The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-30
AMUSEMENT rule
IS ONE OF ISSUES
QUESTIONS OF DANCING, CARDS
AND THEATER ATTENDANCE
TO COME UP AT THE NJ.
e. CONFERENCE.

First i'm popular interest among the
big issues of the general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church which
opens tomorrow at Minneapolis VIII be
the question of the churchs attitude
toward amusements II Is question
which has come up at many confer
ences. and though the church itself
does not regard IL as by any means
the most important. 1t holds the atten-
tion Of a greater number of people than
any other issue.
Contrary to a general impression,
there is no specific rule OF the church
against any form of amusement But
in the rule providing for the trials of
members. the principle is laid down
that member shall be brought To
trial as follows:
In cases OF neglect of duties of any
kind. imprudent conduct; INDUCING
sinful tempers or words; the buying,
selling, or using Intoxicating liquors
as q beverage; signing petitions in ia
Ntr of granting licenses FOR the sale Of
Intoxicating liquors: becoming bonds
men for persons engaged in such traffic
or renting property as place In or on
which to manufacture or sell intoxicat-
ing liquors; dancing: playing at games
of chance; attending theaters, morse
races. circuses dancing parties, or pat
ronizing dancing schools, or taking
such other amusements as are OBJ
yiously of misleading or questionable
moral tendency: or disobedience to the
order and discipline Of the church
Many Sought to Change It.
II is this rule which many have
sought to change In preceding gem
cral conferences, but each time the
movement has failed. Those who seek
TO change il wish TO go back TO first
principles Of the church when no form
of amusement was specifically placed
under the ban. but IL vas left to the
individual conscience TO determine
whether the member was participating
IN amusement which could be partici-
pated i'm the name Of Christ. Advo-
Gates of the change declare the rule a
source of irritation in the church. They
would have the church train the con-
4
vidual to decide what amusemerts he
would choose.
Methodists who have watched sue
cessivc attempts 10 change the rule
say the issue is sharply drawn i'm cir
cles which the general publc might ox-
pect to support the change. For in
stance, IL is assertsa that, the senti
ment of the young people of the Ep-
worth leagues is strunsly opposed e.
any change. whereas among many
: ministers there is q feeling that the
church would be strengthened by abro-
Cation of the rule as " now stands
= II is a certainty that the matter will
come up during the general conference
in Minneapolis. but there are no au-
> thoritative predictions as To the result.
/ May District Bishops.
D Another issue Of the general con
= ference will be on the distrcting %
bishops. At present every bishop vi
= the church has Jurisdiction over tho
, whole world. equal to that of any
! other bishop. Each is now assigned
I a place of residence. but the territory
i'm which he may work may or may
, not be where his residence is. Thus
2 Bishop Robert Mcintyre was four years
I ago assigned 10 live In St Paul, but
except for the first year Of his resi-
i dencc there. he had no assignments in
/ Minnesota. The system is part Of the
r time honored principle Of itinerancy
under which bishops US well as minis
tcrs were travelerg--as were the cir
I cult riders OF pioneer days Now il
is proposed to assign definite districts
to bishops the same as is now the
practice as regards district Supcrln.
tendents or presiding elders. But Il is
predicted that the conference will Gins
, tenaciously t. tlic old custom instead
of localizing its Bishops ~
, Layren Seek More Power.
Laymen Of the church are again
pressing for larger voice., i'm the
| councils Of the churoh ard that will
, he fought out on the floor of the gen
eraI conference. Since 1872 tho lay
men have had more or less OF part
in the general conference out none as
lyet in annual conference.-the name
by which state conferences. for in
stance. are known They are insisting
on their right to representation not
only in the annual conference, but in
the bishops cabinet the inner council
, lof the annual conference. comprising