Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-01-14
THE CHARITY BALL.
A Conservative Letter From w. n.
Pr0ttsman a, Prominent Southern
MethOdiet Ministsr.

o-"' s&o - ~kSSA hoA ave" S1h .
They object to the dancing, we be-
lieve, but otherwise have not con-
demned the proposed event. A
similar action was taken and with
out avail by the preachers at Mexico
Christmas. No doubt these preach
ers could easily find better employ
ment. A very large majority, Of
people do not look upon dancing as
an evil, and it is quite certain that
dancing will continue in spite of
all opposition"
Te the Editor of the Tribune.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-. Jan. 1.-DEAR
SIR: 1t may be possible that you are
mistaken In the reasons which cause
the opposition of the preachers to the
social dance, and I am sure you would
not willingly misrepresent them. r
have no right, and do not pretend to
speak, for the ministers Of any church
but the Methodist.
Our deliverance on this subject Is ex-
pressed in our book ofdiscipline as fol-
lows: ''Inasmuch s,the deliverances
of our bishops, as contained In their
quadrennial addresses to the general
conferences from time to time have de-
clared dancing, theater-going, card
playing and the like worldly indul-
gences to be contary to the spirit of
Christianity and violative of the gen.
eral rules and moral discipline of our
church members, we therefore heartily
indorse the aforesaid deliverances as
containing the just and correct inter-
probation eff the law in the premises;
as such this general conference accepts
the same as having equal force and au-
thority as If contained in the body of
the discipline"
Your sense ofjustice will concede the
right of the church to make its own
laws of government, as membership
is forced upon no one.
Also, you will concede the moral OBJ
legation of the membership to obey the
laws to which they voluntarily sub
scribe, as there is neither coerciye
power nor disposition ON the part of
the church to retain them against their
will.
The church does not class the simple
act Of dancing, in and of itself, as sim
full. Like every act Of life, of a moral
character, it stands for judgment upon
| its own character.
The Head and Law-giver of the
church says to his disciples: land
whosoever doth not bear his cross and
come after me cannot be m disciple;"
che that taketh not his cross and fol-
leweth after me is not worthy of me-"
{"whosoever will come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me-"
| Self-denial al is the principle of relig-
ious life given here; the cross is the
sacrifice made in the self-denial. Not
the cross upon the church steeple or
wrought into jewellery and worn as an
ornament. This is the cross of PLATE
and the mob who cried "Crucify
Him."
On entering the Methodist church
the following words confront every ap-
plicant for membership: "Will you
be subject to the discipline Of the
churchv'
The answer is, "I will endeavor so to
do by the help of God"
Here Is the covenant VOW to which
God is called as q witness: Dancing Ii
violation of this vow, and the ques'
ton is not is dancing sinful, but is a sol
emn vow made to God and the church
of binding moral obligation, and car
it be broken without q great mora
wrong.
The question will arise, why forbid
dancing. card-playing and theater-go
ing in the VOW and moral obligation o
the church member?
We answer, as acts of seif-denial
self-sacrifice and unselfing of ourselves
for the Divine Masters sake and as b,
said: "Whosoever will be my disciple
let him take up his cross and follow
, me-"
Can you blame the preachers for US
, ing the strong argument of persuasion
to prevent their membership from tn
great moral wrong of breaking mos
f, solemn vow?
AS to the charity ball, let those enjo.
3 it who wish and can do so without vic
, lating solemn vow. Charity is no
only lovely grace, but a Christia,
o principal enjoined by the Divine Mas
ter.
He not only fogave sins, but he CAV
t bread. He not only preached to th
n people, but he fed them. And this b
n does yet by his followers through act
r OF aims giving.
.. There may be nothing wrong in III
- ing the devil's water to run the Lord
/ mill for he uses all the professors
q he can get to run his tread-mill; br
70 let there be no misuse of either.
VIZ NJ DporSpep AM