Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-06-17
NEW ISSUES
Are Born of Time and Progress, and
Old Issues Perish.

1t may be safely stated that
whatever time the Methodist gen.
eral conference at Cleveland de-
votes to the prescribed amusement
question will be wasted, meaning
thereby thatno substantial change
will be effected in the actual dis
cipline of the church, whatever
may be put into the printed code.
The discussion of the question
will create considerable irritation,
and the feelings of the brethren
who desire return to the old
paths will be hurt by the declara-
tons of the younger and more lib
eral brethren, who do not believe
an immortal soul is imperilled by
witnessing the representation of
Ten Nights in Barroom," or
The Old Homestead" or even
Hazel Kirke," within the walls
of a theater.
Conferences may formally de-
clare against the prescribed
amusements and provide addi-
tional penalties for indulgence in
them on the part of church men,
bers, but such action will not
prove effectual, because it is not
to be undertaken with sincerity
and unauimity. The "anti to-
bacco" resolution has been adopt
ed by numberless conferences,
but has neverabolished the use of
the "weed" with the Methodist
clergy. There is an old story of
bishop, greatly venerated in his
day, who, at the very solemn in
slant when conference was con-
demning tobacco, remarked to a
fellow bishop on the bench that,
as for him, he believed with the
apostle who said that some men
ate strong meat and others herbs;
that for his own use he preferred
'"herbs," and proceeded to take
another chew of the Nicotiana
tabacum in the prepared form of
"plug." 1t would be of no use to
deny that there are Methodist
ministers in good and regular
standing, preaching with great
power and to great acceptance,
who take enjoyment in a good
cigar, and who even masticate
''fine cut, and such examples do
not lend encouragement to belief
in the success of strenuous legis-
lation concerning prescribed
amusement.
1t will be found that new times
demand new laws, not the renewal
or revival of old ones. The regu-
lations imposed by John Wesley
upon his new. formed classes and
congregations, while generally
dictated by wisdom and indeed by
common sense, may not be appro-
pirate or applicable in our day,
any more than churches in our
time would care to conform to the
practices of time when mem
Der of church might without
offense own substantial interest
In an African SLAYER.
What is desired by those who
would further limit the amuse-
ments already designated as pro
scribed, viz, a return to rigorous,
self-denying, ascetic religion which
mortifies the flesh and humbles
the natural man, is not to be
brought about by the regulations
of any conference or general as
sembly or other gatherings of the
clergy and laity. All that comes
from great movements, which are
no more TO be forestalled in their
beginnings than the earthquake
or the tornado, movements like
Christianity itself in its first day,
a force that came to lay down
new law to the form worshiping
Pharisees and unbelieving Saddu-
Gees and heather world sunken
in swinish wickedness. Such a
movement was Professionalism,
and, for that matter, original
Wesleyanism. 1t was this voice,
Some ye out and be We separate"
that in very old church has led
men to leave world of pride and
pleasure and fame and indulgence
and live in fasting, prayer and |
vigils long and cold. 1t was this
voice that spake TO the crippled !
soldier, Loyola, at Pampeluna.