The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-14
PETITI0NING FOR QUIET.
CHURCHEs AGAINSTSUNDIT Trains ON
THIt METROPOLITAN nom.


TIE METROPOLITIN nom.
A Meeuug In the Onices orthe Conrpnny-The
Reasons Advanced by the Churches In OPP
position SO Rapid Travelling On Sunday.
A committee OF clorgymon and laity, rep
resenting the churches situated on or nenr tho
line OF the Metropolitan Elevated Railway had
a hoaring before the officers OF the Manhattan
Railway Company yesterday morning relative
TO the running Of Sunday trains over the Sixth
avenue road. Tho hearing was by previous mp
pointment In the offices OF the Metropolitan
Company. at II broadway The committee rep
resenting the churches consisted Of Thomas i.
Powers OF st. Clements Church. In Amiiy
street. Chairman; the Rev. William j. Merritt
OF the Union Reformed Church. at Third street
and Sixth avenue, sccrctary the Row. DR. Will
liam Taylor and c. NJ. Bliss OF the Broadway
Tabernacle; tho Rev. DR.. Theodore A. Eaton
and Charles A. sherman Of ST. Clements
Church The Row Samuel W. Hamilton pastor
OF the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Four
teenth street the Roy George q. Ilelps, pastor
Of the Alien Street Pfpsbytcrian Church; and
FT rHot EEsGitg EsSqing Tfny w rnfr6
street AMI SlNth NV nue has participated ~ NE
movement. hut rcflancl from scnilng 2 dole
pnstor. tho Rev. Dr.. Lawrence.
Tho Committee waA MT ny William II. Garri-
son. Pr sidcnt ~ both IL" Manhattan md Met
ropoliiun companies: ~ Guliiurd. So rotary
and Trea-uer ot thc Mnnhauop aud We. Pres
ident Of the N'w York Elevated Railroad Cnm-
puny. Jnmc- Coving, Trusulrr 81 tlc NV
York aud a ',ir' tor OF tn AkYh"itnn j. 7. ds
Na nay Ir' M Ia ah rIm ilo Mt9t ,nl
agcr9f the Manhattan and Chiri Engineer of
Mr.. Powers. as chairman. briefly stated tho
object ul tho conference. aud called ufOn the
Rev. Mr.. Merritt ~ road the formal protest that
had been prepared. 1t WAS as follows:
'Atu meeting oi the clcrgy and lhl;y OF the VA
Tious church's on ihg linn Of the Manhattan
ut the sunday school room %; Trinity Chanel,
for the purpose ot preventing the tUnn.ng %
Sunday trains ou the road u was SOLVED that
~ committee ~ tine rector. a. ui.'rr or priest vi
the various Churches IN the line ~ th" Mauhnt-
tan Railroad IN the city oi New York. with one
to wait urea thu officers II the road and rcmou-
strntc n..a.nst the disiurbanr" OF lub!ic wor-
ship by the proposed running Of trains on sun
day Su.h Committee was duly appointed by
Thrrrounds Of this remons,rnncc are:
first-Thut the incessnnt aud continued
rumblirs uoise II the ears white n motion has
already proved f. be great disturbance OF re-
ligious worship in all these churches having
week Gns ..rN.cs and Will tonl to Destroy all
solemn OF church service on sun lay. and in
church, nu 1r adjacent 10 IN iineof The r0Hd
Of the quiet and solemnity due 80 BE- sabbath.
and prevent their enjoyment OF all religious
"Socond--That sunday or the Sahl nth has boon
set apart ~ law and by Christian u-ue' for the
purpos' oi rest and quiet aud iny' rah. y forrc;
ligioue SO i~hip. and ought NOS o. 4" disturbed
or interi"rl With Nnirss IN case 90 absolute
"TMrd-TLcrc is noapp MISUNDERSTANDING
runnn. oi sun Jay trains; thcr" : cert iiEy no
obligation due by the company % the GOV ,rn-
ment-city Siatc or national; g. ~ -o hut il Is
rather violation % the lava ru1 t,d from limo
70 time for 'hc observance OF Sunday by all au-
,"FSur'h-Nagy powerful reason. N.st orlho
observnrc of sunday by the company and the
suspension az their business ou iHat day
Among thcse. The necessity Of rect ID their en-
pioyers; j lirs been found "a 90 long cxpe-
N .HHaH 80 Na4t
stsntly on the watch the mental tcr-.on ia So
great that in consequence Of she fatigue, after
certain twe they cease 81 be capable OF hcing
alert to observe tho small thinAs from which
accidents almost invariably occur. lnnumcr-
able instances OF this could be cited. affecting
all bran hes 81 trade 10 such an eNt,nt tina, 1t
has been found economical In some cases not
only to enforce ldlene6s on the pnrt Of tho en-
ployeos. bat 20 prevent their work M more than
six. seven. or eight hours per day. Besides
this the metals 81 which your structure l. COM
posed become Themselves iaiiglFd by the in
cessant vibration. Recent elaborate expert
ments have proved that iron and steel under
these condion5 become weakened so as to be-
come unsafe. but with tho samN amount Of
may rciaia their strength There Is very ittlc
out any period Of rest WILL in time easily fore
seen. more than swallow up any gain which
might accrue 10 the company from tho fares OF
Sunday trains. Examples proving that con-
tinunl usr without rest means loss In tho end
are wlIhin the experience oil almost every engi-
Fifth-Wc cannot but hope that the company,
on VIII $40 INC lfOpIlttN Nuu
necessity 81 a compliance with our request. and
suspend tho running OF their trains on sunday
as desired. 90 least during the hours OF divine
service on that day say from 10 \. VI. until |
I. NJ, and from to5 =. NJ and also from L. NJ.
to i. VI.
Nearly every member II the Committee spoke
In support OF the protest each advancing Nrgu-
mcnts in favor Of some particular point. and
each in behalf OF tie church that rcprr sonte 4.
The principal speeches were made by Dr. Tay-
lor and Prot Eglesion. DR.. Taylor treated the
subject from "a religious point OF Wow. and dwell
upon the damage thut would result to his own
church, He said they would hi compelled 10
move elsewhere 10 great Expense and llss. and
do 80 perhaps only 10 be- disturbed n second
time. Proi Eglcs,on treated the matter on
scientific grounds, charging upon tho fourth
head Of the protest.
After the Committee had finished President
Garrison received the protest AMI snid thnt the
officers OF tho company would give il and the
points To which their attention had been called
ihcir careful ana earnest attention. would con-
slider the subject duly and aim 10 decide lu-
iiclOuslY.
Immediately after tho Committee retired the
Manhattan Company held meeting. which
was said 30 be- rclatyo to routine business. A
special meeting viii ho called Ia consider the
question Of sunday trains.
menh 4 Of tie Committee said that he
wished II 10 Ice understood that the churches
had simply asked "A favor Of the company. and
that no hostil" feeling existed. nor ia event Of Il
refusal 70 grant IL would legal proceedings be
resOrtcd 10.
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