The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-20
pREsIpING ELDER JONES

Explains That he and the Camp Meeting
Directors have no Controversy.
To The Editor Of the lniciiigcnorr.
SIR:-The report of the proceedings
at the Moundsvillo Camp Meeting i'll
your issue OF to-day contains the follow
ing:
1.-THE amendment to the constitution
of the association was carried by vote
OF II to Q. This makes an important
change. The presiding elder Of the dis
trict, who has heretofore been by virtue
OF his position er-Cbcio director OF the
meetings, was, 10 use common term,
turned down. The whole matter was
taken out OF his hands, and hereafter n
committee OF three ministers and three
laymen, to be appointed by the directors,
will have full direction. This change
grows out OF the difference OF opinion
between the directors and the presiding
elder us to the propriety OF having open
gates on Sunday"
Waving any particular notice OF the
discourteous style OF the above, desire
to correct some misleading impressions
conveyed in it. There is not, nor has
there ever been any controversy between
me and the Camp Meeting Association
on any subject whatever. The Metho-
dist Episcopal church has in its general
conference and its annual conferences
spoken very emphatically on the subject
OF Sabbath observance with special ref
ercnce to camp meetings. The follow
ing extract from resolution passed by
Al .,,pn.nI N.,n 10 will inIiRuta
the general tenor Of the utterances OF
the church OH this matter:
1--WE condemn the practice Of camp
meeting associations and Sunday school
conventions Of our church keeping open
gates, and charging All admission fee on
the Sabbath dnv.
Another clause pledges the church to
discountenance the runningo OF railway
trains for pleasure or traffic on the Sab
bath"
The directors Of the Camp Meeting
Association have not harmOniZed with
these views in the methods they have
adopted, and hence have found them
selves in more or less conflict with those
who, whatever may have been their per-
sonal views, felt themselves bound to
be true 10 the principles OF the church
they represent. found the difficulties
thus arising in existence when came
to the district, and have done what |
could to secure mutual understanding
and cooperation. After the camp meet
ing last year, when it became evident
that harmony OH the basis OF the prin-
ciples announced by the church was inn
possible for the present, | advised the
directors to take the who.e manage
ment into their own hands entirely,
and offered to give up my place as chair
man Of the committee on worship so as
to allow them to choose any one they
pleased to take charge, with the under
standing that the necessary changes in
the constitution would be made ut the
election this year. Under that agree
ment all the arrangements for this year
had been made, and the recent change
in the constitution was simply tho car
rying out oil my own proposition, made
nearly year ago.
am convinced that the change made
will be for the best to all concerned. 1t
gives entire control to the directors, so
that they can invite whom they please,
while it places the ministers OF the West
Virginia Conference in the same rela-
ton to the meeting rs any other minis
tors. II they are invited it is entirely
an affair OF their own private concern
whether they will accept or not.
most sincerely hope that the camp
meeting this year and every other year
may be an abundant blessing TO many
souls, and, whether may be absent or
present, will always do what ! consist
emily can TO promote its success.
S. ERNEsT JONES,
Presiding Elder, Wheeling District.
Wheeling, Aug. 10.