Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-09
A BISHOPS OPINION.
He Declares Positively 1t Would BE
Unwise ard Unjust Not to
OPEN THE BIG FAIR ON SUNDAY.
Annual Conference of the Pittsburg Episco-
pal Diocese.
NOMINATIONS MADE FOR OFFICERS

NUMlNAllUNS MhDE leh Va
Bishop Whitehead gave publicity to his
views on the Sunday question yesterday at
the animal Conference of the Plttsburg
Diocese of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
being held in Trinity Church.
Risbop Whitehead in his address, read
statistics showing the following increase OF
the diocese in the last five years: Increase In
clergy, "a; parishes, "a; missions, 40; COM
municants, 5000; Sunday school teachers,
IG5. Sunday school pupils, 2,52S; parish
churches. 5; mission churches, l, and
rectors, IA He then gave a summary OF
the work in which he had participated in,
as follows: Services, 2,32S; sermons
preached. / O09: confirmation and addresses,
l. $50: confirmation services, 1,026; number
confirmed, 3,577; Holy Communion cele-
brated. 40 times: baptisms. 267; marriages,
So; burial services, 81: corner stones lald, u,
and churches built, "a. He then said:
Much to my surprise, 1 find myself in
very small minority among those who nave
expressed their views on the matter ot the
opening of the Columbian Exposition on
Sunday. but lest this should reflect upon the
interests of the church and OF chnrch peo-
ME in this community, anu III OLNASA Ni't'N -
who have the right to understand my posi-
tion may have it clearly stated, L must
claim your attention to this point for q few
moments.
calls II n Little Short of Fanaticism.
Nv position is perfectly clear and my pro-
posed plan eminently practical 1t seems 10
me little short of fanaticism to close the
gates OF more than 100 acres of that beau
tiful territory which is to be devoted 10 the
uses of the Exposition simply because oil the
ralIying cry that we will otherwise bring IN
the continental sunday. for Chicago mas the
continental Sunday already. 80 nave %.
Louis New Orleans and San Francisco. lou
are virtually consigning the peonie 10 II 9S
keeping them out OF the Exposition grounds
Moreover locking the gates simply means
that the multitude shall be excluded ana the
select lew permitted to use the Exposition
for their own delectation as much as theE
choose. l have seen some persons, ana nave
heard of many others, who, during the Cen
tennial Exhibition at Phliauel@pIla, @ uell,s
connected with those who had goods on eA-
hihition or with those who were ofhclally
concerned in the management TOOK au-
vantage of the sunday to inspect the eA,
hibits at their leisure, and openly expressed
their delight ut being able to see everything
without the pressure OF the crowa. lnat
same thing viii happen again, no uouut'
the gates are closed at ChcaSo LeG US
petition the management not to make sun
day q gala day, not to lower the price OF au
mission and ut the same time to close II
possible whatever parts will require the at.
tendance and labor of large numbers OF
persons. That is to say, make the attrac-
tiun on sunday less complete than on other
DAYS That will still leave the ASflcultpial
buildings. Art galleries and other eleVatlhg
and helpful portions OF the Exposition open
70 inspection and at the same time there |
will be n Dremium on Sunday attendance
There will he hundreds of thousands OF
reoDle in Chicago over SUNDAY. They VIII |
need to he led and the restaurants VIII De |
omen. They viii need to be kept IN ofdef |
and large numbers of police will be on duty;
They viii have to be amused and occupiea |
in some way. |
The Saloons VIII Be Open.
The saloons will be in full blast, the |
theaters and concert halls will have their |
performances, as they do now in Chicago, |
every sunday. Where shall these people |
spend their days? / believe it will be far |
more in accordance with the spirit of Christ |
ard Christianity if say to them: Come
70 this beautiful inclOsure where, at least,
the influences will be beneficial; look attne
beautiful things that God has made ana the
wonderful things man has done; spend your
time not in close saloons or concert halls, |
but under the blue heaven or these fne |
buildings" This concentration would dimin-
ish the number OF police needed. kestaur-
ants within the grounds would be open |
instead OF those scattered through the city. /
Concert halls and theaterS would be less |
numerously attended. Then having the
people collected in a certain limited space
YOU have them more in your power for the
furtheramce OF that very gospel in W hose be-
half such loud clamor has arisen that the
gates Of the Exposition should be closed.
Here is the chance to ''reach the masses"
Why not have stands provided by the united
effort of Christian people who desire II Tor
the distribution of tracts, New Iestaments,
Bibles and PRAYER books? Why not Mt
several points have platforms for preaching
anlmusic during the afternoon ana evening?
Would it not be possible for each denomina-
rion to do its best in this regard ald make use
of he Sunday opening for the iurtherance
of the cause which they have ut heart. One /
TACT l. ner ectlv evident. We cannot make
the people 20 to church, and If the gates are
closed simply, in the name OF religion,
say to all those mutitudes: GO bnck into
whatever vile precincts or injurious neigh
borhoods YOU NAV choose: patroniZc the sa-
loous and theaters If you will, but you shall
not come here
In Honor of the Savior.
If We open the gates we do it in the name
Of Him who walked through the corn fields
and healed the sick on the day which was
then the Sabbath. 1 believe shall be
honoring the Master more if after
the morning hour of divine serv-
ice on the Lords Day (say
o'clock we do all We can to elevate the
Lords brethren instead of consigning them
to influences which are certainly doubtful,
and probably demoraliZing. l have little
patience with the short-sightedness which
faVOrs turning the key in the lock and
virtually Alling the people to go to destruc- |
tiOn. am an advocate of using the Lords
Day-if so it can be aIraneed-for the
DR. Randall Davidson. Bishopof Rochester |
in addressing the Upper House of the Con-
vocation of Canterbury, said with reference |
TO tne opening of public libraries, museums |
and art galleries on sunday: zone is likely
10 be misunderstood and misrepresented |
even by good men if one admits that there
are two sides TO such question. / earnestly
rruSt however that have not said a word
which will lead anyone to think less
sacreuly of the divine gift of the day of rest
and wOrshin and of the solemn duty OF
guarding it," i may well take these words
Tor my own.
Nevertheless, / maintain that our guard
iarsbiD should be an intelligent one ard
that in the choice OF two evils we should
In Ike the lesser one. The question with all
its difficulties bears very different aspect
in a Western city like Chicago from that
which it would present in New York or
Philadelphia.
Considering Mission Fund Deficit.
Three full hours Of the afternoon session
were consumed in considering a deficit in
the fund for the Board of Missions, and how
the convention could raise 81, 800 which the
Treasurer, Mr.. H. L. Foster, had advanced
the Board during the wear. 1t seemed like
q CrieyOus problem and was not vet solved
when the convention adjourned at 5:45.
Shortly after the opening of the session,
the report Of the Secretary of the Mission
Board was read. 1t showed that about 81
new churches had been established during
the year, and all are in fourishing condi-
tion. There had been some difficulty ex-
perienced in the matter of quarterly assess