Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-18
For Sunday Reading
Ill Sorts ofOpinion,
ethodis. Amusement Rule.

The Rev. OrIen w. Fifer. pastor Of
the Grace Methodist church, Des
Moines, who attended the general con-
ference of the church, believes that
the conference did wrong in not
changing the rule of the church per-
tanning to arnusements. Mr.. Fifer
| gave to his parish report of the
conference in which he took up the
amusement issue and gave his opinion
Of the nonchange that 1t was unfortu-
nate, as the general rules covered the
case sufficiently.
Speaking of the conference action on
this amusement question, Mr.. Fifer
said:
ION the matter Of the famous par
agraph 24S, the amusement section,
the committee on state Of church rec
commended by heavy majority that
no change be made, thus disregarding
the recommendation OF the board of
bishops. Strenuous efforts were made,
both by friends and foes OF the change
to bring the matter before the confer
ence for final discussion. but as all
failed, the discussion goes on outside
the conference. In my judgment, the
proposed change would have told for
greater good ultimately for the Meth
odist church. L am more and more OPP
posed to the worldly amusements, es-
! pecially as I note their influence for
harm upon church members. but the
paragraph is an awkward affair, prac-
tically inefficient, and embarrasses
wiser and stronger enforcement by the
church concerning diversions which
cannot be used in the name OF the
Lord Jesus That the matter was not
debated at length earnestly and fair
ly, and settled for time at least, IS
to be regretted. Yet it is fair to say
that the large majority OF the Metho-
dist lay members do not desire any
tinkering with the paragraph, some
believing that such action would be so
misinterpreted that grievous harm
would be dons in the church. My own
opinion is that the general rules cover
the case sufficiently and with adequate
power, without specific legislation.
The church flourished for lightweight
wears under the general rule concerns
ing amuseme,nts, and It's opposltlon
to such arnusements was greater
then, 1 think, than since the enact
ment of the special legislation.
Special features Of amendments to
our church law were as follows: The
name presiding elder is changed to dis
trict superintendent; the Methodist
brotherhood is organized and Endorsed.
all mems organizations within the
church becoming members; the board
of stewards may be increased to twen-
ty-one; the official board is empoW-
cred to combine pastors salary and
current expenses and apportion the
same among the members, and choose
treasurer for the common fund; the
old triple headed Freedman's Aid, Edu-
cation and Sunday School society, was
divided, and the negro educational work
put by itself. There is now board
of Sunday schools, with secretary for
the field, and editor for Sunday school
literature. The old term Of six months
probation is done away with. Probation
remains but the length or brevity Of
the term lies with the official board
or leaders and stewards meeting, and
the pastor. The district superintendent
may combine or do away with the Sec
ond and third quarterly conferences.
Bishops will visit their conferences
three times a year and probably hold
/ the same conferences for number Of
years.
"Our church has great mission yet.
AS of earlier days its mission lies to
the common people, to the cities greedy
and pleasure loving, to the frontiers,
needy and lesolate; to the rich class
es who forget God in their luxury; to
the working; men, who are led falsely
to believe that the churches are their
enemies; to the foreign fields darkened
and afflicted; to country and society,
in the interests of civic righteousness.
He is a shallow student Of history who
does not discover the providential lead
ing in the organization of certain
Christian bodies. Their mission will
end when the spirit discovers to the
members that their peculiar work is
done, and their future duty lies in
partnership or union with some other
Christian body, providentially called to
some greater work. That union will
come not by any one body being
scornful and conceited with assumed
superior worth, but by the fraternal