Show methodists NOW FAM amusement GENERAL conference ES restrictions FROM DANCING AND OTHER SPORTS sponsor of report condemns theartres theatres The atres As working a decided hardship on churches springfield mass the methodist ban upon amusements except those which cannot be used in the name 0 the lord jesus was wag lifted by a five to one vote vole of the methodist episco pal general conference here A minority report forbidding theatre attendance on sundays and specifying dancing and immoral theatre performances for mances was tabled by to to votes there was no debate dr george elliot of detroit presented the majority of a standing committee on the state of the church and W if short of fort worth texas spoke for the minority report the adoption of the former removed restrictions against dancing games of chance and all theatre attendance in force since the churchs churche inception we are not beating a retreat we are going forward dr elliott said religion must appeal to the conscience science and it is the conscience or men that must be treated this new law goes back to wesley and paul and jesus christ and goes forward to a aime when law shall be no more because written in the hearts of men preachers now will stand in the pul pits not with a emans club but bui with the shepherds crook in their hands they will go along on oil a new program for the saving of souls sunday theatres theartres the atres are working a great haid hardship ship on the churches mr short said dancing is one of the great causes of divorce people will say that the methodist church has retreated if the minority report is not adopted besides the changes in the church law which applied to section of the discipline the majority report altered the definitions given in paragraph 69 of the special advices advises in the discipline which warned against theatre going so as to read as follows we lift up a solemn note of warning and entreaty particularly against attendance upon immoral questionable and misleading theatre cal and motion picture performances |