New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-26
ME;THODISTS KEEP
AMUSEMENT BAN
Conference Retains Rule
Against Cards, Dancing
and CircuSeS.
From star Correspondent Of The Tr1Suno.l

Saratoga Springs, N. Y, May 25.-By
vote of asa to 360-a majority Of IA
the general conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church voted to-day to retain
the present wording in the discipline
which declares dancing, card playing,
circuses and racing" Objectionable
amusements and provides expulsion as
the penalty for their indulgence.
Chancellor ]. R. Day advocated the
removal Of these specified amusements
and the insertion of a strong general
warning against overindulgence in any
amusemcnts and the vetoing Of any
that dulled the moral sense or Slapped
the spiritual life.
"The prohibitive disciplinary sec
ton" said DR.. Day, "is only instruc-
tons TO pastors prescribing penalties
TO be enforced against an incomplete
list Of amusements, and does not give
advice against harmful amusements, TO
which l am always opposed, and there
has never been a stronger pronounce
ment against the vicious kind than N
my report
The Rev. Frank Nef, Of Tulsa, Okla,
who represented the conservatives, de-
clared: zone hundred and ten memo
rails from young people and confer
ences urged US TO make no change. The
fact that the rule is not enforced bears
no more weight than to say that when
laws in prohibition states are I'M
enforced it proves that they should be
repealed"
Split on the Paragraph.
Chancellor Day said 70 The Tribune's
correspondent: "We made much prog
ress to-day, for four years ago the
negroes and foreign delegates voted for
the paragraph, while to-day many OF
them voted against it. All Of the lead
ers in every department of church
work voted with US. 1t will not change
the fact that the prohibition is dead
letter and our members will continue
to follow their own conscience in the
matter. The action | proposed would
have made the Church consistent"
The two New York conferences cast
twenty votes for a new section and
three for the old.
There was sharp controversy over
a proposal 20 reduce the secretaries OF
the Foreign Missionary Society located
in New York from three to two. The
conference probably would have cut 70
one secretary, as in the Home Board,
il the Rev. Drs. f. VI. North and s.
Earle Taylor, now in charge, were not
so efficient that they will be reelected.
A brisk campaign is on for the single
secretary of the Home Board. Among
the candidates are the Rev. J. F. Bar
tholomew, of Providence; the Rev. c. B.
Allen. Of Detroit; the Rev. W. W. For
sythe, of Denver, and the Rev. c. VI.
Boswell, of Philadelphia.
Il was ruled BY the conference to-day
that the divorced wife Of disgraced
minister has no claims on the Church
pension funds. A committee reported
in favor of more stringent regulations
regarding the marriage Of divorced per-
sons b. Methodist ministers.
For Wornout Ministers.
A new rule adopted makes it possible
for a young man trained in theological
schools to be ordained without a men
tai examination.
Secretary j. B. Hlngeley reported
that $1,000 900 had been paid to worn
out preachers during the last year,
and that in the conference and the gen.
eral fund there was an endowment Of
over S7000,00
The temperance committee reported
to-day a declaration that "the habitual
use Of tobacco is a practice out Of
harmony with the best Christian life"
and urging Methodists TO abstain from
the use Of cigarettes and Of tobacco
in all other forms.