Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-31
NOT A SIGN OF PEACE,
Tarentum Camp Ground Lot Holders
Still Triumphant Over the
Ministerial Faction.
LEGALLY THEY ARE THEaYINNERS,
But the Whole Institution of Campmeet-
ingS May Fall On Account
of This Trouble.
LEGALLY THEYARE THE3yINNERS,
CE. LOCKE SAYS THEY ARBOUT OF DATE
Another Minister Thinks 1t Is wrcngito Charge an
Admission Fee

The rupture between the Lota holders of
Tarentum NJ. L. campmeetfng ground and
the preachers is no nearer mending than be-
fore. Last nighta meeting Of the Committee
on Religious Services was held accordance
with the instructions of the Board of
Trustees.
The committee as originally appointed
consists OF TWO ministers and three laymen.
Rarh the ministerial members, Rev. William
Johnston, OF Natrona, and Rev Wesley
Meade, of Allegheny City, notified the com
mittce that they refused to serve
upon it. Rev Mr.. Johnston. how
ever, also notified he committee that
he is still the representative appointed
by Presiding Elder Petty to conduct
the campmeeting. The lay members of the
committee are Z. c. Cough, of Pittsburg
James Kennedy. OF Tarentun, and John
Shook, OF Allegheny. Mr. James Kennedy,
Of Tarenturn, was made member of the
committee by the President in place of
Samuel hlingensmith, of Hites. At its meet
ing last night the committee passed a reso-
luton to employ some reputable evangelist
to preach during the campmeeting, and to
invite all clergvrnen to take part in the
religions services. The committee in thus
preparing the programme forthe campmeet.
ing without the assistance of Presiding
Elder Petty is simply taking advantage of
the privilege accorded it by the charter of
the Camp Association.
LEGALLY TIE ELDER rs NOT IN IT.
A lawyer who has examined the charter
pronounces the position of the lot holders
unQuestiGned, and the authority assumed
by the presiding elder il his arbitrary stand
as untenable.
As soon as details are completed another
meeting Of the committee will be held. The
o1c Of aside So
Is as the fortieth anniversary of the camp
meeting. 1t is expected to have many vet
ersn Methodists present who went from
Pittshurg 70 campmeeting 20 years ago on
canal boats.
The trouble over the opening of the gates
at the Tarentum campmeeting ground, as
detailed fully in Yesterdays DIsFATCH, may
lead TO the abolishment OF campmeetings
as a feature of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. For some time there has been a
growing feeling among the ministry of that
Church that this form of worship has out
lived its usefulness.
Most of the ministry seem to favor the
exclusion. at least, of the general public
from campmeeting ground from saturday
night until Monday morning They believe
that there is Il chance for campmeetings
when conducted on the plan followed by the
people at Chautauqua. They think that it
gives too much encouragement to Sunday
railroad travel and hint at the bare possibi-
ltv that some one may make satisfactory ar
rangements with the railroads.
4 talk with many of the ministers brought
out the fact that there is policy in Chris
tianity as well as in politics and business.
Many of the preachers are against open
camprneetings on sundays, but the feeling is
not yet strong enough for them to make a
stand and for the sake of policy they thought
they had better not be quoted. Rev. W. i.
Counor. of the Arch Street VI. +. Church of
ALLEGHENY WAS one who was not afraid to
talk Only on Wednesday he had conferred
on him the title Of Doctor of Divinity. After
telling what a pleasant surprise that had
been for him he said:
PREACHERS OPPOSE THE MOVE.
i understand the trouble at Tarentum is
founded on the idea of keeping the gates
open on sundays. Such action is against
the general idea of the church. The idea as
carried ont at Chautauqua is the only proper
way. The grounds should be closed at IL
O'Clock saturday night and not opened until
Monday morning There should be religious
services for those who are inside, but to
open the gates and let in every
body, it becomes picnic and
ceases 70 be worship. 1t encourages
the running Of Sunday trains in fact the
church i simply getting up great Sunday
attraction to furnish the railroads with
excuse Tor running excursions. L wOul0 not,
however. say that such would be done inten-
Uionallv by members of the church. Another
thing practically wrong with the practice is
the charging of an admission on Sundays.
il is hardly right to charge people for the
right OF going to hear religious services.
Even to charge admission now is not
necessary and in my mind there is a doubt
as to whether it ever WIS.
IN this same connection there is another
point. The church is liable 10 a suspicion
thaC il is making a selfish use of the funds.
III become
People go there in early spring and stay un-
til fall. The money received at the gates is
used III Identifying the grounds, and it gives
outside people chance to say that the per-
SONS who own cottages use the gate receipts
70 beautify the grounds for their own per-
sonal enjoyment. l do not say this is the
case, but to outside people it may be so con-
etrued.
Tho effect of the action at Tarentum," he
continued. "will be to keep ministers from
going there. Although have not been in
vitod would not go anyway, and believe
that most Of the ministers in the two cities
viii refuse to go. To my mind the action
there Is great mistake
CANpNEETINGS ARE OUT OF DATE.
Another minister who was not afraid to
speak his mind was Rev. Charles Edward
Locke. Of the Snitlflcld Street NJ. z. Church
Although Nj. Locke has the reputation of
being one of the most liberal and broad
minded ministers of the country rs well as
one OF the most eloquent, in his Judgment
on sundays wUs morally wrong. lie said:
It l. in opposition TO the sentiment of the
church TO open the gUtes on Sunday, and it
is q question whether CaInpmecrings are not
III. Institution that, though they have done
great good in the past. should not now be
buried. With the gates open on Sundays the
beauty Of the re- i.-lpUH service ceases and the
camrmretinC becomes great festival. The
grounds that keep open on Sunday are not
doing any good, though they do draw great
crowds.
'-Campmectings formerly We're great relig-
ions rcvivalS. Such meetings were demanded
by the times Churches were lew and far
between. Now each man has his church at
home, and there is no longer any need of
such gatherings. Still, il is pleasant TO wor-
ship in the open air. People who desire to
d. so can just as easily go saturday
night and stay until Monday. Those who
cannot do that can find any number of places
Mt which 20 worship at home"
Ar. Locke also expressed the belief that
hut few ministers would so TO Tarentum.
The same idea was brought out by Rev. Mr..
Reynolds, of Mansfield and number of
Others. They all agreed that if campmeet-
ings were to be held Mt all they should be
kept closed on the sabbath.