New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-29
THE CHURCH A WORD.
That the Result, Says Methodist. If
SeIf-DeniaIs Are Gi0en Up.
EXCITEMENT OVER DANCING RULE.


The Rev. DR.. Daniel HaIleran. presiding elder of
the Elizabeth district of the Newark Conference.
was the first speaker yesterday ct the Methodist
Preachers Meeting. No l50 F1fth-ave He discussed
the question whether the well known amusement
paragraph of the Book of the Discipline OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church. paragraph 24S should
be expunged or amended. He opposed making any
change. He said:
When Methodism abandons her crucial self-de-
Rer and GSs WoP and Or her
tenets, to court the favor Of the pleasure LOVING
Which hns have SorHe her 10 thousands Of homes
Teaade Than viii an9 Church
byword and a kissing TO mankind ana an ihe&-
pressible sorrow TO her Lord
DR.. Halleran denied the statement that Method
ism has been losing ground of late years. A lively
discussion followed his address.
Tho Rev. DR.. A. B. Leonard of the secre-
tarles of the Methodist Missionary Society. speak,
ing in opposition to a change. went far II is re-
ported. as to say that any who favored cutting
out the amusement clause ought not to be in the
Methodist ministry, and should even be placed on
trial. There much excitement over this.
The Rev. J. A. Hensey favored expunging the
disputed clause. because IL had never been en-
forced by the Church. and never would be en-
forced. Another minister declared; IF man
honestly believes that he will some day be called
on to account to Christ for the deeds of this life
he will not be likely to spend his time playing
cards. Surely, no special prohibition is needed
This clauses only effect is mischievous."
The Rev. DR.. J. Wesley Johnston, OF the Old
John Street Church, created some surprise by as
sorting that the much controverted clause was not
lawfully IN the Book OF Discipline at all He de-
clared that It had received the required ma
jority In both the General Conference and in the
local conferences throughout the country.
Some of those who spoke yesterday regarded the
clause unwise. we'll as unnecessary, and yet
said that II they should chance TO be members or
the next General Conference they would vote
against expunging it-hrst, because no real Meth
odist wanted to indulge in the prohibited amuse-
meats, and, second, because the church was under
fire in these days and If the clause were now
wiped out the step would be hailed by worldly
people everywhere a backward step.
The Rev. DR. T. L. Poulson, Of Lawrence, Long
signed to be used by Sunday schools, said:
THE discipline forbidS cards-and here they
have cards for sale by the Methodist Book Con-
Germ Perhaps these not the kind OF cards
some people mean, but how am l to know Just what
cards forbidden and what are not And then
there is horse racing. There different kinds OF
horse racing. l have raced horses myself have
raced against the presiding elder and even against
the bishop. And remember with great sattsfac-
ton that my horse beat the bishops. Now, should
and myself-fron1 the Methodist Church? If para
graph 248 is be obeyed there is no question but
that such a proceeding should have been started
Dr. Eaeran said afterward that even those VINO
most urgently favored excelsior declared them
selves without exception opposed to indulgence
in the forbidden amuSementS.
The Presbyterian Ministers Association had Its
annual luncheon yesterday at the Hotel ALBERT
The Rev. DR.. Howard Agnew Johnston presided.
The Rev. DR.. Charles f. Jefferson, OF the Broad
way Tabernacle. spoke His theme was me
the idea prevailing IN many quarters that the day
Of adherence to dogma is declining Is FAR from
being true.