THE THEATRE AND DANCING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2124, 5 July 1907, Page 3

THE THEATRE AND DANCING.

The Rev. P. W. Fairclougli, interviewed by tlio New Zealand Times regarding the jYletliodist _ Geneva!

Conference in Sydney, said, in part; “The question of amusements dealt with has attracted a good deal of public attention. The Conference was slightly reactionary. Dr. Fitchett, the President, in his retiring address, set the tone. There was a tendency, for instance, to make the theological studies of theological stu-

dents of a more conservative kind. There was also a tendency to stiffen up the tests of orthodoxy. I suppose this amusement question was another exhibition of tho same feeling. The general drift and tendency has been for many years necessarily in the direction of liberalising the attitude of the Church, which seems

now, on tlio whole, to let people laugh and amuse themselves so long as they attend to the weightier matters of character and duty. This, most emphatically, is tlio "eneral attitude. But the question of amusements arose in. this way: In a revision of the old rules., dating iioiu Wesley’s time, that was made three years ago, a reference to theatre-go-ing and dancing was thought to pe unnecessary. In the old regulations, the expressions ‘theatre-going anil

dancing’ had stood, and in the revision tlie revisers had thought it to ho unwise to particularise two forms of amusement and not mention any others. Consequently they hail struck out ‘theatre-going, and dancing.’ When this was noticed in the

rules, it caused a stir, particularly in Victoria. The omission of the words was regarded as practically the granting of sanction to wliat had previously been forbidden, fco the discussion at the Conference arose from a proposal to reinstate the words. As there had not been any set intention of weakening the attitude of the Church towards what may ho considered frivolous amusements, the words ‘theatre-going and dancin'-' were reinstated by a large majority. But this large majority was not a true dividing line --between those holding liberal and reactionary views on those matters. During, the discussion, which occupied some time, a number of things were said about the injurious effect of excessive amusement and so forth, which were all too true. On the other hand, it was pointed out that the old rules Ox the Church used to discountenance the wearing of gold and costly apparel, whereas those laying the most stress on the amusement question, almost without exception, were found to he wearing the precious metal. We shall no doubt go on distinguishing betwen the game and gambling, and between dancing under different conditions and in different companies.” 1 1 ——-