Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-15
The Methodists' Delibera-
tons at Washington.
Closing of the Worlds Fair on
Sunday Demanded.
Education the Topic of the Day in
the Ecumenical Council.
Pittsburg sabbatarians Declare War on
the Sunday Papers-The Wheat
Market Bullish = General
News Gleanings.
Associated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.-Rev. J. D.
Murray, of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Baltimore, presided over the
ecumenical Methodist council today.
After the usual devotional exercises the
committee on Sunday closing OF the
Chicago Columbian exposition made a
report, which was prefaced by state
ment that the local directors of the fair
are under the control OF the large stock
holders. These stockholders are rail
roads, street car companies and brewers.
All these corporations are clamoring to
have the exposition open on Sunday.
The only hope of success in closing LAYS
in the United States commission, who
in some sense are responsible to the
people.
The conference adopted unanimously
petition to the United States commits
sioners, protesting against the proposed
opening OF the fair on Sunday.
The reasons given for closing are that
the opening OF the exposition on Sunday
would violate the Sabbath-keeping ira
ditions of the American people, and also
the laws of the United States and I'LL
nois; that thousands of employees in the
service of the exposition would be de-
prived Of their right to rest one day in
seven. and that it would furnish an ex-
cuse for employers for refusing to grant
holidays for the purpose of visiting the
exposition, which would otherwise be
given. The committee asserts that the
stockholders will not lose money by
closing on Sunday, and they believe
owl hi hi RI from Drit a;
other Christian lands will refuse to ex-
pose their exhibits ON Sunday, which
will be unsatisfactory to visitors.
The business committee next reported
back resolution on the subject Of
Methodist federation. 1t recites that
the conference recognizes the desire for
Christian cooperation among the evan
gelical churches, and especially among
the various Methodist churches; that
while the time for organic union might
not have arrived yet, concerted action
was now possible; therefore it was
recommended that the conference con-
slider whether such concerted action be
possible, and if so. by what means and
ways. The secretaries were also di-
rected to send copies of the resolutions
to the senior bishops and presidents of
the conferences represented here.
Further consideration of the subject
was postponed until tomorrow.
The topic of the morning session was
Education, and the first paper was one
prepared by Rev. w. M. Fitchett, of the
Australian Methodist church, Victoria,
entitled: Religious Training and Gull
ture of the Young. In DIR. Fitchett's
absence the paper was read by Rev. DIR.
w. Morley. of New Zealand.
The writer strongly urged the duty of
the church in the education of the
young. When the state entered the
field of primary education no competi-
ton was possible. 1t was a great mo
nopoly, and therein lay the danger of
the church. In ten years the primary
education of the young would be secular.
The peril was that it might be not only
non-Christian but anti-Christian.
Hon. John Evans of Denver, Colo,
who was to speak upon Sunday schools,
was sick, so the subject was treated by
Rev. DR.. Robert Colley of London, from
the English point of view. He said not
only should the teachers understand the
truth as taught by Jesus, but they
should he able to teach. Much of the
teaching now was incoherent and in.
definite. There were few teachers who
could deal thoroughly with book of the
scriptures.
Rev. DR.. Waller, of England, said that
the salvation of the country depended
upon the salvation of the children. BY
a strange irony, IN Victoria they tool
the Bible from the hands of the schoo
child, only to thrust it into the hands
of the criminal when sentenced to Jail
The Bible was being driven out of the
public schools in America, and the
church should redouble its efforts tc
reach the young in other ways.
Rev. John Smith, of England, read
an essay on Elementary Education. The
elementary public schools, he contend
ed, should be freed from all religious
domination, and as they were sustained
by the people they should be kept in
the peoples hands.
Alderman ]. H. Crosfeld, of Manches-
ter, England, condemned the existing
school system of England, SAYING it
turned out many little bigots instead of
scholars.
A number of other delegates discussed
the subject pro and con.