The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-31
THE AMUSEMENT QUESTION


church on the amusement question has been dis.
cussed by the public very frequently since the
meeting Of the delegates In general conference
on May srd in Chicago. Thus far, as near as
can remember, the discussion OF the subject has
been by parties outside OF the church or by
those who favor the removal Of the restrictions
against certain questionable amuscments. Those
who favor the retention Of the restrictions have
chosen to remain silent knowing that they are
the majority Of the spiritual working force OF
the church
Nethodisrn, as A church, has few peculiarities
and among those peculiarities this prohibitive
rule against partaking Of amusements which can
not be taken In the name OF the Lord. With
these pecularities Il has steadily progressed un'
I'll it has outstrlpped every other denomination
in gathering adherents to the doctrines preached
Only In the few year. OF the very recent past
has the violation OF these prohibitve restrictions
been encouraged by any OF our prominent minis.
ters and these years also have marked a falling
off IN the net gain TO the membership OF the
church. Indeed, II II were not for the large
number OF accessions made to the church in our
foreign fields, especially in India, the Methodist
church would show large decrease in member
ship for the past two years. And this at a
time when the scholarship and social standing
Of Methodism never stood higher It Is notice.
able, also, that during this time the violation
OF our rules has been the most frequent and
efforts to enforce them In many churches have
relaxed. T. II were TO the advantage Of the
church to remove restrictions in this direction
then surely there ought to be signs Of such ad-
vantage by increased accessions to membership.
But the contrary result is an indication that the
lowering OF the standard hlls the heart Of the
average man with disgust and he cares little to
unite himself with a church that requires no
higher qualifications in its members than is re.
quired In the better grade Of social clubs.
%
The average man needs no argument on our
part to convince him that the public dance hall
Is sought by the libertine and the scarlet woman
He knows Il, Not all who dance are bad, by
no means. But because It borders on the prec.
pice Of moral ruin TO the young woman, our
church would not be a party to the dance hall
in any OF its forms and would entrent OF its
members to iorcgo what little pleasure they de-
rive from dancing that those who are weak may
not be misled by their example and unsuspect.
ingly fall a prey to the destroyer Of virtue. As
to theater. going, Shakespeare Is always trottcd
out as excuse, but at the average theatrical
performance there IL something else "trotted out"
which causes modesty TO blush. We are told
time and again that "customs change and so
discipline must be flexible. Well, so be II. Gus.
toms have changed and we have an object les.
son just now before us In the picture presented
by the morals Of the officials and some OF the
men who are connected with our city govern.
ment, II reports contain any particle Of truth.
Formerly It was the custom to be straightfor-
ward in the discharge OF public duties and the
dishonest official was regarded as criminal.
He would be made TO feel his shame whenever
he mingled with men in social life. Now. II
we allow these reports to contain any truth that
custom has changed, and II man has grown
rich in an office that does not pay q cent Of
salary, It Is not considered polite to ask him
where he got his wealth. Customs do change,
but sometimes morals not improved by the
change.
The church appeals 10 men TO honor their