The New York herald., 1922-01-03
PASTORS APPROVE
CLEAN PLAY PLEA
Methodists Back the Rev. III.
D. Miller, Who Has Actor
Occupy Pulpit.

In urging his flock to go TO theaters to
see "clean, wholesome plays" and in
saying the so-called ban of the church
on theatergoing and dancing misrepre-
sents the spirit of Methodism, the Rev.
Harry Dwight Miller, pastor of the Han
son Place Methodist Church. Brooklyn,
seems to have aroused no resentment
among the majority of ministers of his
denomination in New York city. In fact.
most of those whose views were sounded
yesterday approved his attitude.
1t would appear that should members
of the New York conference vote on the
matter. the ban would be rescinded. This.
however, could be done only by the ma
tional body, which has approached the
subject several times but never has
taken definite action toward removing
the prohibition.
Mr.. Miller spoke his mind Sunday eve
ming following an address on "Clean
Plays" by Harry Davenport. leading
actor in THANK You" Mr.. Miller fa-
vored cooperation with producers of such
plays, and with those who would rid the
dance of Objectionable features. He OBJ
jected to gambling in any form.
The Rev. DIR. j. Lewis Hartsock. pas
tor of st. Andrews Methodist Church,
Manhattan, agreed with Mr.. Miller. He
pointed out the ban which Is objected
to is really not rule of the church but
a paragraph in the chapter of advice
adopted in 1872 through the efforts OF
the late Rev. Aaron f. Ballard, founder
of Ocean Grove, n. J. The chapter in
DR.. Hartsock's opinion should be re-
garded as a recommendation rather than
law.
During the last few years" he added,
"reople have claimed a right to think
for themselves and there has been an
emancipation of thought in the modern
church. / look on these things as on
most creeds: time makes them obsolete
in part"
The Rev. 7. f. Price, pastor OF the
Washington Heights Methodist Church,
said he began as far back as 1877 an
effort to have the ban rescinded. He
thought then, as he does now. that
Methodists ought to be allowed to sec
wholesome plays.
81 have no sympathy with such a
prohibition" said Mr.. Price. "A Method
ist Conference has no right to go beyond
the Scriptural principle, which leaves
the question of amusement to the IN
dividual conscience"
The Rev. S. w. Grafflin. pastor OF the
Park Avenue Methodist Church, said
Brother Miller is correct up to GER
tain point That is. what he says is
perfectly true, but the trouble Is some
persons are certain to mistake advocacy
of liberty for license. John Wesley put
these questions up to the individual con-
science. and that is where they belong.
The church should be conservative, hut
It should be sanely conservative"
The Rev. Frederick Brown Harris.
pastor of Grace Methodist Church.
deemed the paragraph forbidding plays
and dancing as "a principle. not club
He saw no reason for any controversy
arising from Mr.. Miller's remarks.
The only indication of dissent came
from the Rev. A. NJ. Morgan, postor of
the West Side Methodist Church who
said. in reference to Mr.. Miller and Mr..
Davenport. "I shouldn't care to take
exactly the attitude of either man, so
/ think I shall not say anything"
Several Manhattan ministers noted
that the so-called ban does not apply
TO opera or motion pictures. "a fact which
they regarded as Inconsistent with the
rest of the admonltion.
In Brooklyn the Rev. Edward Il.
Wright pastor of the t'latlands Method
ist Church. declared himself in full
agreement with Mr.. Miller. He said :
"I find the condition he complains Of
that young people are being driven from
the church by its attitude toward
amusement"