Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-06
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PASTORS PROTEST AGAINST sun
DAY TRIPS TO THE sEAsHoRE.
ACTION OF BAPTIST MINISTER'S.
vr,. Address an Earnest Appear ="
Their People Not to P"tro"'Ne INV
o.tinxs-Crurade of ths Metho"'S'
sunday-schooI Workers

The Board of Directors OF tne Me.'0
d,st sunday-School Society. at the" i"S'
meeting started a crusade WIN VIC"
20 promoting the stricter observance
~ sabbath. The meeting was a iehsIi'S
80 and the points on which particular
80 wore laid were the running oil
ST, excursions. the crying OF papers
- ,no streets. the traffic in fruit cigars
and soda water, and the pase-o'i'
schedule. which forces the team repre-
septine Richmond to play matches wheh
away from home. on sunday
,rne unsbot of the meeting was that
= committee composed of Messrs. Charles
w Hunter and George i. Bidgood, was
a,po,ntel 10 visit the weekly meetings
of the pastors Of the various oehon'ln'-
lions. with a view to laying the matter
before them, and urging them TO take
some action in this respect his uu'Y
was discharged yesterday"
The object of the visit TO the ministers
of the various denominations was TO ask
them 10 place the matter before theH
congregations.
A. far as could be ascertained, the most
vigorous denunciation at TINS meeuhs
was launched against the Sunday eAeur-
sions. which were declared to be per-
ricious in their influence. They have,
moreover. done more than anything else
towards the thinning Of the Sunday
school ranks.
HORROR OF SUNDAY GAMES.
The greatest horror was expressed that
Richmond should have been scheduled
90 play baseball on Sunday.
"Why didn't they schedule games 10 DC
n1aved i'm Richmond" said Mr.. Hunter
yesterday and then he answered his own
question by adding: Because they know
how strong public sentiment is against II
here. II we permit the arrangement 10
go without protest this year. in three
Years time. or probably sooner, there
will be league games in Richmond on the
Sabbath-Day.
The committee will appear before the
Ministerial Union, which is 10 meet al
the Young Mems Christian Association
next Monday. ,.-.
AT the regular meeting of the MethodlsI
ministers. held in Centenary church yes
terday the committee appointed by the
Sunday-School Board appeared and an
nounced the action that that body had
taken. There was some discussion OF the
question, and DR.. Starr, president Oh inc
association, urged that resolution
should be adopted instructing al Metho-
dist ministers 10 preach sermon on sun
day observance. A resolution was auopl-
ed to this effect, and clause adued CON
demning the Sunday excursion. Upon the
raf al
10 the other points presented by the
committee was indefinitely postponed.
Messrs. Hunter and Bidgood appe~ed
before the Episcopal Glorious yesterday
and invited the cooperation OF the Epis-
copal ministers in the movement Tor the
better observance OF the Saobath. Inc
Glorious adopted resolutions heartily en-
dorsing the sentiments of the union, ana
EXPRESSING willingness to join In any
legitimate effort TO secure the end desired
BAPTIsTS ISSUE AN APPEAL
The Sunday School Committee also
visited the Baptist Pastors Conference
but that body had already adopted an
address to the Baptists OF Richmond
and Manchester on the subject OF sun
day excursions. The subject had been
under consideration for several weeks
and the address. which will be read from
the several pulpits next Sunday. was
prepared by Rev. l. Morton Mercer, OF
West-yiew church, whose congregation
brought the matter 10 the attention OF
the conference. The paper was heartiy
endorsed and the desire was expressed
that all the city papers should publish
II. The. address follows:
ITO the Members OF the Baptist Churches
of Richmond and Manchester:
1--WE, your pastors and brethren, desire
-. call attention X
one of the developments OF modern socld
life. which, in our Judgment, mas pecom'
a great source Of temptation ana eVll TO-
many and against which we beneVe Coo
peopie ought TO speak out, and that mos
distinctly and earnestly-it is that Torn
OF indulgence popularity known as Suhda.
excursions During the spring and sum
mer months the railroad and steaHpoa
companies and others. arrange specia
trips or excursions. by rail and wafer
that leave and return 10 the city al sue
hours that those who 90 on theSe enS Soi
sions are taken from the city the whoi
or the greater part OF the Lord day. 1,
gain patronage for these excursions sue
Inducements as cheap rates, a day at
pleasure resort, "a day or pope4aI anus anus
ment' are offered. and hundreds or people
thus enticed, yield 10 the temptation an
spend the Lords day upon these eHcui
sions thus turning the day IRON MOI
ton OF those who 90, on these excursion
are we are sorrowfully constrained 10 De
ueve. professed followers OF the Lor
Jesus and members OF His churches
AGAINST such use this by christian
OF the Lords day we here and now De
IN offer an earnest protest, and We ais
beg YOU 10 Join with us IN this protest.
FOR REST. NOT RECREATION
"The Lords day Is given us. not 10
recreation, but for rest; not FOR unusus
exertion and excitement Of body an
mind but for the composure and recupt
ration of faculties already duly exerteo
not Tor amusement, but for Improvement
no, Tor hilarity. but for holiness. TIL
sunday excursion, more. perhaps, tina
any other seemingly harmless device. sut
verts and even destroys the very ends fo
which the Lords day was intended. ]
ranorts NAV be believed, the great ma
tority of those who 20 upon these excui
sions are helped neither IN body nor i
soul Instead OF rest for the body. ther
is often unusual and prolonged exertior
instead OF composure and ease OF minC
there is feverish excitement and exhaus
tlon: instead Of soul-helping commune
with God, there Is soul-hurting commL
MON with Goddess men. In most IN
stances. from the hour OF starting TO N
hour OF return, every influence upon bod.
mind. and soul Is detrimental TO the bes
Interests OF the man, and II ~ no eHdgg'
ration TO say that. for most OF the part
cipants the Sunday excursion Is, frol
every point Of view, an evil and curse
Further, We believe that sunday q
cursions are also a source OF great harl
70 society al large, When tnt conlniphl'
excursions haunveo continually In Il