Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-20
wHEEIING W. VA TUESDAY OCTOBER

innocent parties, whereby INC
mental obligations Of the relations are
abnegated. This view Of the Institution
makes great ends, moral and. social
more i'm mportant than technical preserva-
tion OF It's naked body, as maniIestiy
they are.
Rev. Bishop C. D. Foss, OF the NJ. Z.
Church, of Philadelphia, said the ur-
gent need of children was play. AS
for athletics the jolller the better IL
thew were harmless. But II the train
ing made nothing but splendid brutes,
church colleges should put them OUT
The Sunday paper was lndlctaDie oe-
fore the bar OF God and the Church
stood with IL.
Thomas Ruddle, 3. A., Head Master
Bible Christian College, Sheboear,
Devon. England, was next speaker
His subject was the attitude OF the
Church towards amusements. lie SAID
in part: "There is nothing in the spirit
of the new testament opposed to mod
crate and rational use OF amusementS.
Whatever NAV be the duty OF the
church towards amusementS, 1t Is oovl.
ously not It's duty 10 be hostile towards
them"
Rev. J. w. Haney, of tho NJ. d.
Church, Illinois, denied that the church
was responsible for the Sunday news
paper. 1t should condemn every
mept, such as the theatre, which habit
uslly caricatured the Church and also
the Sunday newspaper. Mr.. j. d:
Bolmock, Of Manchester, Eng, SAID
that the strange thing was that the
Church had failed to recognize the need
of the people tor amusement: lie
strolled once into the Lyceum Theatre
and found so many preachers there that
he thought for the time he was IN an
ecumenical council. People would go
to the theatre; the theatres were full
while the chapels were half empty,
The church should purify the theatres,
and to do it church members would
have to go there. Cries OF "Oh, no"
and ''You are right"
Rev. Mr.. Hubbard, OF the A. M. e.
Church, feared that the gates were too
widely opened. eve have got in the
dance, and the theatre, and bye and bye
we will get into the circus," said he.
DR.. Waller thought it would be mis-
take 10 prescribe any particular rules
IN govern In the matter Of amusementS.
Theatre-going, card playing and dane
ing should be condemed outright, and
ministers who winked at them failed in
their daty.
The regular programme ended at this
point, and Secretary King announced
that the subcommittee, which had been
charged with the preparation OF the ad-
dress from the Ecumenical Conference
10 the Methodist Churches and Metho-
dists throughout the world, had COM
pleted its work and the report would be
presented by DR.. Chapman, OF England
This gentleman came upon the plat
form aud read the address. The ad-
dress, in. part, says:
By the most inekorable test, Metho-
dism IL proved to be sinrulary adapted
to the reeds of men. Although many
adjustments and developments must un-
doubtedly be made to accomplish fully
our mission. let us beware OF thinking
that any vital changes are necessary.
Faithfully using our presentmeans under
the blessing of God our prosperity
will grow. We rejoice to recognize the
substantial unity which exists among
the various Methodists body; its firm
basis is a common creed. We are all
faithful to the simple scriptural and
generous theology which God, through
the clear Intellect and loving heart Of
John Wesley, restored to his church.
We are proud of the same spiritual an
cestry; we sing the same holy hymns,
our modes OF worship are very similar,
and what is most imp0rtan: OF all, the
type of religious experience is funda-
mentally tne same throughout.
Rejoicing in these things, we think
that the time has come for a close CO.
operation OF the Methodist Churches
both at home and abroad, which shall
nreyent a waste of power and unhal-
lowed rivalry. Before the eyes OF many
passes the delightful vision of a time
when, In each land where it is planted,
Methodism shall become for every use
full purpose one, and the MethodiSm OF
the world shall be a close and powerful
federation of churches for the spread Of
the kinkom of Christ.
There IS so much that the churches
have NOT done to redress the wrongs
and heal the sufferings OF man
kind, that it is hard for many to be-
lieve in their divine mission. The
standing evils OF society 0re aggravated
hy the close pressure In our great
cities, and are discovered to the eyes OF
all In Our daily newspapers. Let US
preach and live the gospel OF Christ in
its integrity. dismissing all narrow con-
ceptiOY of our duty. Let us trace the
moral evil of men TO it's true source In
their surroundings, their physical ma
lures, their ignorance, their passions
and their will, and set ourselves 10 deal
comprehensIvely with them.
ITO these pacific ailments OF mankind
let US apply specific remedies. To do
this it will be necessary for the mem
bers OF our churches to make a full use
of their political rights TO allow the
great powers Of law and government
and their still greater influence 10 fall
into the hands Of ungodly men would be
incredible folly and sin. God forbid
that any OF our churches shyuld be the
instrument Of political parties. II is
doubtless necessary that individuals
should have party attachments. and
Methoiists are found in all the great
historic parties. But when a member
OF our church has taken his place Ia
that political connection which IS most
in harmony with his ideas and convic-
tious, let him never forget that there
are great moral interests superior to all
party exigencies In which he must seek
first the kingdom Of God and his right
eousness. Every proposal that i'm perils
the sanctity Of the home, the purity Of
women, the innocence of children, that
sanctions aud increases wrong should
be impartially and earnestly resisted.
or n few of the great evils which ad-