New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-21

| churches are @clearn on the questions OF
drunkenness, a hreling ministry, card-piaying'
the theatre, etc. Reports also are submitted
from the great charities, schools and colleges
which are under the wise economical control OF
this sect. 1t is significant fact that these good
people, who have for nearly two hundred ana
fifty years been the constant, active friends or
the Indian, and who are both experienced and
shrewd as to the best mode of helping him,
have resolved to make no increased outlay and
to take no decisive action in regard to the In
dams at present until. Secretary Tellers policy
shall be defined. 1t is popularity believed that
this sect, with its quaint dress and habits, is
rapidly passing out of existence, and in another
generation or two will be. known only as PIC
turesque tradition. The ground for this sup
position is the fact that very few of the chill
dren OF Friends now retain the garb, language,
or even remain in connection with them. But
the doctrines and spiritual government of this
body of believers are as distinctive as their
coats or grammar, and there is no reason to
suppose that their descendants in undermining
the latter need give up the first. 1t Is not their
speech ncr garb which has made them mes
sengers of the highest Christianity so long, but
their creed. The world will lose pure, strong
force if Quakerism, pure and simple, burns to
gray ashes in it.
The Methodist Church South is holding its
General Conference in Nashville. THIS is con-
vocation which meets only once in four years,
and is therefore an occasion CT supreme interest
to the Southern Methodist, by whom the affairs
of his Church are always made personal mat
ter. The only deiinitye action taken III this
congress so far has been on the old ground Tor
carrying on the war against the theatre, opera,
circus or .pr0mscGous dancing. Horse-races
are not, singularly enough included in tins list
of offences A more important movement has
been strongly indicated in the Conference to-
ward Il reunion with the Northern branch.
Now that slavery, which was the sole cause OF
separation, has disappeared, it is difficult to
understand why this breach continues. Surely
the good Methodist brethren might meet and
discuss the dead law concerning hypothetical
slave which they probably never owned~NltL-
out losing the Christian control of their tenn
perS 1t looks now, however, as if they were
very uncertain of it.
The great General Council Of the Presby-
terrain Church also is in session in Springfield,
Illinois, while the Southern General Assembly
meets in Atlanta, Georgia. The ghost of the
dead slave, exercised everywhere else but in
the churches, remains to separate this brother
hood also. Certain important changes III the
distribution of the church funds which have
been proposed add unusual interest to the dis
cussions of the Northern branch. The ques-
ton of the criminality of dancing, too, is to be
brought out at last boldly and flung in the
arena for decision Cor battle) by an elder
who has been disciplined in some country
church for footing the time away to gayer
music than Sternhold and Hopkins measures.
There will probably be an effort Ivy the older
delegates to stiile the question, wisely leaving
it to settle itself with the minds and consciences
of individual Presbyterians. The days are not
SO far back when bonny COvenanting lads and
lasses in Scotch farmh0uses danced many
winter night away under the eye OF the minis
ter, who not unfrequently played the fiddle for
them himself. Any practice inherently inno-
cent cannot be made crime by an anathema
pronounced against it by priest or prcsbytery
at least The younger members of the Metho-
dist and Presbyterian churches are.beginning to
think So and are determined to force the ques-
ton on the authorities. In the United Presby-
terrain body, which will meet next Wednesday,
the same plOtcSJ Will NC ulduo III tut SupuHS-
SIGN of the question whether instrumental
music shall be used in the churches.
How long is it since Jesus taught the world
that it was not the mere externals the things
that entered into his mouth and ears that de-
filed a man, but the rancOr, the jealousy, the
evil-speaking that came out of his own heart
Surely it is time for these great teachers of
truth to throw aside the WORKOUT petty
sduabblcs concerning the crime in this motion
or that noise and to face the real evils of to-
day with such cure as they can bring.