Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01
ieneral Conference Decides to
Retain the Discipline Clause
Which Prohibits Card Playing,
Theatregoing and Dancing.
The VOTE IS 434 TO $50
Chancellor Day Of Syracuse
Leads Movement to Remove
RestrictiOns-Thc Balance of
Power Held by Negro Confer
ence Representatives.

snratosa Springs. y. y. May 25-The
penalty of expulsion provided III parh-
graph 21l Of the discipline of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church Cor members who
play cards, dance, attend the theatre
Or engage In otter similar amusements,
will remain in effect for another four
years at least, a. the result Of action
taken to-day by the general conference.
An attempt. which was led by Chancel-
Tor James Il. Day of Syracuse Univer-
sity, to secure the removal of the pro-
hibition, failed by a vote OF 49i 20 $50
The figures are almost identical with
those of four years ago. when 4 sini
lar proposal was defeated.
Paragraph 271 OF the discipline which
is the basic law Of the church was en-
hcted in 1872 and has remained practi-
cally without change. 1t reads: IN
cases OF neglect of duties of any kind,
lmprudent conduct, indulging in sinful
tempers of words, dancing. playing ut
games of chance, attending theatres,
horse races, circuses, dancing parties or
patronizng dancing schools, or taking
such other amusements as are obviously
Of misleading or questionable moral ten
dency or disobedence to the order and
discipline of the church; at the first
offense let private reproof be given by
the pastor or class leader. and if there
be an acknowledgment OF the fault and
proper humiliation the persons may he
borne with on the second offense let
private reproof be given by the pastor
one or two discreet members of the
church. On the third offense let him he
brought to trial and if found guilty and
there be no real sign of humiliation, he
shall be expelled"
1t has been urged as a basis for re-
moval that this section is never en-
forced, and that the specific warning
which is given in another part of the
discipline should be sufficient to con-
vince members that the church strongly
aisapproves of these diversions. The
opposite contention has always pre-
vailed in the conference, however. tina
oy withdrawal of the penalty the churcl
will indicate that it favors lifting tn,
ban completely.
The balance Of voting power was held
to-day by the so more representa-
lives of negro conferences, who threw
their support almost solidy against any
change. The foreign delegates We're
about equally divided.
\ majority of the others, particularly
from the eastern part of the United
states, voted for removal although
nearly every delegation was split Balti-
more, Newark, New York. Philadelphia
and Rock River. Ills, voted overwhelm-
ngly for the change. Detroit, Illinois
New England Ohio, upper Iowa. south
srn California. northwest Indiana, Min
nesota and west Ohio also gave good
maiorities, Pittsburg, Kansas and Wis
consin were equally divided. Puge
Sound ana Columbia River, Washing
ton, Erie. Penna., Holstein. Tenn. NORTH
Indiana, Maine, northwest and south
west Kansas and southern Illinois were
strongly opposed. Every member wa:
placed on record individually.
The conference shut off all debate
by deciding to proceed. with the voting
as soon as Chancellor Day had read tn,
report of the minority asking for
change, and Frank Neff of Tulso, Okla.
had read the opposing recommendation
Both were permitted to speak briefly,
Il am not opposed in any way to thu
most rigid attitude of the church oil
the question of amusements," declared
Mr. Day, but you and know tina
paragraph 271 is an imperfect cata
loeuo of evils, out of which are lief
evils as great as these that are speci
fed 1t is wrong in principle, and /
is impracticable in practice If vol
continue it, it will come back to tn
general conference until the millennium
to give us trouble. because it Is wrong
The other paragraph has sufticien
enumeration to give the scope and the in
tent in the case and incorporates every
thing that n dcvout Christian ought not t.
do, but q. the same times leaves him witt
the freedom that belongs to n Christian
and tLst is indicated in the sermon OF
the mount. The lower the form Of relig
Ion tho greater number OF rules for tn
governmcnt OF the devotcc, The highc
TIE form the more is committed to hi
faith and heart. l am simply asking tina
We adopt such measure as will be re
srectcd by everybody and dsregardcd b
few, and II dsregarded, will be TO thei
discomfort. II will noe lessen our ON
phatic pronouccment on amusements, bu
WIN 70 us into Guch shape that We "a
bring the whole subject to bear strongly
linpartiaHy. intc!isently upon our pea
pie"
Ny. ,Ien declared that IA memorial
havc necn received asking that no chang
lie made.
II submit to you," he continued, "tha
every argument presented in favor Of tn
opposing report, If applied In other walk
Of lifc would do away with every statuf
on tho books of every state of the Unor
would eliminate the Ten Commandment
end would take away the force of ever
prohibitive law In every civilized land /
the world.
- Ii re i'm q State where the law says
4 not right to sell Intoxicating liquor
end to conduct dance halls. Put tn
chief In stock and almost total arSumcr
Of tho men aud women who would dis
rcuso Intoxicating LIQUORS and III
gambling halls is, that you cans'
lrslslnt' in that way and make men an
women moral.
II submit to you that whenever thcr
has been effort on me part Of the peop
anywhere to uplft the morals of con
Elunity In addition to laync down IL
principles whereby men and Wome