Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-27
WAR ON A CHARITY BALL.
ATLANTA'S METHODIST MINIS
TIERS RISE IN THEIR MIGHT.

The Wife of Prominent Member of
Their Cloth Published as One of the
Patrons of the Enterprise-HOw Cren-
shaw's Nomination was Received-In-
dtanapOlis Wins at Ball-FIames in
Tripods Paint Store.
ATLANTA, March 26.-The society peo-
pie of Atlanta have booked for an early
date the social event of the season, en-
titled "a Charity Ball." a name which
explains the object. Among the members
of the various committees are noticed
scores of church members, and attracting
particular attention is the name of the
wife of prominent minister of this city.
This incident has called forth pub
lie criticism, and the prOpriety is
questioned. To-day the Methodist minis
ters of the city held a meeting for the
purpose of taking active steps to frown
down the event. The action of the con-
ference is shown by the following COM
munication given to the press:
sour attention having been called re-
peatedly within the past few days to a
subject now agitatingrehe public mind in
the city to some extent, we deem it
prudent to make a brief statement. AS
MethOdism is unity as to organization
and policy we have somewhat DELAYED
this paper to have concurrent action in the
matter under consideration by all our
city pastors. While we do not recognize
the right of any to call us into the public
press touching questions of worldly
amusements upon which our book of dis
cipline and our pulpits have always been
so pronounced, yet under the existing
circumstances lest our silence should be
miscOnstrued by those who know us not
we present the following general platform
upon which our church has always stood.
In the pastoral address OF our Bishops
expressed in 1870 and appended to
our book of discipline and ret-
Grated and published by each succeeding
General Conference are these words: 'An
explicit utterance was given by order Of
the last General Conference ia our pastO-
raj address on the subject of worldly
amusement. We now repeat that utter
ance. We abate none of it's teachings,
with respect either to the manifest in
consistency of such indulgences with the
spirit and profession of the gospel or the
peril which they bring to the souls of men.
SOURCES OF TEMPTATION.
"'Their multiplied and insidious forms
are source of perpetual temptation and
damage, and are denounced by the Word
OF God and by that part of our general
rules which forbid the taking of such
diversions as cannot be used in the name
of the Lord jesus
"This denunciation is explicit and COM
prehensiVe. The name of the Lord Jesus
in this connection Is decisive test, and we
are content to leave the issue to its
sovereign arbitrament. Amongst those
Indulgences which cannot stand this
solemn test is the modern dance, both in
its private and public exhibitions, as ut
terly opposed to the genius of Christianity
as taught by us. When persisted in il is
justitiable ground of judicial action by
the church authorities. We need scarcely
add that this deliverance of our chief
pastors embodies not only our views, but
our constant teaching upon this subject.
AS to the charity ball under oontempla.
ton we feel it our duty to
say that as far as our knowledge
extends the names of our members
used in connection Herewith were pub
lshed without their knowledge or con-
sent, and we charitably hope that the
same is true of all, and that none of our
people will take any part therein. We
fear, furthermore, that as mere matter
of business policy the coupling of pub
lie ball with the enterprise designed to be
helped Will prove grave mistake. The
Christian Church in this city, which is
the best and most reliable aid to the insti-
tuition involved, may be alienated in in
terest and the benevolent object Of the Or
ganization frustrated. Very respectfully,
'H. Fl. PARKS, Chairman.
81. L. LOWE.
81. M. WHITE.
''W. +. GLENN.
1T. r. N. ENDALL.
"W. j. SCOTT.
50. NJ. BOwDEN.
''R. j. BIGHAM.
"H. l.. CRUNILEY.
"W. r. FOoTE.
''M. II. DILLARD,
81. Nj. TUMLIN."