New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-24
METHODIST PREACHERS AND THE FAIR.
THEIR EXHIBIT NAY BE WITHDRAWN IF THE
ADr op,,E ~ cI-NDAy

GATES ARE OPEN on SUNDAY.
The Methodist Episcopal preachers Of this city
and its vicinity attracting much attention to then-
selves by their threatened withdrawal OF the
Methodist exhibit at the Worlds Fair should the
Fair management decide 10 open the gates Oh sun
day. A somewhat exaggerated and Incorrect account
OF meeting OF the Methodist ministers held after
their regular weekly meeting last Monday and pub
shed yesterday, has put the matter Of the Methodist
treatment OF the Sunday closing question in wrong
light.
There Is strong feeling among ministers In all
denominations In this city against opening the Fair on
Sunday The Nethodists have perhaps taken more
ncve interest than some OF the other denominations.
ana resolutions entreating the closing Of the Fair on
Sunday have from time to time been forwarded to
the Fair officials at Chicago. 1t was such set OF
resolutions that the meeting OF Methodist ministers
held here May 10 drafted and sent 10 The Ma
tionsl Commission the Columbian Exposition Inc
resolution regarded the action OF the local d.
rectcrs at Chicago as fragrant breach OF latin with
the Government OF the United States Justly exciting
the Indignation Of oil rghtthnldng people," and de-
cared that reiterated and vigorous protests or the
various religious denominations Of the land as eN-
pressed In oral address before Congressional COM
mittees and embodied In written petitions to central
authorities should have due weight In influencing the
Anal action upon the question of Sunday opening
The committee which drew up the resolution CON
sisted Of a. B. Sanford. solomon Parsons and C. H.
McAnney Owing to the developments Of last week,
In which no definite conclusion concerning sunday
closing was reached. and with the probability eAS'-
ing that the Fair would be open OH Sunday. the
agents Of the Methodist Book Concern In this CITY,
Drs Hunt and Eaton appeared before the meeting OF
preachers last Monday TO ask advice in regard 10
the withdrawal OF the Methodist exhibit at the Fair
As an answer the following was adopted:
Resolved, l. That, III view Of what has transpiea
during the past week and Of the present STATE OF .he
hareh nv firm he
relating TO the opening OF the Worlds Fair on sunday
and, further in case the anthorCs open tns , l;r
have been made by the great religious bodies OF The
United states Is our judgmen, that where the
in any part Of ibis Fair. such articles should be- with
q That the agents Of the Book Concern be
quesed to transmit this action TO the Western agents
The resolution was offered by DR.. Sanford Hunt
and q discussion followed Dr. Iandon, Of Borden
town. n. j.. In speaking the subject Is quoted as
saying: ..
We should exhort trsm the pulpit that people stay
and Keep open its doors 'o on the Lords Day Chicago
properly speaking, is not an American city. ~ IS
Of IGN Their sTp.s n mat al he ond
b. BE-" much Observance Of the sabbath
Dr. Landon's remarks called forth heated dis
cussion. The Rev. DR.. Roach opposed the resolu
,ion and Bishop Andrews explained the action taken
by the bishops at their semlannual meeting against
the opening Of the Fair sunday.
In regard 10 the fight the Methodists making
against the sunday opening Of the Worlds Fair, DR..
Sanford Hunt, Of the Methodist Book Concern, said
yesterday: After the appropriation of 81, 100000
was made BY the Government 10 the Fair Commits sion
OH the condition that the gates should be closed
Sunday the churches assumed that the gates would
be closed. because the Chicago people accepted the
appropriation and, OF course, the condition on
which the money appropriated The Methodist
Church. In common with other churches instructed
TO make exhibits OF hooks, papers portraits OF men
prominent In the earlier history Of the Church.
In harmony with that instruction the Methodist ex-
wo maf and is n lie a.
exhibit which will undoubtedly be withdrawn should
the Worlds Fair management open the exhibition
On Sunday