The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-04-28
NO SUNDAY TRAINS
FREE METHoDIsTs TABOO FASH
I0NABLE WEARING APPAREL
Resolve That Buying Milk and Read
ing NEWSPAPERS Is Dissertation
of the Sabbath.

~ At the annual conference of the Free
Methodists, held in this city last week,
the following resolutions were offered
and recorded:
We your common reforms committee
beg leave to submit the following:
Observation-Disclosures is one
of the greatest prevailing evils of the
day. We as church have taken our
stand with the only political party
that stands first, last and always for
the overthrow of this nefarious traffic.
Yet there are many good citizens who
do not seem to feel the necessity of
using their influence at the polls to
overthrow this awful curse, but
pile up their prayers in holy perfec-
tion and knock them all down on the
day of election. Some Free Methodists
seem to think If they mingle in politics
that they will lose their grace. We
absolutely must put our shoulders to
the wheel and roll this vile serpent
from the land.
The Social Evil-We notice with
sorrow the looseness in morals Mar
riage is an institution of God and de-
signed as the only means of continuing
the human race and developing in
mankind that tenderness of affection
Of which the human family is cap
able. But alas, how many divorces,
unhappy homes, crushed hearts and
betrayed affections do we see on every
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girls were taught the relations that
should exist between them by fathers
and mothers instead Of being left to
find out these things as best they could,
and also If the evils Of the ball room
and theatre were represented as evils
of the worst form, that many of our
young people might be saved from q
life of disgrace and shame. A fallen
man is as bad, and in many instances,
worse than a fallen woman, but how
differently society looks upon them.
Secret Societies--We deplore the
fact that the number of secret socie-
ties for both men and women are on
the increase and Satan seems determ-
ined to entangle all classes in the
meshes of this net. Many of his rea-
saGns seem quite plausible and some
ta-Aes honest souls are persuaded to
mite with them to secure liveli-
hood. We as church have long ago
taken our position on this question.
Let us stick to the bible and the dis
ciples IL we would be safe.
Dresa---In this age of pride and gaity
we can but see the tendency is to cut
down the bars and admit the little
foxes which spoil the vines. The
blessed Lord has given us clear
command as to our dress and we
should not only follow 1t ourselves
but we should insist that our child
rem be plain in their attire. II we al
low them to wear things which they
will have to give up when they are
converted ii is less likely that they
will ever be saved.
While plainness IL not proof of
godliness, yet those who are godly will
be plain. Our preachers should ten
derly but firmly insist upon the rule
concerning dress.
On Sabbath Deeeciration--The fourth
commandment says: Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
A man does not usually swear, steal
or murder the first thing when he
goes wrong, but he commences by
neglecting little things and step by
step he goes on away from God.
Neglect Of secret prayer, reading the
bible, etc. Then reading the Sunday
newspaper, buying milk, unless in ex-
ceptional cases, riding ON the train
aud street cars when it might be
avoided all point to q disregard of the
holy Sabbath. While we cannot lay
down an infallible rule for all, yet |
we should be very careful not to do |
anything which would drive away |
that tenderness of conscience which /
we should have for the Sabbath day.
Payment of Debts--A debt is debt
whether 1t Is secured by mortgage, |
note or simply promise. A christ
ian mans word is rs good as mort
gage on his property. We should meet
our obligations promptly, and if
through adverse circumstances we are
unable to do 40 we can at least say so
and make some satisfactory arrange
ments for their payment
Last but not least we should mention
the necessity of systematically sup
porting Gods cause. Many of our
people pay but little or nothing to
support the work because they have no
system. We would not do by our
as we do by the Lord.
We certainly ought to do as much for
the Lord under this holy ghost dispen-
sation as the ancient Jew did under
the law. Our people should have
line upon line, preeept upon preoept,
here little and there a little until
they are thoroughly aroused ON the
subject of giving or paying one tenth
10 the work of the Lord. Then would
Dur barns be Allied and our presses
burst with new wine and we should
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