The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30
SUMTER. s: c.. WEDNESDAY. MAY 30 1900
DANCING, CARDS AND
THEATER FORBIDDEN

Presbyterians Must Abstain
From These Amusements.
MISSIONARIES ARE HEARD
Pleas Are Made For Assistance to Push
the WOrk-Report Of Committee ON
Home Missions-Progress of Sunday
school Work.
ATLANTA, May 24.-The Presbyterian
general assembly by its vote urges mem.
bers Of this church to abstain altogether
from dancing, theater.goi and card
playing.
The report Of the committee on pas.
toral letter was adopted this morning.
The letter is in part as follows:
For the promotion of the spiritual
well-being of the church, the general as
sembly feel constrained to address all
our people few words of instruction
and advice on the Importance Of alb
staining from such amusements as are
destructive or unfavorable to the re-
igious life Of the Christian.
Under the term worldly amusements
may be included the dance, theater and
the card table. There is dancing which
is innocent in itself. There are plays
that are highly moral, and card playing
without gambling cannot be calle1 q
SIN. There are also dances, stage I,lsrs,
and games Of cards that are in tnem-
selves harmful and contrary to the law
OF God; and such being evil and only
evil are condemned and forbidden by
the church. On these matters the church,
through its constitution, the deliver
ances Of its courts and from it's pulpits
has spoken in the strongest terms.
The question then arises: May not
Christians freely indulge in such forms
OF worldly amusements as are not sinful
in themselves? In reply the general as
sembly urges our people to abstain alto
gether from the amusements referred to,
as q matter Of Christian prudence, ex.
ample and out Of regard for the honor Of
Christ.
The reasons are assigned
l. These things are worldly and char
acteristic OF worldly as distinguished
from spiritual life.
Q. Experience shows that persons en-
gaging in worldly amusements are easily
led into such indulgences as are wrong
in themselves.
8. Worldly amusements are not favor
able to a growth in grace.
The report Of the committee on home
missions showed two new presbyteries
and Is new churches. For local home
missions $l15, 900 had been raised during
the year.
When the recommendations came up
for consideration Rev. j. p. Lloyd, a
missionary from the Indian Territory,
presented the claims of his field in an
interesting address.
Rev. Robert Hill of Dallas, Tex,
spoke for the Dallas presbytery, urging
the great need OF funds to prosecute the
work. The Dallas presbytery covers a
territory extending 600 miles, embracing
population OF SOC, 900, with only eight
supporting churches and 5000 Pres
byterlans: In one county there were
more Methodists than there were Pres
byterlans in the entire presbytery; in
another single county more Baptists.
Elder j. ). Munce of Richmond made
q strong appeal for better methods i'm
raising the invalid ministers fund. He
said 1t was the shame and reproach of
the church that infirm and aged minis.
ters were permitted to suffer. He would
not minimize the importance of hon
and foreign missions, but this was the
most important question before the bod
He quoted the scripture, "He that faa.s
to provide for his own household de.
nies the faith and is worse than an in.
fdel."
The report Of the committee was adopt.
ed, carrying with it the reelection of
DR.. j. n. Craig, secretary.
DIR. X. H. Nall of Greenwood, 8. c..
presented a report from the committee
on Sundayschools and young people
societies. The report is one of the most
important and interesting that will come
before the general assembly. The com.
mlttee made some recommendations that
bid fair to bring about the iveliest sort
OF discussion when they are taken up by
the assembly.
The reports from "a presbyteries shows
the number Of Sundayschoolst to be z. .O68.
with total enrolment of l49, ,642 off.
Gers. teachers and scholars, with an ave.
rage attendance Of 94, ,l6S. The total
contributions for the past year were
$87, 100. 76, with current expenses Of S58..
7Sl.78. One feature of the report is the
number Of churches reporting no Sun
dayschools. there being 800.
UNITED PREssYTERIANs.
Forty-SecOnd General Assembly In
Session In Chicago.
CHICAGO, Nav A.-The forty. eocord