Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-04
THE AMUSEMENT QUESTION
SUBJECT OF CONFEDERATION By
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Expected That Numerous Resolutions
VIII BE introduced In the
Chicago Meeting.

CHICAGO, May 4.-When the third ses-
sion of the Methodist Episcopal general
conference began today Rev. II. ]. Cozine
of Puget Sound University led the devo-
tional exercises. Bishop H. W. Warren
presided over the business session. Caleb
II. Butterworth. lay delegate from New
Jersey, was in his seat, the committee to
which was referred the protest against his
being seated deciding that his credentials
were sufficient. There were many dele
gates in the house with resolutions and
papers concerning the amusement question.
Rev. VIM. Fawcett of Chicago. though
not delegate himself, had given his views
in favor of a greater liberty in the matter
OF amusements to delegate. while c. w.
Pearson OF the Northwestern University
handed his plea to Secretary Monroe at
the beginning Of today's session. Many
others admitted having resolutions on the
subject-one of the most important of the
conference. Much discussion was antici-
pated over the resolutions.
The first business of the session was the
presentation of the representatives OF the
various committees for the past quadrium
/ The following reports of committees were
made: Commission on federation, book COM
mittee, general missionary committee. board
Of education, general committee on church
extension, Freedrnan's Aid and Southern
Educational Society, board of managers of
the Sunday School Union. Woman's Foreign
sicnary Society. trustees report, National
City Evangelization Union, Epworth
League, twentieth century Manufacturing
commission.
Yesterday's Afternoon Session.
The interest in the afternoon session yes
| terday centered in the reading of the
! bishops quadrennial address by Bishop E.
G. Andrews. The address, which was pre-
pared at recent meeting of the board Of
hf-I "a 1r.1 d.
DR.. Frank NJ. Bristol. Bishop Andrews was
given close attention, and when the specta-
| tors gathered from the report that while
| the country had increased fourteen-fold
| during the past hundred years. the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church had developed nine
ty-sevenfold, they applauded er.thusiasticai-
| ly.
| The bishops address stated that the
church will not abandon its position on the
| liquor question. On the contrary, aroused
and indignant at the aggressions of the
| liquor power, at the inexcusable miscar-
| rage of the anti-canteen law, and at the
new perils in which the nation is involving
its new possessions, it will summon and
pledge all our ministers and people to a
| more determined struggle against this
enormous evil
AS to marriage and divorce, the address
continued: I'm the presence of this evil the
church cannot allow its rules on the sub
| ject of divorce and remarriage to be in any
the church law be amended to more per-
fectly express the New Testament rule of
marriage. But by the voice Of It's public
assemblies, by its pulpits and by the judi
should keep itself pure. and aid the civil
law and the practices Of society to become
pure.
Danger From Amusements.
Closely associated with these evils is the
popular passion for unwholesome, coarse
and debauching amusements. Whoever
watches the daily press cannot miss the
evidence Of shameful degradation in the
theater, concert and dance hall and on the
race course. And the tendency to great ex-
cess also in other comparatively innocent
| forms Of amusement cannot escape atten-
| ton. The seriousness Of life seems largely
forgotten. its opportunities of usefulness
unocoupied, the vigilance necessary for
Righteousness relaxed, and the love of the
| passing world gaining in masterfulness. 1t
| Is not to be wondered at that every earnest
age has tended to reprobate all amuse-
ments, as Incompatible with the Christian
| life. Experience has shown that 1t is i'm
possible to impose on youthful and imma-
ture Christians a law which many sanity
soul. of thoughtful choice. imposes on IT.
SELF The attempt to enforce absolute alb
stention from recreative amusements reacts
| toward unrefrained indulgence. A discrimi-
nation between the admissible and the mad
| missible Is therefore imperative.
so great is the danger to spiritual life
that we suggest that 1t would be profitable
to place among the special advices of the
discipline a brief but cogent statement of
the perils which attach to many amuse-
ments, OF the evils inseparable from others,
and Of the principles by which the Chris
his use of them"
The address recommends either the aboli.
ton of the time limit on pastorates or a re-
turn to the old three-year limit rule.