The Portland daily press., 1893-04-15
TRAVEL ON SUNDAY.
Methodists Hear Why the Excursions
We're Not Stopped.

Their Committee Found Public Sentiment
Not Strong Enough to Secure the Pas
the People of the Churches Did Not
Generally Take Up the Carse-Other
Proceedings of the Conference.
The usual large attendance marked the
opening of the business session of the
Methodist Conference at Westbrook yes
terday morning. Bishop Ninde as usual
presided.
The hour for adjournment was fixed at
II o'clock. The meeting then went into
executive session, and all those present
who were not members of the conference
were invited to retire, as the session was
to be held behind closed doors. The OBJ
ject of the executive session was to take
into consideration the motion OF Rev. l.
Luce at the opening of the first days
business session, to wit: To lift from
the memory of member, recently de-
ceased, the cloud of suspicion which was
placed about him at the last meeting of
this conference, and if it be an injustice
to repair as muchas possible the wrong
done. and to consider other business, the
plan of Support for superannuates being
included.
At $50 the business session was re-
sumed. The executive session left the
matter under consideration to a commit
tee.
The fraternal delegates, Revs. A. N.
Dairy of the Westbrook Baptist church.
Mr.. Reynolds of Gorham, Congregation
al, and Rev. E. NJ. Cousens of the War
rem Congregational church, were intro
duced. Rev. Messrs. Dairy and Reynolds,
in well chosen remarks, extended the
greetings of their churches, and re-
viewed the common relation existing be-
tween them and the Methodist church.
Bishop Ninde responded in behalf of the
Methodist conference.
Rev. MI. Allen recommended that
Veterans Day. be held on Sunday,
September 10, of this year, that date be-
ing the Tooth anniversary of the first
Methodist sermon preached in Maine
On recommendation of Mr.. Randall,
the arrangements for the proper obser-
vance of the centennial anniversary Sab
bath were left to the centennial anniver-
sary committee.
On invitation of Rev. Mr.. House the
committee voted to hold it's next annual
session of the conference at the Skowhe-
gan Methodist church.
Rev. Mr.. Adams of Winthrop reported
for the committee appointed at the last
session Of the conference to confer with
committees from other socities in report
ing Sunday law TO the legislature.
The report was as follows:
Yonr committee met with committees
representing the Baptist, Free Baptist
and Congregational denominations in
this state As the result of our confer
ence petitions were circulated throughout
the state, receiving somewhat more than
$4,000 signatures petitioning for the pro-
posed law. As near as can be judged
somewhat more than one-half of these
were by voters. These petitions were
presented to the last session of the legis-
lature and referred to the committee on
legal affairs. This committee gave the
representatives of the conference a cour-
teous hearing on February 7, and on
March 2 gave the spetitioners leave to
withdraw.
We have in this connection to mention
gratefully the assistance of II. M. Heath,
Esq, of Augusta, in the presentation OF
the legal aspects of the proposed legisla
ton. We would also note the fact that
when the copies of the proposed bill
were sent to the secular papers OF tht
state, asking them to publish the Same
simply as news, some entirely ignored
the request, while others acceded to the
request.
The committee have to report thfit in
their Judgment there is not yet the pub
lie sentiment which can imperativelY cal
for legislation of the sort prop osed
members of the churches in the denomi
nations represented by these conn aittees
which acted in concert. So far as can be
judged, not more than ene-fifth Of this
number signed the petitions, a ndi is Ger
tain that a respectable number OF names
on the petitions came from outside the
churches. 1t is also the fact tina accord
ing to the best knowledge and belief o.
your committee In some of tile larges-
churches of the state there was no etfor
to secure signatures. In thei course O
the investigation it was learned that OF
the part of many employees of the rail
road and steamboat lines there was al
earnest desire to be free from the Sunda,
work; also that there were steamboat
owners-the Barber Brothers, on the Pc
nobscot rivef-who absolutely refused t.
let their bos.ts for Sunday excursions.
1t seems fitting that thls body shoult
express their appreciation and approba
ton of the course of such owners.
The committee recommends the alp
pointment of Sunday committee, con
sisting of three members fron
each of the religious bodies whicl
have c;o-operated in this movement wit
power to add to their aamber from tn
remaining religious bodies in the stat
which may be willing to cooperate il
the work of securing a suitable Sunda
law. The duty of the said COMMITTEE
should be to investigate carefully tn
condition of things in this state and th
abuses which need remedy; to circulate
broadcast needed literature on the sui
ject Of the proposed legislation: to tax