The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-20

Christian profGssors-is tho gambling OF
tho stock exchange. Talk OF frantic,
ianatical, uproarous enthusiasm on
matters religious as something to
DO condemned. For my part, | have
never seen or heard anything in con-
ncction with tho widest religion excite
mcnt at all comparable with what saw
for the space OF half an hour in Wall
street in New York. No doubt the
gambling OF the street exchange differs
widely in form and expression from tho
gambling OF tho turf and tho dice. But
in spirit the manifestation OF IN over
grasping, all devourlng, all consuming
covctousness. 1t is one and tho same
thing.
Judge H. l.. Sibley, Of Marietta, Ohio,
whose topic was Marriage and Divorce
LAWS" said: Tho gist OF 1t all is in tho
principle dcduciblo from reason and
scripture, that tho right to marriage in
its essential benefits and as tho only con.
dition for righteous propagation bo-
comes paramount to tho rule of Its per-
manencc in cases Of wrong done inno-
cent parties whereby tho fundamental
obligations OF the relation abncgated.
This view OF the institution makes great
ends, moral and social. moro important
than technical preservation OF its naked
body, as manifestly they are.
CHURCH AND AMusEMENrs.
Thomas Ruddlc, B. A., head master
Bible Christian College, shcbbcar,
Devon, England, was the next speaker.
His subject was the attitude OF the
church towards amuscmcnts. IIc said
in part: "Thcrc is nothing In the
spirit OF the New Testament opposed 10
moderate and rational uso OF amuse-
mcnts. Whatever may be the duty Of
tho church towards amusements it is
obvious it is not duty to bo hostile
towards them.
Rev. Bishop G. D. Foss, OF tho NJ. +.
church, Philadelphia, said the urgent
need OF children was play. As for ath-
letics, the jollier the better, if they were
harmless. But if the training made
nothing but splendid brutes, church
colleges should put them out. The
Sunday paper was indlctablc before the
bar of God and the church stood with
it pariicps criminis.
Rcv.J. W. Haney, OF the NJ. Z. church,
Illinois. denied that tho church was re-
sponsiblc for the Sunday newspaper
1t should condemn every amusement,
such as tho theatre, which habitually
caricatured the church, and also the
Sunday newspaper.
CHURCH MEMBERS AND TIE THEATRE.
Mr.. ]. E. Belmock, OF Manchester,
England, said that the strange thing
was that the church had failed to rccog-
nize the need OF the people for amlse-
ment. lie strolled once into the
| Lyceum theatre and found so many
| preachers there that he thought for
the time he was in an ecumcnical coun-
Gil. People would 20 to the theatres;
the theatres were full while the chapels
were hall empty. The church should
purify the theatre and to do it church
members would have to go there.
[Crics of "Oh, no." and "You are
right III
Rev. Mr.. Hubbard, OF the A. NJ. L.
church, feared that the gates were too
widely opened. "We 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
mistake to prescribe any particular
rules to govern in the matter OF amusc.
mcnts. Theatrc-going, card playing
and dancing should be condemned out
right and ministers who winkel at
them failed in their duty. @
Tho regular programme ended at this
point and Secretary King announced
that the subcommittee which had been
charged with the preparation OF the
| address from the Ecumenical conference
to the Methodist churches and Nlctho-
dists throughout the world had com
pleted its work and the report would be
presented by DR.. Chapman, Of England.
THE ADDRESS.
This gentleman came upon the plat
form and read the address. The ad-
dress, in part, says:
By tho most inexorable test Method
ism is proved to be singulurly adadpted
to the needs OF mon. Although many
adjustments and developments must
undoubtedly bc madc to accomplish
fully our mission, let us beware OF think
ing that any vital changes are necessary.
| iuIhAully ush'H oui plCSCllI !lcullS,
under the blessing OF God, our prosper
ity will grow.
| We rejoice to recognize the substan-
tial unity which exists among the vari-
GUS Mcthodistic body; its firm basis is
i common creed. We are nil faithful
to the simple scriptural and generous
theology which God, through the clear
intellect and loving heart OF John Wcs-
ley, restored to his church. Wo are
proud Of the same spiritual ancestry;
We sing the same holy hymns; our
modes OF worship are very similar, and
what is most important OF all, the typo
OF religious experience is fundamentals
| lv the same throughout the Methodist
world
Rejoicing in these things, we think
tho time has come for close CO.
operation Of tho Methodist churches,
both at homo and abroad, which shall
prevent waste OF power and unhallowcd
rivalry. Before the eyes OF many OF
us passes the delightful vision Of a
time when, in each land where it is
planted, Mcthodism shall become for
every useful purpose one, and tho
Mcthodism OF the world shall be a
close and powerful federation OF
churches for tho spread Of the kingdom
OF Christ.
| MISSION OF TIE CHURCHES.
| There is so much that tho churches
have not done to redress tho wrongs
and heal the sulIcrings OF mankind that
1t is hard for many to believe in their
divine mission. Tho standing evils of
society are aggravated by the close