Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-15
GREAT WACO COTTON PALACE,
DALLAS DAY AT THE GREAT nx-
rosfrioN.
There Has Been Locking of Horn.
on tho sunday Question and There
is Promise of n Lively 1ow rsfors
ID II settled.

Waco, Nov. 1.-THE opponents OF
Sunday opening OF the Cotton Palace
went to the bat this morning. pursu-
aat to the call for meeting published
in The Gazette today. The meeAng
was called by three OF the pastors OF
the city and Or. J. ID, cranail. editor OF
the Baptist STANDARD. The meeting
opened with about 1876 persons present.
and there were probably 100 present
when the vote was taken considera-
bic discussion cnsuad and the rcsolu-
tlona were changed and amended sew
eral times, until the following were
presented and adopted;
Whcrcas, The board OF directors OF
the Palace, while soliciting general CO.
operation, did on the 49, day OF -,
1881, decide that the Palace and grounds
should not be open on sunday; and
Whereas, Publication OF this declsion
secured the desired co-opernloD
Christian people generally, go that
many I tnem committed themselves
fully to the enterprise BY contribution.
by service committees, by preparation
OF exhibits. by Invitation to friends
abroad. ana tender OF hospitality. aud
Whereas, The board OF directors,
after such commitment by Christian
people, did on the ---- day OF -----, 1891,
reverse said decision against the ur-
gent protest OF resident Christian min
listers, whoxa advice they themselves
solicited. Now, therefore, be II
Resolved, by this nsst mbly OF Chris
tlan people. conyosed ON q joint call of
resident pastors and preachers;
l, That such late resolssion OF pre-
vlonD decision seems to us to be vio-
lation OF good faith with Christian pco-
~. We feel that We ought 10 have becn
lsit on notice Of such purpose Originate
~, III there had been no previous de-
cision It might be pleaded that we must
abide the decision of all new questions
that might arise. hut that previous
decision was an official notice that the
question had been settled and was the
means of recurring Christian co-operi-
ton.
:, That we do not expect people or
the world or people OF Il different iaith
TO share our convictions on the sunday
question, and II IA not the purpose OF
these resolutions to convert them there
10, but as they are convictions with US,
deep, solemn. religious convictions, the
aforesaid action OF the directors OF the
Cotton Palace have placed us In cru-
ely embarrassing position. This om-
.barrassmcnt arises from considerations
obvious TO any fair nnd thoughtful
mind, We are interested In the COM
mercial development OF Waco. It ~
Our home. Its prosperity IN all good
things is precious TO us, We see no
Gin In the promotion OF agriculture.
trade, manufactures, the arts and sci-
ences, and every form OF lawful ln-
dustral thrift when such promotion IN
by means TINT do not auhvert some
higher good. Especially do we most
heartily approve community co-opeiyi-
ton In all such matters, In proof OF
II the money OF chrlstign people hns
been largely invested ia the Cotton
Palace. Christian men and women
have lnborcd assiduously 90 make Il "A
success. They have written innumora-
bic letters md extended countless invi-
tatiorH; their exhibits are In the build
Ing which their money aided to erect
and their hands 10 ndorn. Mud now
when II is too late 10 avoid the rv....
pllcation3 OF the situation they nro
forced by this unfair. and we thirl,
unrighteoua. decision to either appear
to oppose the interests Of Waco, recedo
from their pIOncrod hospitality 10 In
vlted quests, Withdraw their exhibits.
do violence TO their desires for COM
munity corporation. or 10 violate roli-
Eious convictions, drarcr and more aa-
cred than life Itself They feel that
this embarrassment has been cruelty
and unnecessarily forced upon them.
aud hereby put on record that they
have not dcsired 10 be so placed but
ARE ugninst thor earnest protest forced
20 confront the alternative stated.
., But since the alienation Is forced
upon us we are congtruined 10 make nm
election or become by our own action
| pnrtnkcrs OF what we regard as great
| sin. Therefore speaking for ourselves
alone we hereby declare our most SOL
cnn conviction that the opening OF the
Cotton Palace and grounds on Sunday
is not merely inexpedlent ns question
OF policy but 10 open defiance OF God
and demoraliglng to men. This IN not
m amt to reflect on tho motives OF the
( directors with which these resolutions
I hive nothing to do as an lntcrpre-
tation OF Christian conscience from
T our standpoint. That no pccunlary
consideration ariglng from tho sale OF
tickets ana the patronage OF public
/ house on sunday can ever compensate
for the shock to Christian Coincidence
Z throughout the state Dnd for the demor-
alzation OF the people from Sunday ex-
cursions as fer out ns railroad lines ex-
tend. TO us II seems bid OF this
kind: Waco wants commercial ad.
vantage and patronage whatever Il
costs. We are willing 10 undermine
the religious convictions not only OF
our own community but OF all Texas
10 promote our financial interests. No
enliFhtcned Christien conscience can
participate IN such n sin. Therefore
/ II n our deliberate and unalterablc con-
! vicilon that Christians here In Waco
should at once and absolutely and all
together Withdraw from all co-operh-
tion with the Cotton Palace whether
! as 10 exhibits, patronage. Invitations or
any other form whatever. IL IN our
conviction that all Christians should
withdraw from the board OF directors.
from all committees and from all pro-
grIms and from all attendance And
that In no other way can they escape
participation In the sin OF Sunday
| opening. Tho object OF such with
1 drawll n not 10 prevent the success Of
| the palace enterprise for II cannD, be
80 prevented. II IS not TO Interfere
with or dictate 10 D.eers aa - tkelr
line ~r conduct, no. - pass Judgment
on them. To their own Master they
stand or fall We desire simply AZ
Christians 70 free ourselves from any
responsibility whatever for what we
relieioualy regard as q great sin against
God and man. And we refer any add
tlonal action that may be thought de-
slrnbie 70 the several Chi1atiDn congre-
cations. (5igned)
j. IL CARROLL.
JOHN W DAVIS