Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-08-16
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1859.

1T SEEMS that the day for camr
meetings has passed, that ia 80 far al
they are OF any benefit in the CONVEX
sion of souls. The day was when
hundreds of men aud women were
brought to knowledge of Christ by
these meetings in the woods, but thai
time was long ago, and we are frank
In saying that the majority Of CAMP
meetings are now held and conducted
by men whose only object and desire
Is to make money. In the days Of
Peter Cariright these meetings In the
woods were held for the conversion Of
souls, and hundreds of Methodist
churches in the West owe their origin
TO the labors of this grand and good
man, who is now receiving his reward
Tor his labors here on earth, Now,
however, camp meetings have degene
rated, and the conversion oil sinner:
has become secondary consideration.
Last Sunday the boarding tents al
Brandywine Summit were taxed be-
yond their capacity, and when man
who had paid for the privilege sold q
few pies he was arrested and fined, but
OF the same time sandw iches were
sold from the cook house A year or
30 ago prominent member OF one OF
the churches in this city sold ice cream
all day of a Sunday al this camp and
although there was some growing on
The part of those who had other edibles
TO sell, nothing was ever done about
the matter. Such actions look very
much like straining OF gnat and
swallowing q camel' but still, accord
Ing TO the way camp meetings are now
conducted II, may be all right. The
day however may not be far distant
vhen camp meetings will be unknown
IN this part OF tile country, unless there
Is great change in the manner of con
ductirg them. II these annual meet.
ings can be made productive of any
good In the conversion Of souls let
them continue, but il they are held for
tie mere purpose Of taking in so much
money, and that on the Sabbath. at
the boarding tents or the horse pound,
the sooner they are abolished tile bet.
ter.
WHILE the death of Mrs. Wagner
was an event that brought sorrow and
trouble to her husband and friends the
fact should not be lost sight Of that It
Fas In a great measure her own fault.
No one has right to walk over the
railroad bridge, although there are
hundreds that do so every day. There
are sigma at each end OF the bridge for
bidding persons to cross, and if they
90 so they do 1t at the risk OF their
life. There Is watchman stationed
Of this end OF the bridge, who testified
yesterday that frequently when he
warned persons of the danger OF
walking over this bridge, they told
him TO mind his own business as they
were capable Of taking care of them.
selves. Under these circumstances
The Railroad Company cannot be held
responsible for any accident that oe
ours on the bridge. In fact they can
not be blamed for an accident thai
may occur by persons walking on the
track anywheres.
This company pays the State nearly
one thousand dollars week for thu
right OF way, AMI the State in return
has enacted law which makes it I
misdemeanor, with fine OF five dol
lars and costs for any one to trespas.
on their property. Consequently any
enc that walks on tue track OF crosse
q railroad bridge ia liable 10 be arreste,
and fined. This fact is not general,
known to the many that cross tn
bridge morning and night going t
and returning from their work. som
years ago the railroad company ofIgre,
10 pluce footway across this bride
and thus make it public thorough
fare, If the City Council would assum
oil the risks that might arise from lhei
90 doing. but as Council refused TO d
this the matter was allowed TO droy
and there has been several fatal acc
dents since.