The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE AND
CAMP MEETING.

CAMP MEETING.
To-day Sunday School Conference will DO opene In
the Presby camp ground at Sea Grove Cape
May, N. j., with a sermon in tho morning by Dr. Her.
rick johnson, OF Auburn Seminary. la tho evening
Dr. Thomas Murphy, OF Philadelphia, will discuss The
Church and tho School" The Conference win sit Tor
week. ana Drs Henson. Randolph, Newton,
Dckcy, Breed, Nevn, OF Philadelphia; Deems, Crosby
and Frank Beard, the artist, OF this city, Drs Duryea
and Tamagc, OF Brooklyn; d.. Withrow. Of Indianap-
polls, lately called TO Park church, Boston, aud
Drs. Wiswell Dulles, Allen and other ccrgymen and
number OF eminent aymen OF New York. Philadc-
pha and other cities viii take part In the proceedings
Among the topics to be discussed in the Conference
arc;-"The Bible and Personal Character" "wbat
Sunday School Workers May Learn from Secular
Teachers'' 'rhe Pastor with the Children and the Su
perintendcnt with the Young Convcrts;' 1.-THE Bible
and Scenco" '.Uses OF the Imagination In the Study
and Teaching Of the Bible" Messrs Shcrwn and
Johnson will give theoretical and practical instruction
Sunday School music and tho international lessons
for July and August will be richly illustrated and
expoundad.
The fraterna camp meeting ut Round Lake began on
tho ed and will continue until July The Round
Lake camp meeting has become famous as the pro-
moter OF Methodist unity; not organic unity any
other human patent but the unity OF tho Spirit in tho
bond Of pence OF great body of Christians who trace
q spiritual lineage to John Wesley The essential
unity OF all our aocks, says the Methodist, is truth
dear enough and strong enough TO givc large sgnin
tho occasions which rally around it
The method pursued at Round Lake IL the only posi-
BILE talk about fraternity, but practise
IT. The preaching Of men from Canada and the Gulf,
from England and India; tho praying together of
citizens OF many States and twenty branches OF ono
Church. tho social and Christian atmosphere where all
united in common effort to build up Chrst's
kingdom and many other things beside conspirc to
soften The sense or differences and TO strengthen the
ties OF a common brotherhood
Bishop Janos will be present long and often as
the health OF Mrs James Will permit and bishops and
eminent ministers and iaymcn from South and North,
from Canada and Europe VIII also DO To take
part The Centennial which is drawing so many from
influence on this. but the time Of holding the camp
meeting has been placed earlier than usual to meet this
draft part and TO give delegates to the General Con-
opportunity to enjoy tho gathering before
they to their homes. The Round Lake meetings
are the eloquent preface of rich volume OF union,
fraternity and salvation be issued by tho Mcthodism
OF the near future.
RELIGIOUS TESTS IN CIVIL COURTS.
70 TuE EDITOR OF THI HERALD
A recently reported IN the HERALD In which
II appeared that question asked witness touch
ing religious belief, with the view OF disquayng
him . witness.
Remembering the scientific developments Of Tree
thought tho rapidly increasing number OF It's ad-
hcrents and the growth and progress Of hberalistc
tendencies this question becomes not only interesting
but worry important 1t not only affects atheists free
thinkers and scientists generally but that very largo
class OF religious people who have given up tho old
hcresy of future state Of punishment and III likely
at no very distant day to great trouble. In
this State Is sufficient to believe that punishment
for perjury only, and generally II is enough II
believes that punishment visits in this world only
aud their followers from being competent
ncsses. And yet would be foolish
enough to say that like these
would DO unlikely testify to the TRUTH less likely
testify TO tho truth than the most orthodox OF be-
iicvers Tho question arises whether law dispensing
with the formality of oath and Furnishing the giving
OF false testimony in the Same manner perjury Is
punished now would not DO equally as effective and
better than the existing at present. well
onance with form Of government In
almost every case involving question OF fact whore
A. asserts and h. denies. the other must evil
IDENTIFY falsely Again. rule, man who Is prepared
oath and leaving sentiment aside the fact is thai Tho
tear OF punishment, and disgrace here IS potent
than tho lear OF hereafter as everything that Is pres
must be TO everything that is remote The natural
the good Were is Otherwise c,y.zcd ex.
stcncc would be impossible As Grecnlcaf says 'thc
disposition believe may be termed Instructive The
fact that bold enough to give expression to
received notions. aud likely TO bring odium than
praise upon him. should DO in itself proof OF his hon.
csty The law has gradually freed itself IRON old rules
which required 10 take very low estimate Of
human nature, and IL Ii time this last shsckle
broken. How religious man say that the nature
which BIO believes ~ be the work Of tho All Good is
bady
II seems strange to hear questions OF religion dis
cussed the courts OF y country which Is supposed
to recognize such thing; and II Is still very
grave question whether law which deprivcs OF
the mporant right OF bcing Witness because OF his
belief upon tho question oil religion. is not directly
opposed to the words and the spirit Of tho United
States constitution. WALDORF II. PHILLIPS
No. I6l Broadway.
MACHINERY OF METHODISM.
GENERAL AND OTHER CONFERENCES.
To THE Enron OF THx HERALD:-