The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-13
MEMBER OF AssocrArED pnns
SATURDAY. MARCH 10. 1920.
CHANGING BLUE LAWS

In ancient times religion and festi-
val went hand in hand. The Christian
church in the first centuries of it's
existence found it desirable to take
over some of the principal pagan
festivals and give them place on
the calendar of the church. Thereby
they rendered the change gradual and
easy for a primitive people who could
not read and study but must be inn
pressed by outward and visible signs
but sometimes overdone.
| Some centuries later the intellect
ual reformers who followed in the
wake of the Reformation drove too
far in the other direction and robbed
religion of many innocent and wholly
worthy forms of healthy amusement.
! The Roundheads of Cromwell's day
made their religion sulen and
gloomy business that robbed life of
hat its joy.
There was bigotry, blindness and
hatred on both sides and the conflict
has ragged from that day to this.
BigotryN still prevails but it is milder
in form and it is found that tolerance
and brotherly love and better founda-
tons Of religious progress, and that
likewise joy and happiness are helps
to good living rather than hindrance.
The New Jersey Methodist Episco-
ipal conference voted on Thursday to
eliminate the provision of its Book
CT Discipline which forbids partici-
patton in dancing, games OF chance,
or theaters. horse races. and
circuses. 1t put in place OF the old
order a ause which asks-no or
iders-"a thoughtful and instructed
conscience in the choice Of amuse-
ments. The change was made by a
vote OF rs to II, and to become effec-
tive it must be approved by the gen
eral conference. It was proposed
and strong y supported by the Rev. DR..
John w Marshall, who declared at
the outset that everybody knows that
the existing prohibition is not heed
led $iG
| But the amended resolution is not
without considerable vigor. For in
stance: 1--WE look with deep concern
on the great increase OF amusements
|" and lift iqp a solemn note
of warning and entreaty, particular
lily against thegaergofng, dancing,
and such games iof chhhce as are
frequently associated with gamb-
ling itiadds that all those men
toned have been found to be IAN
tagonistic to vital piety, promotiye
OF wordliness and especially per
nicions to youth. The people of the
Methodist church ere affectionately
Iadmonished TO make their amuse
ments the subject of careful thought
and frequent prayer, and special
lclause directs not advises bishops,
superintendent and pastors to aid in
abating what are described as the
evils we deplore.p
Apparently there is an official con
viction that certain things which to
most others seem generally harmless
ARE really full, of danger And the
amended ruling above mentioned
specially declares I'VE deem 1t our
duty 10 summon the whole church
TO apply thoughtful and instructed
conscience to the choice Of amuse-
ments and not to leave them to ac-
cidert or taste or passion All this
is admirably intended, but most
readers-including many Methodists
will feel that a little less regard to
conceptions of life as it was years
ago, and more direct effort to ap.
peal more to individual conscience
and less to doctrine which has al
ready been considerably modified,
may be of greater ultimate value.
Many readers will feel that too much
of the old blue-laws conception
fingers, even after the concessions
recently announced.
aese4 4
The first robin will soon be due
Rutland News.
Certainly, Some of the cheer
full chirpers that have been with
us here in Bennington during the
past few8 days on their northern
flight will probably reach Rutland not
later than April /, provided gentle
spring does not delay her annual.
visit to thefAfarble Metropolis.
every FARMER VINO owns MS lana
aud is out of debt is independent.
Banks may break, syndicates so to the
wall and markets may all be in the