The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-05-13
THE METHODISTS,
Their Declaration in Regard to Dan.
cling, Theatre Going and the Like.

Especial to STATE CHRONICLE.]
ST. LOUIS, May 9, $780, Some lively
discussions have already taken place,
in reference to the rights of lay mem
bers of the General Conference to ap-
pointment on committees on the Epis-
copacy and Appeals. The FIRST com
mittee considers all matters in connec-
ton with the administration of the
Bishop, and the SECOND appeals to the
General Conference by travelling
preacher from the action an annual
Conference in his case.
2nd, In reference to the following reso-
lutions introduced by the Rev. Thos. J.
Duncan, of the Tenn essee Conference :: y
WHEREAS, The word of God forbids
| conformity to the world; and
WHEREAS, The general rules Of our
church inhibit the same, and the VOWS
Of membership assumed by all coming
into the fold pledge them to its renun-
citation and to obedience to her discipline;
and
WHEREAS, Our bishops in other an
nual addresses from time to time en-
| phasize these facts and the damage to
the spirituality of the church on account
of worldliness; and
| WHEREAS, AS the itinerant preachers
we promise to keep and not to mend our
rules in our ordination VOWS, pledge
ourselves to Danish and drive away all
erroneous and strange doctrines contrary
to the word Of God; and
WHEREAS, We regard theatre-going,
dancing, card-playing and the like as
often INDUCED in by many of our mem
bers as in clear violation of their reli
gious vioys, and the failure of some of
our preachers to notice this violation an
inconsistent with ministerial VOWS;
therefore,
RESOLVED FIRST, That we greatly de-
plole the damage which comes to the
purity and power Of our beloved church
from this state of affairs.
SECOND, That we urge our pastors to
i give all diligence in warning our people
against the danger of worldliness along
the lines indicated, and to execute with
love and fidelity the requirements of the
discipline in such cases.
THIRD, That we regard the impres
sion made on the minds of our young
people be the use of such expressions
as "reformed theatre" Legitimate
drama, and the like, as misleading and
dangerous, and the more SO if they EN-
anale from a preacher Of the gospel, anG
| we heartily condemn the use of these
: expressions by our preachers as hu tfu
to the cause of Christ
After protracted discussion on thes.
resolutions, they were adopted. Whil'
they were adopted as a WHOLE, man,
members of the body expressed dissen
to apparent reflections on pastors in th
fifth preamble, for failure to notice th'
conduct of church members in the mat
{ ters set forth in the resolutions.
, A discu ssion took place this mornin,
t (Friday) on the following resolution, ia
troduced by rev D. G. Kelley, D. D.
Q of Tennessee:
4 RESOLVED, That it is the sense of th
General Conference that lay member
0 are eligible to appointment on all of it
a committees; and the following substitut
!, therefor was presented by Rev. 81 Y
t Philpott, Of Texas: ''That it is th
sense of this DO y that laymen be az
pointed upon all the committees Of thi
conference, except the Committee O
Appeals. The original resolution de
claring that laymen are eligible to az
pointment on committees of the Ger
eral Conference was adopted.
+ A memorial proposing division {
- the North Carolina Conference and tI
n formation of two conferences in th
q State of North Carolina, and looking
n the acquisition of the territory in tt
Virginia Conference in the east and Ho
ston Conference in the west, was pr
sented this morning Friday,) and
daries.
A special committee on Bible Caus
d with Rev. II. T. Hudson, of Clevelar
y county, N. g., Chairman, has been a.
a pointed.
y A special committee on the Sabbat
D. has been appointed. Rev. John.
j. Brooks, D. D. of Shelby,N. C.,is mer
bar of the committee D. W. Balm.