The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-19
A Discussion of Sunday Newspapers.

SARATOGA. May 1.-THE topmost topics in
the Presbyterian General Assembly today were
Sunday newspapers and the relief of aged and
disabled ministers. The first was brought up in
the preliminary prayer meeting by Rev. DR.. Jes-
sup, the ex-moderator, who preached the open
ing sermon. His long hair and beard both
streaked with gray, make him look like one of
the old patriarchs who soiourned ia the land of
promise, where he, himself, has so long labored
for the divine Master who appeared to them in
visions He said he was not here last year, but
he learned through the press that a New York
paper ran Il Sunday train to Saratoga, bringing
copies of its Sunday issue for sale. and this when
ono of the editors and also the president of the
railroad which brought the newspapers We're
Presby No interest we might feel IN
politics. finance or anything else should so IN
terest us that we would buy Sunday papers to
read.
During the session of the General Assembly
which followed DIR. Jessup introduced a resolu
ton eondemning the purchasing or reading OF
secular newspapers on the Lords Day. He SAID
the thunder of railroad trains and the cries of
aewsboys seemed to proclaim that we should
have no more Sabbath. The Sunday editions
are the largest of the whole week. and it takes
al dav to read them through. He would like to
stand on the Hudson River railroad while sun
day train was passing and wave a red danger
signal If asked what the danger was, he would
answer they were running over the fourth com
nandment.
Rev Dr. Edison of Indianapolis asked if the
resolution was intended to include the 'Phari-
sees Trrmpets,N as DR. Prime had facetiouslY
styled the religious journals He would exclude
all if amy. One of the greatest questions of the
day is What to do with Sunday The late Will
lam f. Dodge would not even have a
'-Pharisees' Trumpet opened in his
house on Sunday. He did not like
TO single out the newspaper man from other
aYad dpal Wa a
bigger question involved than aifordlng rest TO
employees. What would we do with the United
States government, which distributes mails and
requires postoAice employees to work on Sunday
What should be done with stockholders in Sab
BATH breaking railroads! He would like com
Inittee appointed to prepare a minute upon Sab
bath observance, not III one thing only, but III
all things. and made a motion to that effect
Elder Robertson, of Santa Fe stripped of his
evefeoat 10 join in the discussion. and his unCef-
coat came off with it, to the great amusement OF
the venerable dignitaries- He thought this one
of the most important questions likely to come
before the assembly. Every State had law re
curing Sabbath observance. The thing needed
was to have them obeyed. In New Mexico
legislator, nominally Presbyterian,
moved to make Sunday laws apply only to
places with over two thousand inhabitants,
and it prevailed. Now, the Eastern
soiourner sees the Jesuit fathers bring their
students out and play base ball with them every
Sunday 1t was hard work to keep the crowd
back so the players could run the bases.
Mr. Gratzley, of St. Louis, and others fol
lowed when the resolution was adopted. and
Rev Doctor Jessup Edison and Little, and
Elders Pershing and GratZley were appointed.
The other topic considered was ministerial
relief The board reported relief furnished to
205 ministers, 262 widows, and thirty one
orphans. The receipts were $2f, T13. H. added
to the permanent fund; $1,000 worth of cloth
ing distributed, and $112 S75 50 for current use.
This was an increase of 80 356 81 over last year,
and $50 600 in five Years
Rev. DR. George Hale, secretary of the board,
made a lengthy address, eongratulating the
assembly upon the enlarged gift and freedom
from debt He made an earnest appeal for
further increase of gifts, saying three times last
year the treasury had been empty.
He was followed by Rev. S. 7. Spear of the
independent; Rev. Drs. Prime, Mutchmore,
Hamill and Harper, Elder Keene and others.
DR.. Harper hoped there would not this year,
nor any other year, be as many as 2, 1888 churches
which contributed nothing whateverto this fund.
A fraternal letter was received from the
Methodist General Conference, now in session
vt Philadelphia. 1t was referred, and a reply
will be sent This is the first official CORE
spondenee between these bodies.
A committee of fifteen appointed to pre-
pare plan of life insurance for the ministers of
the church The committee on reduced repre-
sentation was appointed The fight over its re-
port promises to be one of the biggest known in
the assembly for many years. Ex-senator Theo-
dore T. Randolph, of New Jersey, was appointed
IN place of Judge John T. Nixon, of the same
State on this committee. In the afternoon the
assembly enjoyed trip to Mount McGregor