AMERICAN MORALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1924, Page 5

AMERICAN MORALS

METHODIST CONFERENCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.} NEW YORK, May 5. At Springfield, Massachusetts, the Board of Bishops’ address before the American Methodist Episcopal Communion, emphasised the prediction that all the agitation to modify or repeal the prohibition laws will fail as formerly. The bishops incidentally advocated the lifting of the ban on dancing, card playing, theatre and circus going, which have hitherto been forbidden. The address admits that the Prohibition laws are not properly enforced, and it asks did any thoughtful person expect otherwise, in view of the fact that the liqiior traffic was legal for 150 years? Prohibition had become the permanent policy of the American people. Only two States were not ac-

tively supporting the , Eighteenth Amendment, and the best elements therein felt it naturally a humiliation. The Bishops affirmed that, under all the circumstances, the prohibition law had been a great success, and they had as much prospect of the returning of the practice of human slavery as that of legal rum selling. The address concluded with an observation that recent years have brought the people to a depression of moral standards which must concern every lover of mankind, and it . declared that divorce is America’s chief scandal. The conference is considering a resolution asking Congress to defeat the fifty-nine identical Beer Bills, and strengthen the dry law enforcement by placing The prohibition agents under the civil .service?-,. The resolution aroused little objection,’ and is regarded as entail? of adoption. • Further suggestions ..included the deportation of aliens, and the disfranchisement ■ 1 American citizens who persistenJv

violate the prohibition laws. The uniting of Americans with British, Australian and other Methodists in the cause of world peace was urged at the conference by Mr W. McCutcheon, of Melbourne, who suggested that the conference send a radio to Britain and Australia, asking for united brotherhood. He .said: “You will hear us reply; ‘You lead and we will follow. Let’s forget ancient grudges.’ /