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

the case. It Is a pure matter OF morals
| preted by the Methodist Church. The
broad basis Of the rule Is that Metho-
| dist Is not to take any diversion which he
Jesus
, ONCE MANAGER OF DANCING CLUB.
| why. was manager Of q dancing club
| In my early life It was an agreeable pas
| time. I attended theaters regularly and
played games. never Interpreted these
pleasures as carrying out the gospel Of
Jesus In the conduct Of life. thought so
then and think SO now. A game Of
when this paragraph was adopted by the
Methodist Conference. It rs gambling
now, whether you call It progressive eu-
ehre or horse race. The common public
change In them now. The theaters Of that
day portrayed human passions In forms
naturally tending to debasenent both In
language and action, and know OF no
difference now.
'These objections I understand to be
based on the teachings Of Jesus and have
as the denunciation Of slavery: The para,
graph on slavery was not then based
upon the ease Of Its execution, but upon
its inherent illustration Of christ's mean
Ing. Paragraph A8 should be based on
the same idea.
I'm Ocean Grove the possibility Of
literal obedience to the paragraph OF dis
public dance Is unknown in this favored
city. We have no playhouse and nc plays.
On several occasions when private dances
the the i members s Of the association has been
sufficient to prevent a repetition Of the Of
Tense. It Is not against the private dance,
however, that the paragraph is aimed.
going on In a mans house. That Is a
matter for his own conscience
1T is the public dance and the Gloss
ditions that our Methodist fathers object
ed to and penalized. The Methodist
Church has no war against festivity or
merrymaking., IT, There are PIE, pleasures and m
stri Sseet Christian. havs Noticed how
ever, that the dancers and the progressive
euchre players seldom appear at the pray
er meetings."
/ Asked II there was a prevailing feeling
in the Methodist Church against para
graph 248, Ballard said: There Is no
tendency to change the sentiment under,
tendency Is to leave the question to cir
cumstances surrounding each particular
case, or leave each church to deal with
favor the abrogation Of the rule do not
favor the prohibited ainusements What
they object to is the general law"
FINDS THEATERS ALL ALIKE.
Doctor Ballard makes no discrimination
in favor Of theaters where so-called
moral plays are placed on the stage. He
believes the play may teach moral les
son. but that the theater itself is sinful
In its environment and influence.
How about the opera Doctor Ballard?"
THAT matter has never been dis
cussed." said the aged disciplinarian. 1T
depends largely on whether II is sung in
theater. suppose they have the lobby
and the greenroom and other accessories
Of the modern theater. but the opera Is
not mentioned in the paragraph. II it is
given at a theater 1t comes within the
inhibition"
Doctor Ballard is of the opinion that
the Methodist Church will cling tenacious
ly to paragraph 24S, notwithstanding the
question of expediency. He fears the
Methodist Church should frown sternly
upon any endeavor to bolster up modern
profigacy and vice with tacit approval.
was announced to take place at the home
of prominent citizen of Ocean Grove.
Invitations were issued and the invited
the benefit of well-known hospital. Doc
tor Ballard sent q messenger to the house,
who arrived Just as the guests were pre-
pared to open the game
Madam" said the messenger, Doctor
Ballard requests me to state that you
cannot, play cards for prizes In Ocean
Grove"
The hostess was indignant, but her pro-
tests were unavailfng. A hall was subseA
uuently hired in Asbury Park, where the
euchre was held. and on account of the
THIS was Doctor Bailsrdss idea Of the
meaning Of paragraph 24S Of the Metho-
dist book Of discipline.
VIEWS OF A YOUNGER MAN.
The Reverend Doctor Wallace McMulIen |
Of the Madison Avenue Methodist Episco- |
pal Church Of this city belongs to- the |
younger generation of preachers. and has