Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-04
CITY METHODISTS
On DANCING BAN
Atlanta Ministers Opposed to
Worldly AmuSementS, But
Leave 1t to Conscience.

Methodist ministers in Atlanta de-
clared today that the action Of bishops
OF the Northern Methodist church at
Minnea polls did not constitute lift
ing Of the ban on dancing and other
ADJUSTMENTS They added that the
Southern church would never cease its
warfare on worldly aauserents, but
that its attitude was in sympathy with
that advocated by the Northern bish-
ops-to leave the matter TO the in
dividual conscience
The Northern Methodist church has
not lifted the ban on dancing, card
playing. gambling and attendance at
horse races, theaters and circuses,
said Rev. " p Lovejoy, presiding ell
der Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South. the branch Of the Methodist
church on this side OF the Mason and
Dixon line
Left to Ones Conscience.
None of the Protestant churches
give their approval to such worldly III
versions and ! don't believe ever will.
what l believe the action Of the bish-
ops in Mime apolis to mean is that they
have left the matter to the individual
consoiences of the members Of their
church. guided by the light Of the di-
vine teachings Of Jesus Christ.
"Now the teachings Of Christ are
for us 70 abstain from all amusements
and diversions upon which We can not
ask His blessing, and so long as per
son stays within the church he can
not keep within the bounds Of his con-
science and do these things upon which
he can not ask the blessing Of Christ.
That each individual follow the die
tates Of his own conscience is all right
provided his conscience follows the
teachings of the Bible. and he is not
really member OF the church when
he ceases to follow those teachings
Dancing Not Specified.
The Southern Methodist church no
longer specifes in forbidoirg the above
mentioned evils. but simply classes
them among those things upon which
Christians can not ask Gods blessing
At the 1906 conference the bishops
address. which lays down the policy Of
the church. left out the snecihc names
OF card playing dancing. gambling and
the like, but that did not mean that
the church approved of those things or
even countenahced them The disci-
pline Of 1910 contains the followine
passage from the address Of the bish-
ops
Ito 90 TO no place Of amusement
frSss
60 with US. 70 engage in no recreation
on which we can not invoke His bless
ing, is a safe rule Of conduct toward
God and man
Other prominent Methodists among
the ministers OF Atlanta expressed the
belief that the Northern branch of the
church had not in reality lifted the ban
against such amusements or agreed 70
countenance them.
Less War on Anusenents.
The general tendency Of the North
ern Methodist church has been within
past years to legislate less and less
against The various forms Of amuse-
nnent." explained Rev A M Huehlett
and while / don't think they have ever
lifted the ban against any form OF
vicious amusement and have fought it
on all occasions. they have left il more
and more to the conscience OF the peo-
Pile. guided by the laws and rules Of
the church. which in the end amounts
TO practically the same thing as If
they forbade them specifically
The position of our church IS plain,
the matter is left 70 the conscience Of
the individual guided by rules OF the
Bible. Some years ago that matter
. came up when a member was expelled
from his church for dancing He took
the matter before the college of bish-
ops, claiming that there was no spe-
cifc law against dancing but they de.
eided that dancing was forbidden sn6
upheld the decision Of his church which