The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-07-01
OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.
Address of Ministers of the Meth odist
Episcopal Church ON Sunday
Trains TO Camp Ac-
tion of baltimore Annual Confer
ouce IuInrand mud Cnn I'M q nIeI.


tion of baltimore Annual Confer
cuce Endorsed and Commended.
To The Ministers and Members Of Washington
District Of Tie baltimore annual Conference:
DEAR BRETHREN: For several years past
the Baltimore Annual Conference has urged
upon Its ministers and members tho import
ance OF the observance of tho Sabbath day In
connection with our annual camp-mootings.
1t has especially condemned '"Sunday trains
and Sunday tranlcking as tending to dobase
the Lords day in tho public estimate" Tho
policy of tho Washington Grove Camp. Meeting
Association in former years has not been In
harmony with tho sentiments expressed by
tho Conference on these points, and Its pur-
pose TO continue similar arrangements In con-
nection with the camp this year, notwithstand-
ing tho explicit condemnation thereof by the
Conference ut It's last session, has induced the
undersigned members OF tho Washington
preachers meeting TO call TO your attention
the declarations of our Conference, to state
the rensons which impell them to absent thom
selves from the approaching camp.moetlng nj
Washington Grove, and urge upon you com
pliance with the advice and request OF the Con
ference upon this subject.
At tho session of March, 1870, tho conference
said "Abovo all others, tho Church OF Christ
should DO free from connivanco Mt any prac-
tice tending to debasc Gods day In the public
ectimatc. We declare our condemnation of
everything in connection with our camp.meet.
ings tending to dcbaso tho Sabbath, such as
trafIckng on that day, and the running of
Sunday trains. We urge tho strongest efforts
TO correct these evils"
Inspired by this action OF the Conference,
tho Emory Grove Campaigning Association
declined 10 hold a camp tho following summer
unless tho Western Maryland Railroad would
comply with Its original agreement not TO run
excursion trains TO their grounds on the Lords
day. At the session Of 1850 tho Conference
commended this resolution and said: ave
deem such action Wise and proper, and Insist
that every means should DO employed 10 pre-.
vent Sabbath dissertation NJ camp.meeting5
nnd religious services everywhere throughout
our bounds"
The General Conference Of our Church, Its
IrI.A naN a a
1880, In referring TO camp.meetings, spoke
'of the dcsecratlon OF the Sabbath day In pub.
lie travel as crying evil that demands correc-
tion."
These utterances of our General and Annual
Conferences were disregarded by tho Washing.
ton Grove Associ lat, sunday trains c9ntin
and the profits thereof wero divided between
the railroad and the association. In pursuance
M mee ss Of October iss resolnten
Recommending tho finance committee TO de-
cline to receive In the future drawback on
tickets sold or issued on the Sabbath day" was
Indefinitely postponed.
Thus did the association again put Itself In
opposition to the declarations OF the General
and the Baltimore Annual Conferences.
Impressed with the Importance of this sub
ject, the Annual Conference at It's recent ses-
sion again took unequivocal action In favor of
tho sanctity OF the Sabbath day, and passed
the following resolutions;
First-That we honor tho established pre-.
cedent OF tho brethren OF some OF our camp
scruples In refusing to negotiate with railroad
corporations TO set at naught Gods law; and
do hereby pledge ourselves, as minister's Of
the Gospel, 10 defend and exemplify 10 the ut
most OF our ability the moral precepts which
they have magniled.
second-That we express our unqualified con.
| domination OF all campmeetng associations
which agree to receive a rebate from Sunday
| travel on tho railroads; and We urge our
| people and preachers to discountenance all
camp.meetings that continue such practices.
Sincerely did we hopo that the brethren of
the association ould desist In the future from
the evils thus referred to- but to our great sor-
| row and regret wo learned that In May last,
| and before any action had been taken by tho
| preachers meeting, they again resolved upon
| Inc continuance of their former practice In re-
| gard to the rebate from Sunday trains.
Two concentrations from tho Wash.r55 ssOi.
| preachers meeting, asking for a conference on
| this subject were refused consideration, ono
being referred to the meeting OF May, 1888, be.
| cause addressed to the "assoclatlon and not
| the executive committee" tho other addressed
| was laid on the table. Tho action of the asso-
| citation in thus persisting In practices which
| the conference has condemned year after year
| "as n dissertation OF the Sabbath day, and
| tending TO debase 1t IN tho public estimate"
| ''as crying evils to correct which 1t urged
and insisted upon the strongest efforts" In
| our judgment not only releases every minis
| ter and member Of the NJ. +. Church from the
| obligation of supporting the camp.meeting,
buton the contrary calls upon them by every
| proper effort to discountenancc and withdraw
| from II. The observance OF the sabbath day Is
| of far more value TO tho Church and com.
| munity than any camp-meeting or other re-
| ligious service. AS the conference said in
| 1850, ave live In times when foundations are
being tested. Not only are the principles OF
| our Christian faith being assalled, but tho
bases OF Christian morals and social order are
| being attacked. 1t becomes Chris
tian people to be alert 1t is the
| duty of Christian people to preserve this
| heritage Of our common humanity"
| Dear bret rem, approving of, and commend.
| ing to you u action of the General and Bal.
timore, Ami Conferences on this subject
| with tho eal est prayer that tho time may
soon come wi the Methodism of our city
and district WI be united In q hearty and
conscientious ST. pport OF the Washington Grove
Camp. Meeting In accordance with the teach
ings Of the Holy Scriptures, We urge you &c
discothtenance that and all other campmeet
ings supported In whole or part by practices
condemned as such by the highes. councils o.
the NJ. L. Church.
We remain your brethren In Christ,
MILFORD Downs, Pastor Waugh Station.
s. NJ. Hartsock, Pastor Hamllne Station.
II. N. Baer, Pastor Metropolitan Station.
10. Hagoy, Pastor Grace Station.
L. NJ. Gardner, Pastor Mt. Zion Station.
w. II. l.. Weech, Pastor Union Station.
q. Herbert Richardson, Pastor Mckendre'
Station.
| TIA. Morgan, Pastor Twelfth-street Station
W. Hirst Reed, Pastor North Capitol and Me
mortal Stations.
G. NJ. Berry, Pastor Tennallytown Station.
| +. s. Fort, Pastor Forestville Circuit.
John II. Wright, Local Preacher of Hamlin
| Station.
H. 4. Gross, Local Preacher of Georgetown
| Station.
WIS, Fort, Local Preacher of Hamllne Sta
| ton.