray when the
signing of a letter anonymously became cow-
ardice? Unworthy me is at all events iu good
eomprny, and there have in days gone by
been some magnificent cowards. J uaius wrote
on public mei; Jeffery on litteraleurs, Addison
on almost every thing, Macauley. on historic-
subjects, Beecher on slavery, and a Bost of
lesser and yet brilliant lights on the other
questions, all ander assumed names. I do
not p.ace myself amongst them, but may I
not at least imitate them. The prompt and
wo]l deserved rebuke given to Sir \1-illiam
Draper, by Junius, in his letter dated Feb-
ruary 7th 1769,(Letter III Woodfall's edition)
when he was accused of eowardica, would
aptly apply here,bnt 1 spare you its insertion.
Your inquisitive readers can easi y 10. it.
There are those who, perchance, through cow-
ardice, refuse to take the responsibility of
their convictions and expressions, and so use
a teens ,lr. plume, but there are others who are
satisfied to de without the notoriety or creditn
that ,ay belong to a signed letter, that the
public should judge of the merit of their
opinions without reference to the writer.
Coni,! there not, I venture to ask, be just as
much a spirit of cowardice exhibited, in back-
ing up certain sentiments with the prestige of
a position, and using weapons which the very
sacredness of that position will not allow t3
be used back, as in signing a letter anony-
mously? •
because of the fewWho male fun all who go
to church with them are guilty of sacrilege,
neither has he the, right Io say that those who.
attend the. rink are• "swearer* wyth 'the
swearer" because some few nee prolate tan•
gunge. Mr.' Gray asks us 'to name'thdse'
who among skating ohristians attend the rink,
&o., to do others good: It could be readily
done, but none know better than be that such
mention would lie hfghly'improper, hie an.
Berta that the swearer, libertine, drunkard
and gambler are there, and that their presence
is an open. secret. „Will Mr,^ (3r747give us
their names ? 1$ wonlil be as fair in one lease
as the other, He is not willing to accept
the words of-another•7inproof of the first at-
sertion, but though be• never attended the
rink, he is ever so willing to take elle words of
another in the latter,
In regard to the good, wholesome acid well.
meant advice tendered;by Mr. Gray, abot;t
wasted time, the formation of irregular habits,
undesirable associations, &c, it fs not for me
to say anything. Such. advice is at all times
needed, and applies to many more places
than the rink. But Mr. Editor, it is unfair
to try to make it tippear that the rink is re•
a onsible for these things. • It is• the abnso
of the good; thing, not the use of it. In a
pretended•presentation-of facts no man has a
right to exaggerate, and yet look ut what Mr.
Gray asserts. He says the rink induces the
keeping of late hours, whereas it is closed
every night at 10 o'clock; a good. deal earlier
than some gatherings against which no word
is heard. He says that skaters support by
their means an institution which gives them
(meaning the swearer, libertine, thio.,) an op-
portunity for carrying out their. evil practices,
when every 'one knows that that is a gross
libel, for the rink gives no. one encouragement
to swear, no one. the means to drink, and
whilst no doubt some have betted, the rink
was in no way responsible for the act. Mr.!
Gray seeks to have it implied, and this, to me,
seems moth more unjust and uncalled for,
that there is something terribly "impure"
and "suggestive" about the company on the
rink. According to him it altogether un-
fit for 'our ybung people. Against whom are
the insinuations contained in these words and
expressions of his leyelled ? Why,. Sirs,
against the boys and girls attending our
sohools, the young men and young . women
earning their living daily by honest labor, the
sons and daughtera of our church members,
and the very young people who in their own
places make rip the company at our social
gatherings. These are' they who attend the
rink, and Mr. Gray can.. .verify my statement
by obtaining a list of ticket -holders. There
may be some, as in every gathering -at church,
at prayer meeting, at public gatherino..=-who
would be objectionable companions, but who
is to set himself up as censor and exclude
them ? Who is obliged to associate with
them on the rink any more than in church ?
When, however, an insinuation, so unmanly
and untrue, is made against a collective body
of our own people, it would be l:o .exhibition -
of meekness to quietlysnbmit telt, but pro-
per and manly to hurl it back with indigna-•
tion. Mr. Gray is working ripen a false foun-
dation, and lie has not availed himself of the
means of learning the correct state of affairs.
Ile cannot object if I apply• his own .rule to
these statements and remind hint "that aa=
sertion is not argument." •
I have been too long already and must close,
though there is much that might be said.
There are things that have been wrong ,about
our skating rink and these will be. corrected.
What has been distasteful to a large number
will not likely be repeated. There is i good
sound public sentiment • abroad which cannot
be disregarded. Theiustitution, however, that
takes our young men away from the tempta-
tions of bar•rnom and billiard saloon is doing
godd. These men will drift together somewhere.'
There is the social instinct that cannot be
erushod-otgt. Is t gi 1
the rink than these places . of evil ? -It
constantly been the charge against the church
that whilst Satan has his agencies at work
everywhere, the nicely cushioned' theatre;
the comfortable billiard. parlor; «oftentimes
the warm cozy bar -room with its rough eon
and joke, she offers no counter attraction in
this line, but keeps her portals closed up, save
perhaps ou a Wednesday night when Cary are
opened often. fur a. dull prayer meeting, in a
Half heated and tltmly•laghte lc 'church, or un-
inviting vestry. An effort to give the young
people a place of enjoyment, to help stay '•1! .
continued accessions to Satan's watch towers,"
is met by some representing this church with
a lot of carping criticisms and peurile'm'gp-
moots, but the church's doors remain closed
as tight as ever. Mr. Gray protetts,'but I re-
iterate, and am strengthened by abundant re-
marks made this past week, ovon"by the little
children at school, that such letters as hrs_ and
'.Clinten'a" give out the false impression that
religion is «gloomy, mofose, misanthropic sort
of a thing. I veuture, too, - still to insist that
the ohristian who can take part in manly,
healthful, innocent sport—nail like W. til.
Howland, Tom Hughes, 1lev. Mr. Rainsford,
and others—afe the ones who can and ,will
most influence other's. They show that religion
does not decrease one's enjoyment,ithat It is
not dreary and without pleasure -but on the
contrary that it gives to manhood Sts true
heroism, to, character its best influence, to life
its truest enjoyments, to labor its highest re-
ward, and to, faithfulness the hope in the
hereafter—Heaven.
Yours, -etc.,
A CHRISTIAN' WHO SICA'r );s.
Nine Physicians Outdone.
Mrs. Helen,Pharviz, No. 331 Daytou
Chicago, Ill., is now in her sixtyoight year,
and states that she has, suffered •with Con-
sumption-for
on
sumption for about ten years, was treated by
nine physicians, all of them pronouncing her:-
case
et =case hopeless. She had given up alt hepes'of
ever recovering. Seven bottles of Drshiing=s
New Discovery for Consumption completely"
cured her. Doubting ones, please drop; her
a postal and satisfy .yourselves. ''Call .at
%'t atte & Co's. drug store and gets free,. trial
bottle. •
J, BTDDLECOMBE,
w l ani CI c�k,M llri
E.
OPPOSITE T111fi tOAAlllKET, C1,INTON
Where
be keepu a besot assortment of
WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWIFLLERY, SILVER-
WARE.
Which we Will sett at reasonablerates.
• Itepairlug of every .description promptly at
tendad to, and all work warranted.
J, BIDDLECOMBE.
Otinton, Nov,1882,.
NEW BUTCHER SHOP
rime; undersigned dostres to thank his nu
JL morons friends in Clinton and vicinity for
their liberal patronage duriug the twelve years
he carried on the butchering business, and
would intimate to, them that he has re-oom-
meueed business in Core's building•, on
lliuron street, where he will be pleased to
moot his old fi lends and as many new onus as
may favor lulu with their patronage.
ROJIT. I� IT4SIMONS.
JOHN ROSS, •
PUMP MAKER
CLINTON, ONT.
The • subscriber has had many years' experi-
ence. and
xperience.and guarantees to give the best of satis-
faction.
PUMPS, TANKS, CISTERNS, ETC.;
Made and put in on short notice. All orders
by mail promptly attended to. Charges rea-
sonable.
• JOHN ROSS. Clinton,
o to COOPER'S
FOR
CIIEAP GROCERIES
Crockery,. Glassware, &c
Oatmeal and Cornmeal always" on hand.
' ALSO
Potty's cel rated English Breakfast Ban!,
Long Clear Baco?i,:.Sugar Cared Ilams,
And No. 1 LARD.
• At prices which cannot be imateu le town.
HIS:60 C. TEA A SPECIALTY
SO LL e1G1:NT'•FOIi. n
Dobbin' l:LlE1(1111`LC SOAP
TEIOMAS 'COOPER, •
. GBI;R'1'STItEET, CLINTON
INESSPIRITS
• 1JIL subse_lon•, desires to return. his sincere
1 thanks to 1115 eustolner's and the pubic generally
for the liber it•patroniigo extended to hint- in the past,
• and by furnishing the best article at the lowostren,u-
ncrative price, he hopes to merit a;cpntiuuanee of the
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importations of,the very Lost brands of:,.
Brandies, Port Wines and Holland` Gin,
Snrrtntt Son. iteurc,SAG PCaa'OSE$ ASI) FAMlI CSE,
"Assertion is not argument," is Mr. Gray's
first reminder, purposely omitted above be.
eausc it belongs properly to the eor're.s-of my
letter. Quite true, but still Air. Gray has
found it convenient only to assert certain
things and thea take them as proved. There
aro undoubtedly many facts or assertions
which require no argument to sifbeta,'htiate,
but are self evident. First of ell let us see
what -ground there is in common between
those who hold these opposite views.
1st. Skating in the abstract approved. It
may, ander certain circumstances, and with
s;
certain limitationbe iunocentand beneficial,
2nd. To.somc—such as those under severe
mental strain—it or some such exercise, is
necessary and helpful,
3rd. A skating rink in the hands of gond
men might be properly conducted, and made
a place where a christian could go with per-
fect freedom,
4th. Under such circiitnstanses, in coo.
rnunication with others, our views might be-
oome enlarged and our usefulness increased.
These are propositions to which every map
ass:t,t I. Tho indictment against "the rink -ns
at present conducted," drawn rip by Mr.
Gray, is cot fainly a black •one. The question
is—is it a. tr,ro 000 ? If it is Mr. Gray is cor-
met in his concics:ons, but if it is not, Mr,
Gray has written without investigation and
upon fl i ie information, though with an
admittedly good intention, and is open to the
ehari;c of misrepresentation, 1 nm one of
those who believe that there have been things
done et the rink that have been wrong. '!'hese
professional races, accompanied with bettiug
andgre.it excitement, are mons. The teele
of ap-'ttl ou skates for simple prizes, however,
amongst the town children, cannot bo any
more wrong than foot races at a Sunday
school picnic for the same object'. These
oarn:. ale, are to my mind, debatable subjects,
and yet what right have I to say that he who
eesumes a dress a hundred years old and Antes
in it eannot bo a ohristian. I would rather
leave the matter to one's own conscience; .As
the ox.Viee Chancellor, lion. 8. 11. Blake, puts
it wh-u hie advice was sought upon the quer.
tion of amusements ---"Enter into no spot
from which you could not pass into your
closet and pray, or from whioh you would
not care to be called into the presence of your
Maker." (Address to yonng men of Cauddlr.)
But who, lir. Editor, has the right to, sit. iu
Judgment upon me, it, with a conseieut;o void
of offence, 1 can enjoy a skate or even a
carnival ? No man is qualified to sot hint -
self up as infallibly right, and tb make it
appear that all who will not believe with him
aro wrong. That day lies posited away for-
ever.
1 nfortunately, there aro rome who go to
the rink who ,lo swear, ,just the same as there
are some ,who go to church to make sport, g
Mr. (:ray would not like to have it said that TUE r EJ1tNETURI': MAX, C'LINTOM
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u,.'auneao:
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