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The Methodist Amusement Prohibition

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 4, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 27.

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The Methodist Amusement Prohibition

By Editor

Speaking of the discussion now going on in the General Conference of the Methodist Church in Minneapolis regarding the revision of its church discipline on the question of amusements, the Lutheran of May 16, 1912, says:—
How radically things have changed within the past generation is indicated by the report of the bishops of the Methodist Church on amusements, at the General Conference held in Minneapolis. Out of a total of 2,057 district superintendents, 1,356 report that the rule prohibiting dancing, card-playing, and theatergoing has proved entirely ineffective, and the bishops recommend the abolishment of the rule and a return to the more evangelical method of Wesley in dealing with the situation, leaving it to the conscience of the Christian to judge whether an amusement may or may not be indulged in with safety.
The Lutheran suggests that it would be much better for the conference to deal with the principles involved rather than the details which concern the conscience alone, and leave to the individual the determining of where in his conduct the principle applies.
This principle of dealing with evil must be followed in many cases on the part of the church. However, there are many in the Christian communion today who, on account of their past education, would fail properly to apply the principle. Against many forms of evil the church must decidedly take its position. The fact that the MethodistChurch admits that the rule prohibiting dancing, card-playing, and theatergoing has proved ineffective in so many cases shows, not that the standard of the church on these things is to be changed, but rather that the consciences of the communicants of that church should be educated up to a higher standard of Christian deportment and living.
We observe by reports of the Methodist conference that there has been a refusal to make a change in this particular in the discipline of the church. Of this we are glad, because such a revision could not be regarded otherwise than as a lowering of its standard on the part of the Methodist Church in giving license to its large membership to engage in these questionable pleasures.