The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-16

EIDll III III VI 't E'ftf hasN
worth League does not believe I'm dancing.
We desire that that fact shall be deh-
nitely understood. Life Is too snort ana
souls too precious for us TO spend time IN
cavil upon this question. Reasons are
many. I will give two of the principal
ones. First. associations of the dance are
too often communicating and OF an I'M
godly character: second. from what we
know and have read history records no
instance where the influence OF dancing
has I'm any way assisted I'm the conversion
of one single soul. but, on the other hand'
we do know of instances. and history
records almost an infinite number OF
them. where souls have been led into sin.
into Indifference regarding divine teach
ings, and often into lives of dissipation
and debauchery by the influence of the
dance.
1T must not be forgotten. either. that
the Epworth League does not believe in
theater-going. We admire art. and hope
to never. i'm any of it's phases. ignore its
just consideration But. when the life OF
the stage world is brought to our consid-
Grafton. when the divorce records Of our
land are laid open before us. when we
learn of the great number of illegitimate
marriages and a host Of other vile and
.unrighteous practices directly chargeable
To the influence of life ON the stage. as
conscientious Christians we declare our
money and the influence of our presence
shall support no such business
Another thing about which the league
wishes the world to have no misunder-
standing Is the fact that we believe the
participation in the card party to he
wrong. We believe II to he an i~ndisputa-
BILE truth that he who learns to manipu-
late the deck OF cards has learned "A pro-
fession. and that profession the profession
OF gambling. He may not follow his pro-
fession. but what. may l ask. shall hin
lAr Is,, frar, tAa.hEn.y athnFG pyhn may
follow II? or what shall relieve him of the
menace of falling a victim to the evil
practice IL he knows how to gamble?
Then. too. the card table is inseparably
linked with the dance. the theater and
the wine cup. II we shun one we must
shun them all.
Are we accused of narrowness? We ac-
cept the accusation as "A compliment. for
the only narrow way of which the Bible
speaks Is straight and leads to life eter-
nal. The Bible speaks also of "A broad way
which leads to eternal death. We hear
men pirate of their broad liberality. but
what profit is II to "A man II his breadth
of liberality encompasses hell and assoc
ciates him with his satanic majesty? We
hear men theorize and argue and debate
over certain phases of life. as to whether
they are righteous or whether they are
sinful; we have seen them sit and quibble
and deliberate as To what forms Of rec
rcdtlOn ana Wnal amusenleIlS are TlBhl
and what are wrong; but the very act OF
mentality whereby the righteousness of
any form of activity Is questioned proves
it's indulgence to he sinful. For. how could
an. amusement or recreation be question:
ed unless II had the appearance of evil?
And the Epworth League stands upon the
scriptural admonition as given in the fifth
chapter of Thessalonians: Abstain from
all appearance of evil for We stand like
Daniel of old. who 'purposed in his heart
that he would not dehle himself with the
kings meat What clearer law can a
rational mind demand? How much better
is the man who seeks more than this than
the fool who hath said in his heart there
is no God?'
THE league believes that n well devel-
oped mind and accumulated knowledge
are powerful allies I'm the work of winning
souls to Christ. The true Epworthian in
the genuine Methodist Episcopal spirit
believes in the highest. broadcast and most
thorough education. IL imperatively de-
mands, too. that that education shall be
n Christian education. We believe also i'm
culture. We demand the most complete
development of every G~od-given faculty.
! We believe in the broadcast and highest
type of culture and refinement. But that
culture must he seasoned with the love
of God and like unto the culture and re-
finement of the meek and lowly Nazarine.
II "hlh'' ~ Tfh VI pfi y u
love. perfect I'm wisdom.
''The league aims at true citizenship, 1t
has ever demanded. and demands to-day.
purity i'm politics. IL abominates that Iow.
miserable, miserly spirit which seems 10
possess some who call themselves citizens
and who place corrupt practice and money
above principle In supporting national or
local issues.
" are most emphatically a temper
1T, NNs, haliaNn I'm the StrlGtpSt
nrohibition of the liquor traffic. AT the To-
,onto convention last July $1,000 Ep~ 1rth-
ians declared I'm a chorus. the saloon
must vnr The /. 200. 600 Epworthians VINO
STAYED at home are I'm full sympathy WIN
that chorus.
..The league i'm the United states v'Ms
with deep concern the tendency to dose
-, "a. sabbath day. We believe That
NON ia he bereft of patriotism nnd TO-
taly devoid of the higher Instincts OF hu-
manity who wilfully desecrates the Lotu :
day and which is the American Sunu'H,
We are i'm favor of denying the rlsht u
citizenship to the base migrate VINO mus
nrostitutes the blessings OF a righteous
nation. We believe. too. in appropriate
ohseryinr all our national holidays. ESpe-
ciauv do we deplore the disposition 10
make a merry day of Memorial day. We
should honor our fallen brave. Ana let
ms do so In n way beftting the memory
I of those whose lie : blood was if''IS sN
on that their nation might live. Let US
honor Them bv solemn procession and
muf,ied drum: by the scattering OF heau-
tiful flowers DER their silent graves; ~
memorial addresses and by quiet nome
"reminiscences. and not by horse racing 81
biCycle racing or other irreverent sports.
by the booming of cannon or the hrinE oi
gums. or by any Of the other hllarlpus
designations OF "A characterless holiday.
The league in the United States ad1res
the flag. We will have no other. We pro-
pose To do our part to make H. tot 80
much the flag Of war as the flag of ieace,
Albeit that peace must be honorable
peace. II is our hope that the sight OF the
stars and stripes may not SO much sug-
gcst to humanity the thought OF tho
dreadful arnag of battle as II does TIE
abundance of life In a Christian nation,
And our hope shall ever be that as we
gaze upon it's glorious folds we shall ever
see In those folds an emblem of Calvary