The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

!, REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. Dec. M-Methodists are agi-
ptating the subject Of dancing, card playing
and theater going in anticipation Of the
General Conference to be held in Los An
geles next May. when action Is almost
sure to be taken on this much-mooted
question.
For almost thirty-two years this rule Of
the church has been regarded as thorn
in the flesh by a large part of the Metho-
dist body. and as q distinguishing mark
oi peculiar ssnctity by another branch.
he Two factions are preparing for Wig
and plans are being made BY those who
be.leve that the law ought to be repealed
10 bling about that result.
The first gun In the campaign was dred
at the Methodist preachers meeting, held
at No. $50 Fifth avenue, recently, when
speeches were made for and against re-
Zeal.
IL the subject had been brought I'D ear
lier In the conference four years ago 1t
is generally believed that the rule would
mittee in charge did not report it until late
in the session. and there was then such q
press of business that 1t was laid over.
CITY we were ee 10 dominate he General Confer
erce there would be no doubt as to the
Issue, but In the rural communities there
Y still a strong feeling in favor Of read
IN what are termed worldly arnusements
When the opposing forces are iined up II
viii be practically the city delegates
against those from the country.
MAY BE WOMEN DMEGATES.
There will be several elements in this
conference that will differentiate It from
the previous assemblies. In the first place.
it will be a much larger body, the lay del
egates for the first time eQualing in NUM-
Der the clerical delegates. In all, there VIII
be between 600 and 100 delegates. Also
there may be women delegates. A fight
and. while the concession was not made
directly. q change In the constitution pro-
Sidea that ,a church might elect ar any d men, n
women. although 1t is not likely that any
large number of women will be sent to
represent the churches
true for month. Bishop Merrill, the
senior Bishop. will open the conference,
and the osheT Bishops np VII preside N
will BE fourteen delegates, seven clerical
and seven lay, and about the same num-
her from New. York Conference EAST
ich also includes part OF New York
AS far as can Be determined by inter-
views with prominent Methodists. the
clergy of this city are quite as much In
favor of repeating the Amusement para
graph" as the members of their churches,
although in most instances they are care
10 SIule tldI Illlb QOCS hoh AiilASotc
that they approve OF the amusements for
hidden, but that they disapprove Of such
an arbitrary and unfair ruling on the sub
5ect
said the Reverend Doctor Willis p.
odell. pastor of Calvary Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Seventh avenue and One
Hundred and Twenty ninth street:
THE rule forbidding certain forms OF
amusement or diversion does not belong
10 the rules laid down by John Wesley
and regarded as binding by the church. It
Is only sort of bylaw. It pretends to
make a catalogue of things that must not
he done, and yet 1t Is wofully incomplete.
For instance, horse racing and circpses
are included and bull fights and cock
fighting are not. A church member might
thus keep this rule and evade the law
WHICH laid the whole matter on the In
diyidual conscience
Doctor OdeiI Is in favor OF the repeal of
the law and believes that It will be taken
from the Book Of Discipline at the ap-
preaching conference
John Wesley's rule, to which almost ey-
cry person who spoke on the subject re-
ferred, merely forbids the taking such
diversions as cannot be used In the name
Of the Lord Jesus, leaving II to each In
diy nai conscience to decide what these |
Oily 1on5 are
wesleyan ruls on that and kindred
sun5ects forbids buying or selling spir-