The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-06-17
lmuse meni Question As Discussed BY
Methodist General Conference.
Or. ]. W. Andrews Talks Interestingly
Of the Great Meeting.
Says Vote on Resolution Did Not lndi-
cate the Real Sentiment.
Les Angeles Made Up Of Public Spirit
ed Class of People.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
DR.. j. w. Andrews, who returned this
week with Mrs Andrews and their son
Roy. from a long visit in California,
talks very interestingly of the great
question of amusements, which he had
intended to bring before the Information
nj Methodist conference. DIR. Andrews,
rs was stated in The Free Press shortly
before the time of his departure for the
west, was going to propose an amend
nent to paragraph 24S of the church
discipline, paragraph which, as it now
stands, unqualifedly forbids dancing,
theatre going, card playing and many
other such forms of amusement. His
amendment, would have changed the
paragraph so as to leave these matters
10 the conscience of each and every in
fvidual member of the church.
Dr.. Andrews, however, did not get
the opportunity of presenting the pro-
0tSscu dflcIume1lJ. ut HuCotIOh was
Wrought before the conference by great
number of petitions, some for and others
against the very change he was intending
10 propose. The matter was referred to
Che committee on the state of the church.
That committee had the matter in con-
lderation three or four days, and then
meseuted to the conference a mejority
report in favor of leaving the paragraph
IN question just as it was. The minority
presented report favoring change of
the paragraph according to the petitions
of those who sought a change, so as
10 allow each individual to determine his
own amusements according to what he
himself deemed right and proper.
Now arose hot debate over the ques-
hon of adopting the majority or the min
srity report. In this vast assemblage
of seven hundred delegates, there were
more that wished to talk than the chair
souId find time to recognize. 1t was
very hard to get the floor and DIR. An
drews did not get an opportunity of
addressing the conference on the subject.
AT length the delegates became wearied
with the debate and some one moved the
previous question, and it carried. 1t was
ON May 27, when the final vote was
taken. The majority report, in favor of
leaving the paragraph as it stood, car
xied by about two votes to one.
Il was indeed interesting to observe
Aow the delegates from the various Sec
sions of the country voted on the ques-
ZION. The vote of the south was solidly
conservative and opposed to changing the
paragraph at ALL The east and west
were pretty much divided. The north
west was pretty strongly in favor of
the individual conscience idea.
As the Minnesota car left the city of
Los Angeles, the delegates, twenty
seven in number, began discussing the
came question among themselves. A
straw vote was taken and showed TWEEN
~ to be in favor of the change and seven
opposed to it.
DIR. Andrews does not think the vote
ut the conference represents the real
sentiment of the Methodist church
toward the question at all. He thinks
that vast number of the pastors and
elders who were present and took part
IN the conference felt that the paragraph
forbidding the amusements in question
was dead letter and regretted that it
was ever put into the discipline, yet they
hesitated to change it because of the fear
Of adverse criticism. DIR. Andrews him
self favored and voted for the minority
report, which was for the change.
Whether the question was wisely or
mwisely decided, it has been settled for
four years, which must elapse before the
holding of another international confer
ence of the Methodist church.
The conference met in great pa
vilion that occupied half block, and
was excellently furnished and equipped.
The use of the building was freely do
mated The citizens of Los Angeles en-
tertained the delegates royalty. A COM
nittee of ladies acting for the Los
Angeles chamber of commerce gave to each
delegate bouquet of flowers every day
during the month the conference was in
session. These ladies also served lemon
ade and oranges free to the delegates in
the annex to the pavilion. These fair
mattresses were among the most highly
educated and refined people of the city.
Los Angeles can give many of Minneso-
ta's cities wholesome lesson in public
spirit.
When the conference met, a committee
was appointed to disburse the funds.
Into the hands of this committee the
chamber of commerce placed $4,000 in
cash. The city itself gave $4,000 more.