The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-03-01


in Chicago have been far-reaching, so much
80, in fact, that it viii probably influence,
in degree, the action of one of the great
est religious denominations in the world on
the amusement question. One of the
victims of that terrible fire was Willis w.
Cooper, one Of the most devout and earn
est Christian workers in the Methodist
church. He was one of the organizers
of the Epworth League and held the office
of first vice president of the national
cabinet for a number of years. Later, he
brought about the great missionary move
ment among the young people in the Meth
odist church which resulted in giving
Methodist missions the greatest impetus
the church had ever known. This re-
markable campaign of his, though started
under the protest of the Epworth League
board of control, will never be forgotten
by the church.
Yet this man. one of the leading spirits
in the Methodist church on this continent,
saw no harm in occasionally attending
theater performance He told friends that
he did it conscientiously and at the close
of hard days work in connection with
the great Rockford Chicago hosiery indus
try, of which he was the founder, he felt
rested and refreshed after an hour in wit
Messing a hrst-cIass drama or opera. And
now that his life has been lost in one of
the places condemned by the discipline OF
the Methodist church, the leaders Of that
great body hesitate to condemn him. They
say it cannot be possible that Willis W..
Cooper was wrong in attending the per-
4ha lr0uuois 1hpatpr that 1nV
and rather than condemn him they would
strike out from the Methodist discipline
that clause which relates to theater-going
and which has been the basis of so much
discussion. Especially in the middle states
is this sentiment strong and when the
general conference of the Methodist church
meets in Los Angeles next May the death
of Willis w. Cooper and the lroquois
theater fire will enter largely into the dis
cussion of the proposition to strike out
from the discipline the arbitrary para
graphs on the amusement question. This
matter has been brought prominently be-
fore the general conference for the past
three seasons. Many of the leaders in the
church claim that the rule against theater-
going is arbitrary, and contrary to the
best development of the church. They
have held that in regard to amusements
much must be left to the individual mem
ber's judgment and there have been just
enough who thought otherwise to keep the
amendment from passing.
Methodist ministers in Tacoma are in
clined to look upon the proposition of
amending the amusement clause with dis
favor DIR. D. l.. RAIDER, pastor of the
First Methodist church, and one of the
leaders in Methodsm in this section, says:
ITO get proper understanding of the
present condition of things it will be neces-
sary to say something about the church
discipline. When Wesley organized the
church, he made certain rules governing
1t. By a vote of the officers of the
church, it was decided that these rules
should never be changed. The controversy
is over paragraph 228 of the laws of the
church, which refers to some of the things
Methodists should not do. This para
graph has some good features which tend
to keep it in. One of these is that it is
especially strong against the saloon bust
ness. Those opposed to the rule will en-
deavor to have it declared unconstitutional
and placed in the advces to church mem
bers rather than have it continued as a
statutory law. My opinion is that it will
not be changed OF course the law may
be declared unconstitutional, but another
just as binding win take its place"
Asked if the bishop of the church and
ministers were generally opposed to dane
ing and card playing, DR.. RAIDER said
Eyes. The bishops are unanimously
against it and ninety-nine per cent of the
ministers west of Ohio are opposed to all
such things. The greatest clamor for
amusement of this kind comes from the
New England states and New York. The
principal difference of opinion among
ehurehmen is on the theater question.
am not willing to say that there are NO
good plays, but the theater is som
like pill. The few good plays ar,
the sugar coating that covers mp the bad
ones"
Rev. James Clulow, pastor of Central
Methodist church, says: "This is ques-
ton the public in general knows very