The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-06
OPPOSING SUNDAY TRAINS.
WILL SOME or THE CHURCH EDIEICES
NAVE TO RE ABANDONED

hdf r. ~ bG fbfNDOnLDF
The Preachers' Round Robin Protestinx
against sunday Travel on the Metropolitan
Elevated HnIIroad-OpI OpInions Of the Pastors.
Eversince earlylast autumn those churches
whose houses OF worship are located on or near
the Metropolitan Elevated Railway have been
comforting rs to the best means Of preventing
that company from running its trains on sun
day. In many cases the clergymen say the con-
tinuancc of their church services depends upon
tho solution Of this problem. Tho churches
along the limo nre few. but they are among the
most conspicuous in the city. Trinity Church
feels itself concerned. and its rector DIR. Dix.
has been active in the movement. The repre-
sentativcs OF the various churches held their
meetings in Trinity Chapel. Following the
line Of the railway there are ST. Peters Catholic
Church at Barclay and Church streets.
st. Alphonsus Catholic Church in South
Fifth avenue. St. Clements Episcopal Church
in West Third street. near Macdougal
street: the Union Reformed Dutch Church. OPP
posito West Third street in Sixth avenue; st.
Josephs Catholic Church in Sixth avenue on
the corner Of Waverley place the Washington
Square Methodist Church in Fourth street. near
the avenue; the Scotch Presbyterian Church in
Fourteenth street. close to Sixth avenue; St.
Paul's Lutheran Church. at Fifteenth street and
Sixth avenue the Church OF tho Holy Com
munion lEpiscopaD. on the corner OF twentieth
street and Sixth avenue ,he Broadway Taber-
naclc CONGREGATIONAL Church. at Thrty-iourth
street and Broadway where the latter thorough
fare crosses Sixth avenue. and the Madison Ave-
nue. Baptist Church. in Fifty-third street. down
which street the main line Of the railway pur-
sues its way to Join the other elevated road in
| Ninth avenue.
The round robin in the shape Of a petition that
was sent out as q fceer last autumn. before the
first conference was determined on. was signed
by the pastor Of each Of tho churches except one.
| Father Farrell Of 81. Joseph's Catholic Church.
| on the corner Of Navercy place and Sixth ave-
nue., withheld his name. He says he did not
think 1t wise for a comparatively small repre-.
| sentation Of the people tas the congregation OF
St. Josrph's. for instancel TO oppose the wishes
| OF the public generally III the Sunday
trains were necessary they would be run;
II not. they would not be put on.
very, great many people will use the road
| take their children TO the Park. IL is necessary
Ipr lne puolle nealth thSt ll,s noluHy hnu iIeSh
| air should he enjoyed. Perhaps II would be
worse for the morals OF the people II their lib
erty were hindered and they were kept stewing
| at home. Father Farrell. however, believes the
running Of sunday trains will prove nuisance
To worshippcrs along the route He thought
| perhaps II could be arranged So that the trains
would be stopped during the hours OF church
| service. The hours during which the heaviest
traffic is carried on would not then be lnterfered
with, For the reason that prevented his sign
ing the petition. he did not attend the meeting
| OF clerRymen.
The only churches that we're not represented
at the meetings in Trinity rChapel were the
| Roman Catholic churches. The Rrdemptorist
the Church OF st. Aoysius. next to their house.
| say that they are heartily opposed TO the run
| ming OF sunday trains and signed the petition
| that was brought 10 them. but 1t is not in ac-
cordance with their habits to attend or take
part in public meetings. except those OF a reli-
The representatives Of the churches held sew
eral meetings until on the 2Gth Of last Novem-
| Powers OF St Clements Episcopal Church for It's
| Chairman. the Rev. W. b. Merritt OF the Union
the Scotch Presbyterian Church, the Broadway
| Tabernaclc. and the representatives, OF the
| It's formation This committee learned that
| some OF the trustees of the Metropolitan Com
pany were opposed to the running Of trains
| on sunday. and these trustees were Informally
conferred with. The Rev. DR.. W. W. Auerbury
representing tho sabbath COMMITTEES" AN in
| nuentialfunsectarian body, organized for sab
| batarian purposes. attended one or two of the
| meetings. II is not known whether the " Sab
bath Committee will cooperate with the
| churches. but the Church Committee is de-
| sirous OF its aid. The Rev. DR.. William NJ Tay-
| tee that the future OF his congregation would be
| threatened u the sunday time table should be
adopted; He said toa Sun reporter yesterday
| though he believed In Christian observance
| Of sunday. he thought IL better that the poor
should go to Central Park than stay
| and swelter in the downtown tenements. The
| Sunday travel will be n the direction OF
| Central Park he said But the elevated trains
| are not necessary lOf tllNt tThNtl. Inc elevated
roads were chartered because Of their value 10
business men through the week and for no
other reason. They will be run for pleasure
seekers on Sundays. Pleasure seekers are no
moro to be favored than my congregation. II
takes all my vim 10 make myself heard in the
church now. and with trains running. one
third Of my people cannot hear me in the win
will be deprived Of comfort in the summer
Why can't We stop the nuisance? We can stop
Il band playing in front OF church. Why can't
W. stop this racket ana dir z
a Ifwf Nfu
| Inhabitants but poor protection. Four years
ago he said. his church WAS assessed $4,000
| for widening Broadway, and with interest adj
ded the assessment amounted to SIS 900. which
in spite OF gumbling had 10 be paid.
| The reporter wis admitted to the Church OF
the Holy Communion at Twentieth street and
| Sixth avenue. yesterday. by the sexton. Al
though the windows were closed il was impos-
| slbe To hear ordinary conversation al the dis
| tance ot live feet when trains were rumbling
past. The rector ot this church. the Rev. Dr.
| Lawrence signed tho petition. but was too Ill TO
The Rev. Mr. HsnnicRe Of St. Pau's Lutheran
| Church nj Fifteenth street and SIKH avnnue
| recognizes the usefulness Of the trains on week
days, but does not think them necessary ON
The Rev. Theodore A. Eaton Of St. Clements
| Church in West Third street said very earnestly
yesterday; | seriously belle that il the trains
| are run on Sunday shall be obliged 10 discon-
| thinks the railway company can bo indicted
under the law against tho disturbance OF public
The Rev Mr. Merritt Of tho Union Reformed
Church says TINT the trains IN turning INTO sixth
| avenue from West Third street cease their
rumbing, but I'LL the air with IL grinding noise
| and the Kissing OF steam, which renders his
| congregation uncomtortnule II disturbs him
| ana prevents his being heard. lie does not be-
lieve that il will be we'll for the churches TO com
| promise with the railway companyso rs To allow
| them to run AT certain hours. Beginning with
Catholic mass at IN the morning tho Sunday
| school services and the regular Protestant even
| ing services, there are no hours in which they
| can run without disturbing worship The test
| cases which can and may be brought by the
| churches will cover the hours from O'Clock
| inthe morning until 10 o'clock at night. eXcept-
| ing two hours immediately alter midday. AS ii
| is now almost definitely understood that tho
| Sundny time table will 20 into effect. the Rev.
| Mr.. Merritt thinks il probable that the Church
| Committee will meet within few days and de-
| eide upon vigorous action.