The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-10
Which Is tho Devil?

A committee Of tho late Methodist
General Conference ut Omaha reported
IN favor Of continuing the penalty o? expul-
sion for indulging in such worldly amuse-
ments as dancing. card playing. and
thcatregoing. Another committee callod
upon every Christian to withdraw
his patronage from oil persons di-
rcctly or indirectly interested In tho liquor
traffic and to vote against any political
party which criminally allies itself with
tho liquor interests by licensing the manu-
facture OF spirits" The same committee
reported against the use OF tobacco in any
form by preachers and Sunday school SUI
perintcndents.
DR.. BURRELn Of the Dutch Reformed
Church justiflos the drinking OF "a social
or convivial glass;" II it Is drunk else-
| where than In o public saloon. DR..
RAINsFonD OF tho Episcopal Church
advocates tho establishment Of public
drinking places by the churches them
| selves. and the keeping open Of these
improved saloons on both Sunday and
week days. In the last number Of Scrfbner's
| MaOaztne the Rev. W. T. EnsINa advises
| that instead Of denouncing tho saloon. ro-
| ligious people should set about to find
| SOIIltGUllB DcllST w Luke lIS plilcc
| Meantime the Church Temperance Society
| OF tho Episcopaians Is working for the
establishment OF high license. and the Row.
DR.. BACON OF tho Congregationalists Is
arguing against 1t MS n vicious policy. and
advocating merely nominal license fee.
with careful supervision OF tho moral quail
| fcatons OF those allowed to sell liquor.
| The disagreement among religious people
as to tho amusements proper for Christians
iG not less remarkable. Instead OF frown-
Ing on theatregolng. tho Rev. DR.. RAINS
FORD himself may sometimes BIO seen ut the
theatre; he countenances dancing as q
harmless amusement. and very likely no Is
ready to take n hand at n rubber Of whist.
Episcopalians generally have no objections
to dancing. card playing. and theatrogoing.
| A large part OF tho fashionable society OF
| New York Is made up Of Eplscopalans. 1t
also contains Presbyterians at whose
houses dancing parties tako place. Horse
races arc denounced by some OF tho great
religious bodies with special bitterness. yot
mult.tudes OF church members attend
them. and. wo dare say. bet on them too.
That sensational clerical adventurcr.
PARKHURsT, stigmatlzcs Tammany as the
| Dovil yet among tho most active and con-
| trolling leaders OF that valuable Democratic
political organization at tho present timo
arc pious and faithful Roman Catholics
who stand high In that Church. and are the
associates OF Its foremost cclgyin this city.
| They are men OF firm religious convictions
| and strict religious principles; and In their
| conduct OF life they would stand COMPARE
son with Christians OF any other COM
munion. They arc temperate men, faithful
husbands and conscientious fathers, or
derby citizens. and honorable dealers. Yet
because they are Democrats and members
OF Tammany. PARKHURsr denounces them
as Inherently wicked and debased.
1t will be seen. therefore. that these various
Christians do not agree as to tho dis
tlnction between tho moral and the immoral
In social life. Each opposing party might
call tho other the Devil with quite rs much
reason as PARKHURsT has for describing
| Tammany as the great enemy of mankind.
Tho Mcthodlsts would exclude DIR.
RAINsFoRp because he smokes. drinks.
INDUCES In worldly sports. attends the the
afro. and goes to dancing parties. They
| would exclude DR.. PARKuUHsT because he
drinks In houses OF Ill famo. and hires de-
PRAYED women for disgusting exhibitions:
and in this they would DO right. They would
| turn out DR.. BURRELL because he likes q
| social or convivial glass" The Roman
| Catholics. on the other hand. look upon all
OF them as teachers OF false or perverted
religious doctrines which tend to injure
men and bring them finally to hell.
! The first great necessity is That Christians