The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Acton Camp Meeting and the Conference.

Acton Camp Meeting and the Conference.
To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
take from published account of the Acton
camp meeting exercises, yesterday, the follow
ing:
THE best Of good feeling peryades the camp and
what wonder is it that the members of other churches
have sough the Acton camp ground for taste Of the
spiritual feast which the Southeastern Indiana Con-
ference of the Methodist Church has for so many
years maintained at that placeq
This statement will make the impression upon
those who do not know better that the South
east Indiana Conference is in some way con-
nected with, or responsible for, the Acton
camp meeting and its Sunday trains, Sunday
gate fees and ten cents profit on Sunday pas
sengers.
do not charge that such statement was
made to Intentionally mislead, but whether that
is or is not the case it is due to the conference
that fair statement of existing relations be-
tween the parties should be publicly made, in
order that those who do not fully understand
the situation may not unjustly censure the
Methodist Church
The Acton Camp-meeting Association is com
posed Of the persons who own OF rent tents on
its grounds. regardless Of whether they are con-
nected with the Methodist or any other church
organization. In the management of the affairs
of the association each tentholder has one vote
|
year, the tent-holders elect board of five
trustees, who direct and control its affairs Said
trustees ara chosen without any reference what
ever to their being church members or not, so
that the conference, as SUCH has no voice what
ever in its management; and in fact, it is per
fectly competent, should the association please,
to choose a board of trustees not one of whom
would be a member Of the Methodist or any other
church. 1t is provided in the constitution that
the presiding elder of the Indianapolis district
shall be ex oficio president of the association.
And this is the only connecting link between
the association and the conrerence--a link purely
OF the associations making, and which can, at
their pleasure, be as easily broken as made.
Should majority of the tent-holders so deter
mine, Bishop Chatard or the Pope might be
chosen to succeed the present incumbent as its
president
1t is evident think, to any one from the
facts already stated, that there can beno possible
oohgatlon upon the part of said presiding elder to
act as president of the camp meeting by reason
OF such action, and if he accept the position, it is
done OF his own free will and accord, and not be-
cause there is the slightest reason or necessity
for his doing so. The Southeast Indiana Confer
ence, by its action in 1883, sets the seal of its
condemnation very plainly upon the Acton
Camp meeting Association, in the following res
olution.
Resolved While we rejoice in the good accom-
plshed by camp meetings in the past we are of the
hrm conviction that the time has come when they
should be held if at all with closed gates on the Sab
bath day. That if, after proper efforts have been
made to correct the evils complained of, campmeet-
ing associations and railroads will not regard and heed
our oft repeated utterances this subject we will
withhold support influence and presence from all
meetings associations where the day of God is des
ecrated by the running Of Sunday trains gate fees or
traffic of any kind"
When the association, at its meeting in May
last, voted for open gates and Sunday trains,
it came under the penalty named in the above
resolution, namely, that the ministers who be-
long to the conference will withhold their sup
port influence and presence
It is stated that several prominent members
of the conference are already on the ground all
Of whom doubtless voted for the above resolu-
ton. Methodist ministers may be able to
justify themselves for such action but the laity
find considerable difficulty in explaining it,
The camp meeting will continue the even
tenor of its way, with Sunday trains and the
other collateral violations of the law Of State
and church, as long as money can be made
thereby. and not day longer. Methodist min
isters will vote for red-hot resolutions at con
ference regarding observance of the Sabbath,
and few of the weak l1need and very narrow ones
will go to Acton just the same as if they had no
VOW upon them. But do not let it be under
stood for all this that the Southeast Indiana Con
ference is running the camp meeting, or that the
presiding elder, or any other of its members
have any business there whatever, except as
they go there of their own free will and choice,
and in utter and surprising disregard of the
action of the Southeast Indiana Conference.
lNDIANAPoLIs July 81. METHODIST