The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-24
THE DAY AT ACTON PARK
w. c. II. L. TAKES UP DISCUSSION OF
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Campers Not Inclined to Attend Day
SerVices-RemarkS of "a PEN
tccostaI Minister.

Some difficulty is being experienced in
getting the cottagers at the ''Chautaqua Of
the West TO attend the various meetings
held in the pavilion, and many a notable
speaker has walked out OF the grounds feel
ing sighted by the inattenton paid him.
This source of complaint, however, is not
peculiar TO the present season, but is d
recognized characteristic OF the camp in
past years The campers as a rule go to
Acton for rest, and evidently do not pro-
pose to spend all their time in the meeting
house. So apparent has this become that
the general sentiment is now in favor of a
discontinuance OF efforts to draw them out
in the daytime. Yesterday T. G. Nelson, a
Pentecost evangelist, declared in the after
noon w. c. 7. L. meeting that the camp
ers were not Christians, and all this be-
cause they were not present at the meet
ing. The campers who feel that their pres
ence should not be constantly expected do
not take kindly to this generous sentiment
OF the reverend gentleman.
During the course Of this same afternoon
session Of the w. c. T. Z. very interest
ing debate on Sunday observance occurred.
The question was raised by Mrs. Anna
Alexander, a member of the committee on
programme for next year. She wished to
know the sentiment of the ladies on the
matter of having w. c. T. L. day on
Sunday. Immediately every one was strict
ly attentive for one of the old perpleHing
problems of Acton Park was again to be
wrestled with, and those who participated
in fthe remarkable debate covered the
ground pro and con in a most thorough
manner. Mrs. Bates was the first to take
a stand against the proposition. She said
the w. c. r. L. should not take a day on
which SUNDAY trains
countenanced by the assembly. Mrs. Gipe
took a contrary view and thought there was
such thing as straining the Sunday OBJ
servance question. She had noticed the
numerous beer excursions TO Cincinnati
that passed the grounds every Sunday, and
thought that it would be better to divert
some of these excursionsts to camp meet
ing. Mrs. Blarch thought that those VINO
came by excursions on the Lords day
could not be touched by the religious spirit,
and 1t was better they stayed away. Miss
Hadley was OF the opinion that of two evils
the proper thing was to choose neither,
which meant that between a small crowd
and no excursions and large crowd and
big excursions the proper course was to not
choose sunday at all. The question OF Keep
ing the gates TO the grounds open and
charging admission was brought into the
discussion by Miss Hadley. The assembly
association does not recognize its own
passes on Sunday, but requires 10 cents
from every on that day, so that even
the millImaid from the neighboring farm
must pass her milk to her patrons between
the fence pailings or else pay 10 cents at
the gate. Miss Hadley was of the opinion
that it was just as evil for the association
to charge this gate fee for the railroad
to run excursions. T. G. Nelson, the
Pentecost evangelist, said that those who
ride on Sunday are ''all on the way to hell.
anyhow" but that since they would ride il
was just as we'll that they were admitted
to the camp Mrs. Ham thought that clos
ing the gates would be like closing the door
of the church, and said there was no more
harm in riding a train than in riding
a street car Mrs. Gipe thought the collec-
ton of gate receipts was just as justifable
as taking up a collection in the meeting.
Mrs Bates said that the large crowds
Sunday had been proven to consist of the
rabbIe who came for picnic instead of for
worship but Mrs. Ham considered that it
was possible to well officer the camp on
Sunday and do away with the Objectionable
features. Finally it was decided not to put
the question TO the meeting and to allow the
programme committee to exercise its own
judgment on the matter.
During the day the local union of the
" g T. u elected the following officers:
HAM, Indianapolis; second vice president,
Mrs. Anna Alexander, Whiteland; secre-
tary, Mrs Phebe Currier Indianapolis;
treasurer, Mrs. Mary Tarlton, Indianapolis
About seventy members joined the union.
The union adopted resolutions in favor of
continuing the work for the enforcement
of such laws on scientific temperance in
struction in the schools and on the age of
protection for girls until better legislation
Vor OF woman suffrage, on the ground that
it was impossible to secure proper legisla-
tlon 9ntI such Suffrage was secured. 1t
branch an evening on the programme next
season and to invite the l.. 7. l.. convention
to hold its session at Acton on the first
day of the assembly union. The union for
mally expressed its sympathy with the eff
forts of the young men of Munce who are
serVance of the day of rest
3: +. Watson fraternal delegate of the
Indianapolis Prohibition Club, made an
able address, in which he said that the
children were born who would see the doors
closed on the last dramshop in the land.
W. V. Wheeler, of Indianapolis who has
just returned from Mountain Lake camp
meeting, in Maryland, spoke briefly on the
wonderful work done by Charles Critten-
don in behalf of fallen women. Mrs. Gipe,
who is president of the Meridian W. c. r.
U. and state superintendent for the moth
on her department, telling how it was pos
sible to arouse the interest of mothers in
keeping their children from the pitfalls
that exist so numerously in the world.
Mrs. Matte o. Cammack spoke of the ne
ceSSity of organization, in which she stated
that the obstacles to be overcome were
the lack of conviction in the hearts of the
women the lack of money and the indif-
ference and hostility of ministers. Mrs.
Cammack also spoke in the evening. She
is the pastor of the Friends Church at
Marion and is a woman of power. She
chose as her subject The Saloon Keepers
Ledger She showed by many apt illustra-
tiOns that the saloon was debtor to dis
ease in shortening life; TO immortality in
breeding criminals; to ruined homes in
stealing away their support; to pauperzed
labor in being banks for losing" where
the laborer deposits everything and draws
out nothing; to laWlessness and crime in
being the natural nest for outlaws; TO po-
itical corruption in bringing about a rule
by graduates of jails and grOgshops. The
speaker closed by saying that the way to
settle this account with the saloon was by
total extinction.
The story contained in yesterdays Jour
nal about Hinshaw was read by everyone in
camp and many expressed their hopes that
the alleged confession would prove true.
The Epworth League will have, great
day next Friday when two children VIII
be carried by the railroad on one ticket
and the Whiteland Band will be present on
the grounds.
Among the new tenters are Edna and
Gertrude Howell, Gertrude Robbins. Emma
Billman, Grace Kingsley, Carrie Means,
Carrie Nail, all of Shelbyville, and Julia
Gordon of Morristown; also Mary McCune,
Grace Whitsett, Alice Shawver Clara over
hiser and Miss l. Overhser of indianapolis.
A serious accident happened to little Don
aid Wright the three-year-old son of A. ID.
Wright The child fell from hammock
and nearly cut its tongue in two. The doc
tors have done everything possible for the
child.