In former tunes, when
music was followed with moderation, it was esteemed as a companion, or
as a friend: it afforded relaxation after fatigue, and amusement in
solitary hours. It drew a young person to his home, and hindered him
from following many of the idle diversions of the times. But now, or
since it has been practised with a new object, it produces a different
effect. It leads into company. It leads to trials of skill. It leads to
the making up of festive parties. It leads, for its own gratification,
to the various places of public resort. Now this tendency of leading
into public is considered by the Quakers as a tendency big with the
dissolution of their society. For they have many customs to keep up,
which are quite at variance with those of the world. The former appear
to be steep and difficult as common paths. Those of the world to be
smooth and easy. The natural inclination of youth, more prone to
self-gratification than to self-denial, would prefer to walk in the
latter. And the influence of fashion would point to the same choice. The
liberty too, which is allowed in the one case, seems more agreeable than
the discipline imposed in the other. Hence it has been found, that in
proportion as young Quakers mix with the world, they generally imbibe
its spirit, and weaken themselves as members of their own body.
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