New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-15
DR.. GEORGE P. MAINs's POSITION.
LIS views on Chancellor Days Election and
the Amusements Prohibition.
To the Editor of The rr,n,,,,o

To the Editor of The Tribune
sf' IN lo-day's issue of The Tribune June a.
.oul reporter makes me say. among other things
s DR. ' Day 'af b GeaerS .. gave in elect
D@y and OF the higher criticism JUN u -
tease 60 me the kindness to publish that said
+oSoiuteiy nothing of the kind. What I did say
was substantially follows:
u,a 40 me best OF knowledge and belief there
who could properly be classed as "a de-
cerned whKa Hf he er II So far as Or Day is
as oiEer, Ie is not 10 be thought of other than
stl3ns of essential orthodoxy. ''e III aii ''e po-
to desfr was however persistent attempt made
~ ms chances for election to the episco-
tlc! poth by the wide circulation OF the ass,imp-
an insidio5e a Geasefous higher critic and by
impression uqon the mind of the conference
In connection with this further said:
The Significant thing. in my judgment in connec-
lection OF Or. Day TO the episcopacy nor his de-
the f;npoc 81 ne office bat the high stand which
ana raf,. TO put the stamp both Of its reputation
or less prevalent in Certain quarters 70 limit
lame t the Tree exercise and expression Of rever-
seaShing forces of the Church. This General Con-
ere;ce Put the weight of its disapproval in the
IlvHt POSITIVE way upon this kind of intellectual
harrowness and intolerance.
So much for my statements with reference TO
higher criticism. Your reporter further makes me
say:
Regarding the retention Of the rule in the dis
cIphne prohibiting members from attending thea
ues. dancing and card playing. Or. Mains declared
'hat the rule was a relic OF medieval times.
What did say this:
-, In my personal Judgment. the decisive action OF
ms General Conference in retaining the prohibitive
paragraph OF our discipline amusements was q
retreat IN the direction Of med9vaiism.
Concerning this I only wish to say that my per-
sonal position with reference to this paragraph of
our discipline is. ana has been for many years well
known. can have no personal sympathy with tho
kind OF method which this paragraph represents
as a means Of dealing with the general question OF
forbidden amusements. wish, however. clearly
ard distinctly to emphasize the fact that my nom
approval Of this method carries with it absolutely
no personal approval of things questionable which
this Paragraph specifies and condemns. My gen
eral position is that II should be both the privilege
and the duty OF n great church 10 deal with such
questions on a higher and broader plane than by
pr"hioltiTe legislation John Wesley, the great
founder OF MethoGism, much more than a hundred
years voiced this whole question in an express
sion Of principle perfect 5 admit of neither
successful modification improvement when he
asked that the members Of his societies should re-
fraiH from the taxing such diversions cannot be
used in the Of the Lord Jesus" This wise
statement leaves the entire question where II for
ever belongs, with the individual! Christian con-
science.
It is my regretful conviction that the great
and a minister brought upon itself very burden
some and needless historic embarrassment when. in
i'll advised hour. the General Conference of 1872
adopted the formal and prohibitive legislation
amusements GEORGE p. MAINS.
New-York. June a. 1904.