The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12

pared, and spoke wholly from few short
notes. The subject he treated was, "Dan-
gers Threatening the Sabbath from the
Sunday paper"
hell affecting the people to-day" said DR..
Kimball; "they are the saloon and the
Sunday newspaper.
1.-THE saloon from its comparative evil
effects may be termed the little devil, and
the Sunday newspaper just as appropri-
ately the big devil. We can do something
with the little devil; in many cases we can
abrogate its pernicious effects, but what
can we do with the big devil?. Absolute ly
nothing so far.
"For five cents we can bring it into any
house we please and then the demon gets
in its work. Its work consists in filling
the public mind with thoughts and ideas
foreign to the sacred character of the day
itself We must do something in this
matter, brethren, and for one reason L
think that concerted action will bring good
results.
"Thet reason is that the Sunday news
papers do not even pay the publisher. 1t
costs too much to put them out. Every
editor strives to have the Sunday edition
of his paper surpass all the rest and that
takes vast sum of money"
Rev. S. NJ. Freeland followed with pa
per on the dangers threatening the Sab
bath from the ignorance OF the PUBIC
mind as to its value.
He continued the invective of his pre-
decessor against the Sunday paper and
then turning to his subject disposed of it
rather sententiously by stating that he did
not believe there is any ignorance-it is
rather disregard.
At the close of these papers DR.. Mclean
rose and asked for all tue ministers that
took the Sunday paper to rise. Seven re-
A., hn Dth do 0f %Ha
ton fifteen arose.
President G. ]. Baldwin of Pomona Col
lege arose and made an eloquent speech in
favor of the Sunday paper. He said he
took the papers to learn the news of the
world, and did not propose to drop every
seventh page out of the account. How
ever. he would not read the paper until
Monday.
DR.. Philip Coombe said that if they were
going to split hairs they might as well quit
the Monday paper, too, as it was the result
of Sunday labor.
After discussing the question pro and
con it ended without any definite result.
The evening session noted the springing
OF great surprise in the almost unanl-
nous adoption of resolutions censuring
the Dubuque Association for their recent
action in the case of DR.. G. 0. Brown, and
requesting that association to rescino its
actlOn IN tne iHloioouo W. JuoIio0 anu
equity.
The resolutions were introduced by the
Rev. F. II. Foster, and are as follows:
WHEREAS, Upon occasion of recent case of
discipline by this conference, the Dubuque
Association of Congregational Churches and
Ministers undertook to demonstrate with this
conference for "untairness." injustice" and
unwlse and hasty action in the matter; and
whereas, their remonstrance is based on mis-
understanding of the intention of the result
arrived at by the Ecclesiastical Council which
investigated the charges against the person in
question; and whereas, they request this
conference to reconsider its action; and
whereas in spite of this request made and
in forestallmento OF any action which the coun-
ell could takc. the Dubuque Association pro-
ceeded to express to the subject of our fraternal
discipline their sympathy" and confidence"
and to extend to him their Christian greet
ings'' and the assurance that within the
bounds of their association he could always
find hearty welcome therefore be it
Resolued, That the action of this conference
was deliberate in the extreme, an entire day
having been devoted TO It's consideration after
months of public discussion and of prolonged
ecclesiastical adjudication;
That this conference sees no reason for
modifying its action then taken.
That it regrets that the Dubuque Association,
instead OF limiting its action to fraternal
request for a reconsideration, assumed to de-
cide upon The regularity and justice of the
procedure of this conference
That 1t more especially regrets the premature
action of the Dubuque Association in extend
ing the promise OF lts Iellowsnlp 10 the Drother
That it respectfully reminds the Dubuque
Association that, in case the person in ques-
ton has suffered any injustice, the remedy
lies in an appeal to a regularly con-
stituted mutual council between himself
and the Bay Conference, according
to the principles of our polity; and that the
interference further than by remonstrance in
the action of one conference by another is SUBJ
versive of all discipline and of the fundamen-
tai principles of Congrega ttonalism where by
each church and each body of churches is left
concerns.
That It accordingly requests the Dubuque
Association to rescind its action by the repeal
of it's resolutions in this matter.
After DR.. Foster had read the resolu-
tions Rev. Philip Coombe arose and ex-
pressed his desire that no standing vote
be had, motion for which had been
made. He said he would vote against
adopting the resolutions, and cared not
who knew il, but there were others who
did not care to have everybody know how
they voted.
The reverend gentleman's wish materi-
allied, as it was decidedto vote by ballot.
The result was ayes 55, noes 10. One re-
fused to vote.
After the adoption of these resolutions a
series of papers were read with regard to
the preservation of the Sabbath by vari-
Gus methods. The first was read by At
torney S. W. Condor of Oakland, who
dwelt on the Legislative method.
Attorney Condor, while desiring to
abridge no mans religious liberty, was in
favor of Sunday laws. He believed them
entirely necessary to the welfare of the
country. There are two classes of people,
he said, who oppose Sunday laws and
from very different methods. The first
are those who observe the seventh day of
the week as the Sabbath, and object to
Sunday laws as a matter of conscience.
The second class, he said, comprise
those who fail TO observe Sunday simply
because they are goddess and object to
Sunday laws merely because they want to
do as they please.
Rev. J. B. Orr followed with the method
of an aroused Christian conscience. An
earnest and eloquent plea was made te
the assemblage to go to work more vigor.
ously in the vineyard of the Master. L
this were done, he said, the Sabbath ques
tion would settle itself a.ong with thu
other vexed questions.
preservation of the Sabbath by Imme
diate Effort" was the theme discussed by
Rev. S. H. Wiley. He called upon churcl
members to make greater effort in th