The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-10
WOULD AMEND
CHURCH Law
Weyley's Rule Praised by
MethodiStS
As Safe Guide, and the Rule
Against Card Playing and
Theaters May GO.

Minneapolis. May Administers o
the Methodist Episcopal church ap
peared to be divided equally las
night on the question whether on
J church law prohibiting dancing, card
playing, gambling and attendance a
theaters, circusses and horse races
should be abolished, as recommends
by the board of bishops.
| On the ground that their investiga-
lions showed that two-thirds Of the
3,25oo0O members of the church
either danced or went to crcusses and
theaters, without regarding It as sim
full, the bishops declared that the
church alw against these diversions,
in force for 10 years, had become OBJ
solete. They asserted that while the
church continues to protest against
these forms of amusement, still it was
better not to have any specific law on
the subject than to have a law which
was ineffective. John Wesley's in
Junction leaving the amusement to the
conscience of individuals. the "a ac-
tive bishops declared. was the wisast
regulation for Americans of the
Twentieth century"
LIVELY DEBATE FORECAST.
A demonstration which greeted
Bishop Earl Cranston's reading Of
the recommendation was taken as in
diftating a lively debate on the ques-
IN when 1t comes up for a vote of
|Qe $50 delegates. A motion declar-
hik that the rule always had been
"a ssource of constant irritation and
I2lmest in the church." and asking that
It be referred to committee, was
promptly voted down. arguments be-
ing presented that the full confer
ence was going to settle that ques-
ton, and no one else.'
No sooner was the motion made
than James /. Bartholomew of New
Bedford, Mass, had the floor. Il
knew of high school boy. who. in
studying English, went to see Mac
beth. 1t was the duty of the pastor,
without option, to expel that boy from
the church on the ground that he had
violated this supposed law. A jury
acting under the rule would have to
expel, but jury acting under Wes-
ley's. rule certainly would not ex-
pal"
ARGUMENTS AGAINST RULE.
Arguments against continuing the an
REIMBURSEMENT rule as presented were:
That the majority of the church goers
never have refrained from dancing
and theaters because Of the church,
and the violation of this rule has
tended TO bring all church discipline
into contempt; that many people re-
gard Shakespeare on the stage as be-
ing as good as Shakespeare in a
book; that many people refuse to con-
denim all plays, because as some Of
them. just as much as they would
condemn all novels. because some
novels are not proper; that gambling
is fundamentally wrong. and does not
need a rule to prohibit 1t.
Arguments for continuing the rule
were that its adjustment would give
the impression that the church was
tending toward laxity and was endors-
ing the things which it formerly OPP
posed; that adjustment of the rule
would remove restrictions which held
people from those forms of amuse-
ment.
SEVERELY CRITICISED.
In adopting resolution offered by
Secretary of Agriculture
James Wilson for accepting the hon.
orary craftsmanship of the brewers
congress in Chicago. last October the |
conference declared that President
Taft. Secretary w ilson and Secretary
Of State Knox have forfeited all
claims on the future franchise of the
and sober manhood of tho
nation because they had ignored APP
peals that no government official at
tend to congress. Secretary Will
sons explanation that he attended
The congress because he was inter-
ested In the growth of hops and bar
'ey was described as AN insult and
frivolous" It.
The conference appointed COM ,