The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-05-10
SIGNIFICANT SIGN OF THE TIMES.

SIGNIFICANT sign OF lhE HINES.
Little by little the laity have msdo
encroachments on authority in the coun-
ellis of the Evangelical churches, partic-
ularly those which are non-hturglcal.
As sign OF the times as applied 10 the
religions world, the action Of the highest
legislative body in the Methodist-Epis-
copal communion last week, in granting
the lay delegates equal representation
with the clerical, is significant. 1t Is an
emphatic avowal that the future OF
Methodism will be determined more
largely by the pew than by the pulpit.
That this action of the General Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
church is an exceedingly important one,
is seen when it is pointed out that this
ouadrennial body is the final authority,
not alone in points OF discipline ana
morals. but in faith 1t has the power
TO dictate what its more than 5000, 900
adherents shall believe. 1t decides for
them articles of creed which they must
accent. or renounce their alliegence to
its principles and seek more congenial
theological atmosphere. If for instance
the power of the conference was circum-
vented to discipline and morals, the laity
would be equally competent to discharge
the functions imposed upon them, but
it has been grave question whether
men whose calling is in the mart and
exchange, and who have scant time to
devote to abstruse theological problems,
are wholly fitted to make pronounce
ments which direct the belief OF so many
persons.
This precedent established by the
Methodist church will be watched with
unusual interest by the other denomin-
ations, for it is an Unsuitable longing In
tn, human breast to arrogate all the
rights to oneself that is possible. 1t is
true that in the Episcopal church the
laitv is invested with delegate powers In
the councils of the church, but they are
restricted and the utmost care is used
nat the rubrics and articles of faith are
guarded with such jealous care that
they cannot be tempered with Of sud
den.
But it is safe to assume that an intel
hgent body of people as is represented
in the conference now being held in
Chicago took The step deliberately, after
mature Judgment and to carry out the
wishes of the district conventions locat-
ed all over the United States.
Other subjects of serious concern will
come before the conference, especially
that which deals with amusements
the Methodist church has
frowned down all questionable enter
tainments and prohibited its younger as
well as its older members from partici- |
pating in pleasures that are remotely as
ISOLATED with what it cites as evils. |
Thus it placed an memorable embargo |
on card playing, not because card play
ing in itself il wrong, but because it is a
means used by the gambler to ply his
vocation And ban is put on the race
track on the ground of betting, and
theater going is denounced as pandering
to lnordinate passions. The conference
will face the problem whether the church
has been too rigorous in its opposition
10 amusements; whether byits inflexible
attitude it has not intercepted It's own
and denied itself the associa-
lion of II larger membership by keeping
)ut desirable element On the simple
question Of right or wrong there Is no
moro evil in card playing than in base
pall; no more danger in horse racing
han in athletic contests; no more sin i'll
heater going than in reading u novel.
In all things in this life the wrong is in
.he use aud not in the things themselves.
Il is more than probable as forecasted by
he bishops address, that some relaxa-
ion from the heretofore stringent rule
If the church will be made.