The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-12
Change in Discipline OF NJ. Z.
Church lis Imminent.
Proposed to Remove Prohibition
OF Certain Amusememts.
CARDS AND THEATER
As Well as Dancing May BE In
@dulged In.
Without Liability to Expulsion
From the Church.

Los Angeles, Cal, May ia ques-
tion of important bearing. which has
come prominently to the fore in the
Methodist general conference proceed
ings during the past u hours, is that
involving a change in discipline to the
extent of entirely removing the church
ban on the pleasures of dancing, card
playing and theater going. It seems not
unlikely that the conference will vote
to remove the present rigid restriction
regarding the indulgence of these rec
reations- The subcommittee of the
committee on state of the church OF
which Judge P. S. SibIey is chairman.
has reported back to the main body it's
recommendation upon this matter in
which it urges a radical change in the
church rule on the subject, making it
simply an advisory restriction. instead
of mandatory prohibition as at pres
ent.
Under the prevailing rule the mem
ber of the church who attends a dance
or theater is guilty of a direct infrac-
tion of the rules of the church and may
be punished by expulsion, but. If the
recommendation now proposed is adopt
ed this penalty viii be rendered entirely
optional with the authorities. The
committee on state Of the church has
not decided definitely just what form
to the general body VIII take but Il
seems assured that it VIII propose soma
radical changes in the discipline along
the line outlined
This committee is also considering
other important changes, among
which is one investigating the ratio OF
representation in the general confer
ences. The plan which has been pro-
posed and which has met favor If
adopted viii reduce the membership
of the general conference from 74S to
700.
The absorbing topic of conversation
among the delegates this morning is
the announcement made last night Of
the candidacy of Rev Dr. Robert Nc
Intyre- pastor of the First NJ. +.
1 church of Los Angeles, for bishopric
/ hOnors. The announcement of DR..
/ McIntyre's candidacy by his friends
came as a complete surprise to the
delegates, and particularly to the Pa
4 cific coast contingent, who have un-
/ der consideration the name of but one
candidate, DR.. G. f. BOvard, president
! of the University OF Southern Cali
4 fornia. The Pacific coast delegates
will caucus this evening to select a
/ candidate on whom they can concen-
trate their united support It is gen
orally conceded that the Pacific coast
will be allowed to name one of the
bishops, and until the entrance of DR..
Mcintyre into the race only one name,
that of DR.. Bovard. had been consid-
cred TOnights caucus will determ-
inc which is able to muster the great
est strength among the coast delega-
ton.
Bishop I. w. Joyce presided over
today's session of the general confer
ence, which was addressed during the
morning hours by the missionary
bishops, J. Q. Hartzell of Africa and
F. W. Warne of India
The morning session of the confer
ence took up the further consideration
of the report of the committee on rules
and considered the various paragraphs
for two and q. half hours. At recess
the rules were still FAR from being
finished and the completion OF them
was made a special order for tOmor-
row morning.
The debate was uninterestiDg. ea-
/ cept upon one paragraph-that which
provided the method of appointing the
/ judiciary.
The rules committee recommended
tnat appointments be made by the
various district conferences. Dr. J. NJ.
Buckley offered an amendment. giving
the bishops power to appoint five
members of the judiciary committee
/ DR.. Neeley, chairman of the rules COM
mittee opposed him and these great
/ debaters held the attention of the con-
ference for half an hour DR.. Neely's
view prevailed
The reading Of the report Of the
missionary bishops was the special or
der after recess and the remainder Of
the days session was devoted to that
subject.