The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-19

= ..raed inc opening exercises was pres Mt
vhen Bishop Galloway called conference
N order Yesterday morning. E'ecy seat
,.as taken and there was scarcely stand
ing room In the aislos. The large at
tendance was due 10 the fact mat
reports were expected from ti'c Na;oius
committees engaged u invcst!ga ling
charges agalsnt several members CT con-
ference. but they made no sign. and the
work of the day was mostly in th' nature
of receiving reports and reading the me-
rnolrs OF the ministers who have o'od
during the present year
The only thing OF On exciting nat,re
was the colloquy between Drs. Nhliene"u
and Peterson concerning the Rosebud So
ciety. and the strong report snonn't"h oy
the Comynittee on Temperance and Sab
hath Observance, wherein sunday news
papers. railroad travel, ana the Hauof
traffic were strongly denounced.
The devotional exercises were condcct-
ed by Rev. Dr. j. l.. Spencer, whose prayer
was one of the most eloquent and Ter
vent which has been delivered dunn
conference.
report was presented by Rev. W. W.
Vicar. secretary anu VI NV
Preachers Relief Society showing the
work done 10y the society during the past
wear. and it's financial condition. The re
port showed balance on mana az ioi-
lows: Cash on hand. sl,574l6: notes and
bonds. $3.50: increase over last year.
s2s.2il6. The following officers were
nominated and unanimously elected:
Rev. i. Carson Watson, Rev r. NJ.
Edwards. and Rev. James G. Reed. and
Niessrs. G. Y. Winfree. r.. V. White. w.
j. Kilby. s. q. Collins. Il. G.. Moseley.
and ". w. Vicar.
Rev Or. f.. NJ. Peterson presented
supplemental report Of the Sunday-School
Board showing a balance on hand OF
Sass. The report was received ana adopt
ed
Rev +. NJ. Edwards. chairman Of the
Committee on Temperance and sabbath
Observance. presented the following re-
port
REPORT on TEMPERANCE AND SUN
DAY OBSERVANCE.
The committee TO whom was referred
the subject of Temperance and SABBATH
Observance beg leave 10 report:
From observations made 10y us we are
thoroughly convinced that the Church
Should use every legitimate means 10 cul-
tivate reverence for the day mat God
has ordered 10 be kept holy, ana 10 edu-
cate the public mind To an active ana
earnest opposition 10 every phase or the
liQuOr trdifC. Inc powerful lnnutlletS VI
those organizations made for The purpose
of Promoting the sale or ardent spirits
are inimical TO Sabbath observance,
because the iniqUitous trade demands
seven Gays IN the week in which to car
~ forward the work OF human ruin.
The messengers of truth ueraldtng the
scheme of redemption find one Of their
greatest difficulties in the widespread
teachings OF the twin demons OF error
the liquor trade and the Dissertation OF
the Holy Sabbath
As the Sabbath was made FOR man TO
secure his best advancement in spiritual
and physical good. II becomes all good
people of every name 10 keep II from de-
struction.
THE SABBATH DESECRATED.
In this active age. when everything con-
nected with humanity is brought into re-
quisition to meet it's demands the Sab
bath with its hallowing influences and
conserving power. Is run over rough
shod and treated as "A defunct Institution
Railroads and steamboats, must make div
idends. and to make them the multitudes
must be made to use Gods day for their
recreation end amusement. Half-rates on
Sunday offer the temptation which lures
the crowds. The Sunday school, the
church. and the home are deserted for the
day. The excursionists come back home
demoralized. The railway employees OH
the excursion trains deprived of their
needed rest. are not only demoralized. but
have been forced TO make sport like
Samson for the pleasure of others.
In our cities. towns. and stations, along
our railways on Gods day. the first thing
you hear and see is the paper yender
selling and distributing the Sunday pa
pers." with all sorts OF reading, with IA
deal OF sack and penny-worth of bread"
which II man would swallow before
going to church. would from It's mass
alone not counting it's matter. utterly
prevent the entrance of any good seed
sown by the preacher. Ii is appalling TO
think OF the mental ana moral condition
OF the multtudes who read the contents
OF Sunday papers and nothing else. Men
tai and moral dyspepsia would be a mild
disease TO follow such regimen. Men
tai and moral paralysis would be more
likely TO result.
Think. then OF the effect OF this on
the young. Rapes. murders, embezzle-
ments. theatres. prze-fghts filling nine
pages OF ten. magnifying what ought TO
be In large part in the back ground. AMI
minifying the true the honest. and all
that Is of good report They are In
fiuenced thus TO believe that mankind are
nine-tenths bad and are drawn i'm. as
by a whirlpool. to be and TO do what ap-
pears the world at large would have them
10 be and TO do.
EVILS OF THE PRESS.
We repudiate what has been said: the
secular press is intended TO be and should
b q mirror" rejecting only what IS
cast upon its surface. Why should this
be so? IL has been called "rhe Third Es-
tate" II So why should this great pow
er pander TO the corrupt tastes and prac-
tees of mankind? AS well, say that the
doctor should pander 10 the morbid appc-
titcs OF his patients-that the father
should give 10 his children stones and
serpents. as well as bread and fish
Mirrors are good things when they
show men their defects and deformities
with view 10 enable them 10 correct
them. but when they encourage them in
such deformities they are evil
But wnat Sas the Church of God to do
with these ma tiers? II has much. not only
IN its public vtterances. but the exam
pie and practice OF it's members The
father. or Sunday-school teacher. patron
izing Sunday excursions. not only vio-
lates sacred VOWS. but sets an example
which will nffect those under him The
same may be said OF all such as patronize
or purchase Sunday papers On the Sab
hath. and read them. Somebody is be-
ing defended" by all such. some one is
confirmed In doing wrong. and II the Sa-
viour had any meaning In his words
such offenders will find "mill-stones"
around their necks, or something worse. in
the great day OF reckoning
We offer the following:
!. As we believe the Sabbath was in
stituted 10 keep up our reverence for
God and all that IL good and molly. we OK
hort our people 10 observe II as enjoincd
in the Holy Scripture and our Discipline.
2. That we request our ministers TO see
that no uncertain sound Is given out from
their pulpitS in regard 20 the proper
observance OF the sabbath day.