The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-06
MONDAY. APRIL 6, 1912.
TWO KINDS OF OBSERVANCE.

Whether or not tnc general '"H-
fercnr. of the Methodist Episcopal
church now in session at Mlnncapo-
lis. ms its church rules IN ret-
or.ucc TO a,n,lsenlcnts. that body has
dome more than ever it probably am
licipatcs in tho establishment OF gem
uinc religion based on II principles
and teachings. rs we undefs'ahu
them. of the Founder of christianity
1t is necessary TO consider In thls
connection whether the amusenieh's
that have been barred by the Meth
odist church were harmless or harh'-
full. Tho church. We understand. he-
lieves they are. and should the DISH
ops' SUGGESTION be accepted. II would
NOT change the attitude of the church
toward them. 1t only changes the
recognition of the motives when
prompt their observance.
The new plan is i" leave TO the
conscicncc-or probably better stated
the religious responsibility OF the
indiv;dual what pleasures he shall in
dulsc in. y" one ever becomes Oh
remains u christian by compnliS'"h
Mohan,mcdanism was s" established
and SO maintained. hut it is not a re
ljgiuu of conscience VI love. III is
based on fanaticism and perpetNated
by hieotry. 1T is Il religion of the
body and not of tho soul. Its gardin-
al principle is form not substance
Its adhercents will defend II by the
nse Of every means which the religion
of the Nazarenc abhors.
True religion is the living of a life
in accordance with the ideal of Christ.
II is not form hut princip!cs-the
correct living and the correct mind
of tho professor. These conditions
cn,na from within. The individual
who refrains from participation in Il
pleasure because he has TO. not be-
cause. he wants. is just AS far from
tbs. real religion rs the II VINO en-
iovs them because he wants to. The
man who attends church merely be-
cause ii gives him a worldly stand
ing or serves to good advantage his
l~.lsiness, is no more religious than
tho MAN who remain away from
church for other reasons. There is
no religion in tn" mind of either.
IL. man who practices the visible
i,llns of religion because he wants To
l. tla one who has the real religion,
II" does OF rcfrains from doing things
purely because his action in SO doing
is in accord with his religious i'm
pulse. Ills is the real, the other the
sn4m. And this. We understand. is
what the conference proposes in the
,hanse. The church is still the
Guide of its membership in the mat
ter of amusemcnts, but it is seeking
to have the heart of the individual
member rather than the church rules
he the inspiration for following the
church belief.
The plan has a far deeper signin-
canoe than the mere change o1
church rules. 1t will give Il greater
strength to the individual. There
is more real religion in the individual
who can say, Il refrain because to dc
so is in accord with my own mind
thar in the one who says, Il refrain
because the church makes me-.
Therefore, those who would cschcw
the inhibited amusenents. should
the rules be changed. would do so
strengthened by the knowledge tina
the motives come from their owI
hearts, while those who would in
dulge in the same amusements, die
they refrain because Of the church
rules, would only De doing in body
what they had formerly done a
heart; for while they may have Gu
put these things for church rule sake
in their hearts they were violating
this rule by wanting to be present
The whole argument revcrts to TIL,
Pharisee praying on the street cor
ner and the Publican otherwise; tht
one for others to hear, the other be
cause he wanted to.