The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-03
N, E, CHURCH ON WORLDLY ADJUSTMENTS
Interest Centers the Action of the Minneapolis Con-
ference on Letting Down the Bars to
AmusementS.

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
Is it wicked to 60 to the theatre?
So have said some of the sects.
Notably the Methodists.
Interest, therefore, centers in the
action to be taken in Minneapolis dur
ing the general conference which has
just convened in that city, with refer
sence to this and other worldly amuse-
ments."
The rule prohibiting dancing, games
of chance, theatre-going, circuses, and
horse racing.
The following are the reasons for
and against the removal of this prohi-
bition:
Among the arguments advanced in
opposition to retaining the present
rule, as given to the committee, are:
"It violates Christian freedom.
ut is a source of constant irritation.
1T puts many in an unjust attitude
las disloyal to the church.
1T can not be enforced.
CAS- an unenforced law it brings dis
lcipline into contempt
at keeps many conscientious people
bOuL OIL ING CuuTCH
ut breeds hypocrisy.
ut has not added to spirituality in
kthe church"
Arguments for continuing the rule
rare given as:
"The rule voices a protest against
lworidliness.
Repeal suggests a backward step
ImorafIy.
Many will avoid harmful things be-
cause tine church directs.
Repeal would be interpreted with
great publicity as indicating moral
Fdeclension.'
The chief argument against the re-
Itention of these puritanic restrictions
seems to be that which states
They cannot be enforced"
The fact that this agitation Is cur
trent in this particular church-one of
vast numbers, influence and import
lance to the social body-is significant
of the trend of the time.
People nowadays are beginning to
recognize the fallacy of that old order
which said, in effect, ITO be good Is to
be unhappy"
The truth is the world is embracing,
with more or less ardour, the philo-
tsophy which says that we were put
here to enjoy ourselves.
That in the consummation of this
,end-individual enjoyment-is to be
accomplished the regeneration of hui
mainly.
Churches are learning not to build
higher fences but to raze them entire
~.
A church should not bar.
It should welcome.
1t should not make whited sepul
chres but build sanitary houses open
to the light of day.
The only creed should be the univer
sal brotherhood of man.
The likenesses of men and women
should be emphasized-not their diff
ferences accumulated.
Nothing, perhaps, is more amusing
than the idea that to attend circus
lis deleterious to the individual and
public morale.
OF all the harmless forms of enter
ltainment, circuses stand at the climax
The nice, friendly, acrobatic, lion
. roaring, circus.
With it's transparent glitter ani
frank and honest shams.
Surely the circus-going clause mus
have been included back in the stone
sage.
No one could possibly take it seri
Dusly
("The circus?" inquired the cynic.)
Nor yet that placing the iron hant
ION the theatre.
The theatre has become SO innocu
lous that any clergyman could attent
1t with perfect safety.
The theatre is not morally bad.
IL anyone can define exactly wha
that means.
But it is artistically degenerate.
And while it may seem parade,
to the moralist to state that thinl
has reached it's lowest moral ebb whel
1t has debased it's artistic raison d'etre
1t is yet truth, little as 1t is recos
nized.
The theatre, in its essence, may b.
made to become medium through
which ethics may be enforced with ia
more force than through the pulpi
and the mouth of the preacher.
Dramatic art, mirroring life an
,thowing back it's reflection, is an idea
method for the propaganda of tn
highest ideals Of society.
And this is because It is vital