Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-14
DOWN ON THE DANCE.
,,s A1wllL SPEAKS AGAINST THE
,vlsgMENTS Ar THE CARNIVAL
~.aor.ed by His People and Brother Pss'
tors-Imposing Services nj 81.
Mary's-other Church Notes.

,hst!C dlAippIoNH u w" N""~'Nh ~
it.,t,,cals which had formed conspicu-
...s mart Of the amusements OF the Carnival
u7,en the programme for the Carnival
% rnbbshed in the papers on the Sunday
.a.sJinr its opening the fact that dancing
.,,stcur theatricals would DO among
~ orsusepents was noticed by several of
w Methodist clergy. The matter was
.,-bt before the conference Of tho min
nj that denomination on the follow
and IL was decided 10 write and
k Ie ladies TO abolish this feature. A
'.,rfi1n 10 this eject was TO have been
4-,trI bit owing 20 tho great amount
'f1v.iDoss before the conference the mat
-, vas overlooked.
,sErp THE LADIES TO WITHDRAW.
~, Tuesday Mr.. Atwill wrote 10 ono of
...i,5ioq whowas representing the Metho-
- behalf Of the Carnival, and stated
l,,n language that while he heartily
I'D the object for which the enter
.1r.snt was being given, he could not
,..s,ertlv. as q Methodist minister, APP
&c of The amusement features. He fur
U...,ted that IL was his intention TO ask
tahlcs representing MS church 70 with,
., from the movement, which they did
..rr q, they found out about the pro-
..-,.-rs which had been arranged
~, A'w.li openly announced that IL was
,..-..-tiou 10 condemn this feature Of the
,..,r.val and at the conclusion Of the
,,,rr services Sunday he stated that
s.. would preach at night regarding the
natter.
,..ns MANY 90 hear his views on the sub
.a 'tn church was well filled at the
night service.
sroFr BECAUSE IT WAS his DUTY.
Tho preacher selected his text from
Corinthians TX. l6; Woe - unto me If |
5 r.f the Gospel" In introducing
.i..-l,rse he stated that as a minister
,.,'.,-uizod that his duty was embraced
.,5srf.yo hoads-frst, TO keep the people
--,,..l ~ the love Of God in Christ for
,',r. and second. TO faithfully warn them
,,sipst any and all practices that were dis
.-.ss,ro 10 God. He said il was partiou-
III under the second head that he pro-
ra..l 20 speak on this occasion.
.V- vows 20 my Church and my rela-
,.,.fo nav people" continued he, render
,,-n..fptslv necessary for me to enter my
,,',.st against theatrical performances in
l.,...,au with the Carnival now being
.-fr.tel in this city under the auspices
.f.c Womau's Christian Association.
,-.glso 90 state in what point approve of
land clearly in what l disapprove OF IT"
APROYFD THE OBJECT.
I aoproye most earnestly of the object
f-viich the CARNIVAL has been started
,.rr.v. the securing Of a home TO provide
FIR the poor and destitute young ladies OF
,rrr ,-y. / had faithfully, az my congre-
-.,,.u well know, worked with them to
s-.y,lo for this Carnival. as tending to
~ end. ! had advertised IL from the
rrIu.t amounted my committee to work
D, concert with the Woman's Christian As
...st.ln. and succeeded in collecting over
,1.uea,h and other articles amounting to
sGor more. When on last Sabbath the
rr.trawue for the CARNIVAL appeared
ft deeply grieved 10 think that
had been SO disappointed. in
'ia. inere was 10 be dancing, fancy
Lr... the minuet and tho maypole,
s~gsemcnts which my Church condemned
r.st earnestly b. the Council of Bishops
..,amIcl and the spirit and law OF the
rureh from ITS organization to the pres
time. Realizing that was standing IN
Dir, awkward predcament nothing was
III for me 20 do but TO notify the lady
hangers by letter, which / did on Tues.
tsvwOrninr, asking that the members or
us congregation be excused from further
anticipation, because we could not
c.r.lstently as Methodists indulge IN
that which our church had so earnestly
c1uicmned."
WHY HE PROTESTS.
Mr. Atwin then stated that he desired
=. euter his protests under the following
heads:
First. AZ q Christian minister | have
Icon uuWittiuglv and unintentiOnally mis-
lI by INV people" He further stated in
what manner he had been misled-t. G.,
that hc had no conception that theatricals
second. The theatrical performances
IN connection with the CARNIVAL tend TO
destroy the confidence of many good peo-
p.rln worthy institutiOn-namely, the
Moments Christian Association Under
This head he went on earnestly to show
that without the united sympathy OF the
GOOD people OF Richmond il would be i'm
possible for the association 20 reach a high
Stage O. otherwise they could. This &C
o.. would tend TO more deeply iniure the
association in the end, as confidence
V.rl BOO destroyed in the minds of many.
Third such performances are not IN
l- ly with the teachings of Jesus
t.r.-t. whose high home and whose life
lr.el' The preacher here brought
forth taNts of Scripture to show that SUCH
Va, Dot IL harmony with religion.
MS COURSE APPROVED.
Nr. A.w.rs sermon was marked by its
s.-ae-tue.s and was entirely lacking in
individuals but at the amusements pro-
lutei iy the Methodist Church. SIEVE
IaI .. the ladies who are interested in the
tuTlyal were present and one of them
t.l Nr. AtwIll after the sermon that she
oul tut approve of what he had said.
IT, conversation witha DISPATCH reporter
Yesterday Mr. Atwill said that he had been
heartily approved IN his action by all the
members Of bis congregation that he had
brought the matter before the attention OF
ta' Methodist Minister'S Conference yes
tef14v and received their endorsement OF
l, course. He added that as Methodist
minister heiet that he could not consistent
FyUd speaking on the subject, and that,
While not pleasant task, he did II with
olt fear or embarrassment, having the
courage q hIe own convictions and the as
sg'a1-e that he was right
Trinity Methodist Church.
Tie services at this church, following
tlr grand revival meetings held during the
past week, were Of unusual interest. Rev.
d. Peterson preached fine sermon in the
morning % the new converts, giving them,
a' vel. as the whole church. the Gospel re-
ytrsmsUis Of Christians, and urged them
ilYt mp % their obligations, and so honor
Gol and help humanity. lie then received
fourteen new members into the church.
AZ night he preached to the unconyerted.
SUI sCt. Who IS on the Lords Side! z"
ltH revival services will be continued
every a.E1t during the present week.
Union station.
Rev. George II. Ray preached special
sermon on church improvement Sunday
L.-ous from the text SO we built the
nal, tof the people had a mind 10 work"
A!ier the sermon a subscription amount
u. 90 between four and five thousand dol;
lars Was taken up. IL Is proposed TO add
tTeIa. rooms 20 the parsonage and tho
ioagl.y reuovGte the church editice, or 10
ll- down and rebuild. IL is estimated
YAK $4,000 will DO necessary TO complete
u.-a improvements.
vi" members of the church are enthusi-
e'a' and hopeful, aud il is expected under
u' Plan adopted that every member OF the
"'Et. CATION will make contribution ac-
,'l.l2 90 their ability. 1t this IS done
-5's than $4,000 will be easily raised.
ia.- ls Mr. Rays first year at Union sta
.'-, aaI for some time past he has been
I}lae % bring about some plan by winch
Lt could raise the necessary funds, and u
+ LOW thought that he has plan by whlch
te WI. secure the amount needed. de hasa !
t'sl' dual OF push IN such matters, and no