Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-19
TALKING IT OVER.
AN0TRFR SABBATH UNION MEETING HELD At
TIE FOURTH STREET NJ. e. CHURCH.
A Light At!sndanco-Dr. George, Rev. Jones,
Rsv Afford and Others Give Their Views
Upon Sunday Observance.

There was light attendance at the
Fourth Street NJ. E. Church, last night
of the committee of fifty gentlemen,
which has been organized as an auxiliary
to the American Sabbath Union. There
were about seventeen gentlemen pres.
ent in addition to the two organizers and
several ministers. Mr.. McAdams pre-.
sided, and Mrs. W. C. Lynch acted as
Secretary. 1t was decided, on motion,
not TO make public the proceedings OF
the business meeting. Several Of the
gentlemen present gave their views
upon the proper manner in which TO
conduct the work of enforcing proper
observance of the Sabbath, but it was
the general opinion that resort to legal
prosecutions was inexpedient at this
time.
DR.. H. II. George deprecated the
light attendance at the meeting, but
nevertheless was not discouraged. He
had hoped TO see not only the full com
mittee present, but a number of other
gentlemen, in addition. He took for
granted that the committee of fifty
would stick together, and said that that
number of influential citizens could
accomplish almost anything which they
attempted in the city of Wheeling. He
was in favor of going right ahead with
the work, and was not fearful of the re-
suit.
c Rev. E. S. Jones also delivered a
brief address. "In spite of the meagre
attendance tonight" he said, 81 feel
encouraged in the work which has been
started. Many persons, who found it
impossible to attend tonight on account
of business engagements, are in hearty
sympathy with the movement. We
are just getting started, and
will have to move cautiously.
After awhile we will reach out, widen
our influence and make ourselves felt
in this community for Sabbath obServ-
ance. Ii every man is true TO every
other man, and all are true to the cause,
we cannot fail to secure the end for
which we aim-the prevention of the
gross dissertation of the Sabbath. We
are making a start under diScouraging
circumstances. The shadows of recent
failures in movements Of this kind, are
upon us, but that is one reason why we
must not fail this time. We must lear II
a lesson from the failure of these other
movements and profit by experience. |
am in the movement TO stay, Tor | feel
that | need the Sabbath; my children
need the Sabbath the nation needs the
Sabbath, and our very civilization
needs the Christian Sabbath. All
we need is unity in the matter.
If fifteen persevering, earnest and de-
termined men. out of this ffty-a little
Gideon's band-will stay, with the help
of God, they can accomplish something
| do not expect to close up all the stores
in single day, nor would desire it. /
would rather that this movement would
progress with that steadineSS which in
dicateS solid pros perty. Along the lines
of proper conservatism and proper en-
thuSiaSm, this committee can accom-
pliSh great deal toward preventing the
desecration Of the Christian Sabbath. "
Rev Afford said he expected to stay
with this movement, whatever the cost.
He agreed with the gentleman who pre-
ceded him, that mushroom growth
was not the best in any line:
he favored conservatism. Similar
movements in the past had failed, and
so many men were injured in them, that
men fear that when the crash comes
they and their goods will be hurt. lie
thought if the whole committee would
stick together no attempt would be
made to boycott them.
Rev. j. L. Mccartney said that nine
tsnths of the tobacconiStS, druggists
and confectioners wanted to close on
Sunday, but were forced to keep open
in self-defenSe. Druggists, especially,
are very much vexed because they
have to keep open. He was satisfied
that if the members of the committee
got to work properly. in a few weeks
not a single store would be open on the
Sabbath.
Rev. Dornblazer said he was in hearty
sympathy with the movement. The law
is clear upon the subject and should be
enforced. Men were afraid that their
business would be injured by their con-
nection with the Sabbath observance
movement, but they should fear Gcd
more than the boycott.