The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-16

difficult 10 answer, hut IN is train il
brought many other points.
"Whai eject does visiting have upon the
~ixc Of your congregations Sunday amer.
noon or evening -
This was put 10 several ministers Of the
CITY yesterday, and the following views
obtained.
LIBERAL METHODIST.
IscV. Dr. :. =. Lambeth. Of the Broad
street Methodist Church, is decidedly more
liberal in bis views on the subject Of sunday
visiting than some o. his brethren. but
nevertheless. hc does not countonanco pro
miscuOus call-paying In moderation ana
within certain bounds he sees no harm in IL.
as for instance between neighbors or friends.
who have no opportunity fo visit during the
week. lie believes, however, that church
services should not be neglected, land they
are not among my congregation ho added.
81 always have a large attendance. both
morning and evening. and ! don't think
visiting Affects % much either way
AFTERNOON WALKS.
Rev. John b. Newton. u. d., Of the Mon
umental Episcopal church. thought the
social customs of late years had changed.
that people nowadays were beginning 90
IIII me N'UfNfNUI II~NII~ 10 fi ilNN III NAl
afternoon from walk in the suburbs or
country. that whereas IL used 90 be the
custom for young couples 10 go 20 church
SUNDAY night. the time is now used for
visiting 90 a great extent and church atten-
dance is consequently decreased that the
walks in the afternoon tend TO diminish the
attendance on afternoon services.
STANDING ROOM ONLY.
Roy. DIR. ". ". Iaudrum. Of :he second
Baptist Church. said that sunday visiting
did not affect his congregation. MY church
is crowded every sunday night. and people
are turned away unable 10 gain admit
lance, and my church has a capacity for
l.2Dc. too. Now as 90 this question Of sun
day observance. don't believe i'm calling
SUNDAY a straight Jacket and ramming a
man into H. The Sabbath was made for
man. and believe in his using il for any in
tclligcut recreation. There is many a young
mana poor. whtencd clCTk-whO hour
after hour and day after day is immured in
an Office or store. Now what pleasure or
recreation can it be 20 such q man 10 stay
no home on sunday. or 90 20 10 church two
or three times. Tired Of the confinement 10
which he has been subjected during the
week. he is only too glad TO get a little rest
on sunday. aud the rest can come more
naturally i'm a walk or some ont of door ex-
wants %. and 90 ont 10 the Reservoir or in
duige in any other recuperating and limo
cent pastime. and the next morning he Will
feel all the better prepared for his weeks
work. But sometimes during Sunday,
either in the morning or at night, he might
find time 20 go 10 church, and still have
enough at his disposal for recreation"
GOTO CHURCH.
Rev. J. Wiley Bledsoc. Of the Park-Placo
Methodist Church. could imagine no rea-
eOnabie condition Of man that would eN-
cuse him from divine service on sunday
morning and night. II always have good
congregations. though ] believe they are
like all other such gatherings affected
more or less by visiting; but my opinion is
that IL is inoXcusable for any one 10 neglect
church service on sunday for any reason
except Illness
GLOW about persons who have no oppor-
funIty for visiting during the week, Mr..
Blodsoe; should a hard-workod clerk or me-
Chanic. for instance. be required 10 attend
church with the frequency you mentions"
ANY such man." replied the stalwart
preacher, 'wOuld have my sincerest sym
patty, and If be belonged 20 my c0ngrega-
fion and he went ont walking or visiting,
should be very slow 90 censure him; but
this habit Of going out % the reservoir i'm
the street cars on sunday in the way people
did last summer. the tendency Of the whole
thing is demOralzing, and does not meet
with my approval. There are so many bet
ter ways a spending the Sabbath"
NO EFFECT
Rev. Dr. Moses u. Hoge, of the Second
PRESBYTERIAN Church. believed that some
churches were affected by sunday visiting,
but his was not. | have very large crowds
IN the afternoon, larger than in the morn
ing. lac said.
Mr.. J. h. Funston. of Christ Episcopal
Church, said: Pleasant social intercourse
among friends and neighb0rs is a well rec
OgnIzcd influence for good among all classes.
4 Young man Will be all the better for hav-
ing friends among refined and cultivated
Young Christian ladies. The habit. how
ever, of turning the Lords Day into a time
Tor dinners, receptions of visitors to the
neglect Of the gospel is 20 be deprecated.
N every young man who wants 90 visit
would call sunday night for a young lady, or
even her mother, and take her 10 church,
there would be no complaints about empty
lews at the night service. ] believe sunday
visiting is especially Injurious, because il
keeps people from service
GOOD CONGREGATIONS.
Rev. j. \. Fair. Of the Gracc-strect Pres
byterian Church, said he always had large
congregations in the evening. OF course
visiting on sunday had its effect, and prob
ably kept many people away from church,
bat he could see 30 palpablc effect at his
church.
SHE OUGHT TO KNOW.
Hear what a society girl has TO say:
-What do think about Sunday visiting (.
Well. if you want the real, honest confess
sion Of a frivolous girl, I'll frankly confess
that think lots about il, Tut the amount Of
thought is in proportion 20 visitors, and by
inverse ratio Tor the fewer the callers the
more do think, and the more the callers,
less thought. because as a rule that is not a
need which is felt. As for the mental ac-
ti,itv il creates by its absence, that is some
thing tragic. Bell Manterbee, who is one
OF the leading society girls Of Richmond,
and Polly IiQuc, an aWiully popular
girl, tho she is from motives a
small hidden peace somewhere in the heart
of the cold regions, were both talking 20 me
at one of the teas last week about this very
business Of sunday calling, and we came 10
the conclusion that it was an uncertain,
fluctuating and expensive business, and the
only way in which profit ever equaled loss
was when from the proceeds few shares
in the futures Of engagements was the diYi-
dcnd declared
1T is a weil-known fact that sunday visit
ing IL the hope that keeps the heart from
sinking many a time, when appearances
are little uncertain as TO the German or
the opera. 1 never took a nap in the after
noon in my life but that by the time closed
my eyes, some one was announced. No
time for primping; no points TO any OF the
pins: all thumbs and all out Of humor. III
/ am ready in the most becoming OF gowns
and moods in some other AT. at that same
early hour. the fire romantically CHEEKY and
fcfc-fefu fresh flowers carelossly IN my
belt. and an aesthetic book interest
ineiy In my hand, thus | remain alone
and IN my glory until my glory fadeth.
Then when the fire has died down
and wept tears Of ashes over the
teEdar, the twilight has come but not
the servant. so there is no other kind Of
light, the flowers are dropped, and having
given up hope had recklessly tousled my
being. when 10, there is another being, that
az the gate, aud another touslc that of the
bell. 80 much for the uncertainties and
and fluctuations Of the sunday market for
bcauN.
10 Is very serious strain Of the nerves
Of the most delicate of our organs-the ear
this tense listening for the distant click OF
a latch OF for footsteps 20 suddenly stop
aud fhan tho RING of the hell