[Illustration: Title page] Popular Amusements BY REV. J.T. CRANE, D.D., _Of the Newark Conference._ With an Introduction, BY BISHOP E.S. JANES. "_For the Commandment is a Lamp; and the Light is Life; and Reproofs of Instruction are the Way of Life._" PROVERBS VI, 23. [Illustration: decorative] _CINCINNATI_: HITCHCOCK AND WALDEN. _NEW YORK_: CARLTON AND LANAHAN. 1869. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by HITCHCOCK & WALDEN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio. [Illustration: decorative] CONTENTS. 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 CHAPTER I. 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 CHAPTER II. 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 CHAPTER III. 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 CHAPTER IV. HORSE-RACING.