Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-05
THE OBSERVANCE OF rHE SAB
BATH DAY.
Address of Ministers Of thc Methodist
Episcopal Church on Sunday Trains
I'd Cnmp-meetfngS-Ehe Action C1 she
baltimore Annual Conference E,,-
d0Esed and Commended.

haltfuaore Annual Conference M.
dOrsed and Commended.
To The Ministers and Members Of Ge WdshinFof:
District OF the Baltimore Anaadl Con fcs'eaoe:
Dear B,earen:-For several years past the
Baltimore annual conference has urged upon IT'S
minister's and members the Importance of the
observance of the Sabbath day in connection
with our annual camp-meetings Ii has espe-
cally condemned sunday trains and Sunday
trafficking as tending to debase the Lords day
in the public estimate" The policy of the WASH
ington Grove camp-meeting association in for
mer years has not been in harmony with the sem
timents expressed 10y the conference on these
points. and its purpose to continue similar ar
engagements in connection with the camp this
year, Notwithstanding the explicit condemnation
thereof 10y the conference at its last session has
induced the undersigned members of the WASH
tngton preachers meeting to call To your atten-
ton the declarations Of our conference to state
the reasons which impei them to absent them
serves rom the approaching camp-meeting at
washington Grove, and urge upon YOU a COM
pilahce WIFE the advice and request of the con-
ference upon the subject.
At the session of March. 1879 the conference
said: above all others. the Church of Christ
should he free from conniyance Of any practice
tending to debase Gods day in the public esti-
mate. We declare our condemnation of every
tending to debase the Sabbath. such as traffck-
ing on that day, and the running of Sunday
trains We urge the strongest efforts to correct
these evils"
Inspired by this action of the conference, the
Emory Grove Camp meeting association de-
cined to hold a camp the following summer I'M
less the Western Maryland railroad would COM
ply with its original agreement not to run ex-
curslon trains to their grounds on the Lords
day. At the session of 1850 the conference COM
Init nya nv,I IL. s.uT
such action wise and proper and insist that
every means should be employed to prevent
sabbath dissertation at camp-meetings and re-
iisious services everywhere throughout our
bounds"
The general conference of our church. its
highest authority, in the pastoral address of
1850. in referring to camp-meetings. spoke OF
the dissertation " of the Sabbath day i'm public
tfayel as crying evil that demands correction"
These utterances of our general and annual
conferences We're disregarded by the Washing
ton Grove Association. Sunday trains con-
tinued tC run to the Washington Grove camp
and the profits thereof were divided between
the railroad and the association. In pursuance
of its established policy at the stockholders
meeting OF October "A, 1881, a resolution
recommending the finance committee to de-
cline to receive i'm the future drawback on
tickets sold or issued on the Sabbath day." was
indefinitely postponed.
Thus did the association again put itself in
the Baltimore annual conferences.
Impressed with the importance of this sub
iect the annual conference at its recent session
again took unequivcc2l action in favor of the
sanctity of the Sabbath day, and passed the fol-
lowing resolutions:
1st THAT we honor the established precedent
of the brethren of some OF our camp meeting as
sOcatiols in their conscientious scrupes i'm re-
fusing to negotiate with railroad corporations
to set at naucbt Gods law; and do hereby
defend and eXempify to tie utmost of our
ability the moral preeepts which they have mag
nfcd'
I'd. - That we express our unqualified con-
demnatiOn of all camp-meeting associations
which agree to receive rebate from Sunday
travel on the railroads; and we urge our people
and preachers to discountenance all camp-meet-
ings that continue such practices
Sincerely did We hope that the brethren of the
association would deSist in the future from the
evils thus referred to; but to our great sorrow
and regret we learned that in May last, and be-
fore any action had been taken by the preachers
meeting. they again resolved upon the continu-
ance of their former practice in regard to the
rebate from Sunday trains.
Two communications from the Washington
preachers meeting asking for conference on
this subject were refused consideration, one
being referred to the meeting Of May, 1883, be-
cause addressed to the Association and not the
executive committee" the other addressed to
laid on the table. The action of the association
in thus perSiSting in practices which the
conference has condemned year after year 'as a
dissertation of the Sabbath day. and tending to
debase it in the public estimate. ''as crying
evils to correct which it urged and insisted upon
the strongest efforts" in our Judgment not only
releases every minister and member of the NJ. +.
church from the obligation of supporting the
camp meeting but on the contrary calls upon
them by every proper effort TO discVuntenance
Sabbath day is of far more value to the church
and community than any camp meeting or other
religious service. As the conference said i'm
1880, 1--WE live in times when foundations are
being tested Not only are the principles Of our
Christian faith being assaled but the bases or
Christian morals and social order are being at
tackled 1t becomes Christian people
to be alert. 1t is the duty CT Christian
people to preserve this heritage of our common
humanity"
Dear brethren. approving Of and commend
ing to you the action of the general and Balti-
more annual conferences on this subject. with
the earnest prayer that the time may soon come
when the Methodism OF our city and district can
be united in hearty and conscientious support
of the Washington Grove camp-neetng in ac-
cordance with the teachings of the Holy Scrip
lures, we urge you TO dscountenance that and
all other camp-meetings supported in whole or
part by practices contrary TO the Word of God.
and expressly condemned as such by the highest
councils of the NJ. E. church.
We remain your brethren in Christ.
MILFORD Downs. pastor Waugh station.
s. NJ Hartsock. pastor Hamline station.
r. N. Baer, pastor Metropolitan station.
j. G. Hagey, pastor Grace station.
L. NJ. Gardner. pastor Mt. Zion station.
w. T. l.. Weecll, pastor Union station.
c. Herbert Richardson, pastor Mckendree
station.
T. A. Morgan. pastor 12th-street station.
w. Hirst Reed, pastor North Capitol and Me-
mortal stations.
G. NJ. Berry, pastor Tennalytown station.
E. S. Fort pastor Forestville circuit
John r. Wright, local preacher of Hamline
station.
H. A. Gross, local preacher Of Georgetown
station.
w Fort lncsl nreacher of HaInline station