The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-06-04
METHOD|STS WILL
MAKE NO CHANGES
Prohibited Amusement Clause was
Voted Down.
THE OLD LAWS WILL STAND
A Petition of Protest Against
Change, COntnining Two Ihou-
snnd Names, Came From
BlnghamtOn, \. 4.

Los Angeles, Cal, May 2S.-By the
decisive yea and nay vote OF AL 10
1888. the Methodist general conference
decided not to make any change in the
church discipline in the matter OF pro-
hibited amusements. The question Is
one which agitated the minds OF the
delegates to the present general con-
ference more than any other single
problem that has been before IT, inc
church at large took wide interest,"
in the subject of proposed striking out
of the specified prohibited amuSe-
ments from the discipline, and many
memorials and petitions from all parts
of the country reflected popular opin-
ion in the church on the matter IN
all C5 have been received, 30 OF which
opposed any change in the discipline
on This noint. and ten favored various
changes.
Petition of Pr"test
A single petition from Binghamton,
N. Y, bearing 1000 signatures was
one of the protests against any chahse
being made.
The question came before the con-
ference Friday in the report OIL lhe
committee on the state OF the churcn
on this subject. -lere were TWO re-
ports. The majority report recon-
mends as follows:
"Your committee declines to recon-
mend the striking out OF the speclheu
amusement from paragraph 24S OF
the discipnne. 1t recommends that the
following paragraph be inserted IN the
discipline, under the chapter OF speclai
advices:
"Amusements, improper amusement
and excessive indulgence in innocent
amusements are serious barriers tc
the beginning of the religious life anc
fruitful causes of spiritual decllheS'
Some Amusem"nts Demor"iizinE'
d. "Some amusements in common use
are also positivenly demorallZlng an'
furnish the first easy steps to the tota
loss of character. We therefore lool
with deep concern on the great IN
crease of amusements and on the gen
eral prevalence Of harmful amuse
ments, and lift up solemn not
of warning and entreaty, particular
against theater going, dancing an
Games of chance as are frequently as
sociated with gambling; all OF Whlc
have been found to be antagonistlc
vital piety, promotive of worldlnes'
especially pernicious to youth. we a
affectionately admonish all our poop
TO make their amusemants the suo]ec'
of careful thought and frequent pra.
or. to study the subject OF amuS'
ments in the light of their tendehcle
and to be scrupulously careful IN Uni
, matter. to set no injurious eXampl
, We adjure them to remember that Ill
8 question for Christian must o1teh
: NOT whether a certain course OF actlo
10 positively immoral, but whether
will dull the spiritual lie ana DE
unwise example. We deem 1t OF
bounded duty to summon the VINO
church to apply a thoughtful and
structive conscience to amusement
and not to leave them to accident
nassion. and we affectionately adVl
9 and beseech every member Oh u
8 church absolutely to avoid the Ia
h ing of such diversion as can not
II used in the name of the Lord.
" Speeches We're Limited.
!, The conference limited T.
\ speeches upon this proposition to II
- minutes. Nearly a score OF speech
N we're made on both sides,
IL Upon the order of previous queStic
nav and yea vote was demanded
the first time during the present &C
ference. This same subject was I
only question precipitateing yea a
nay vote in the general conference
four years ago at Chicago. The CT
- ing of the roll occupied the REMAND