The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-26
SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS DEPLoRED.
Resolutions Against Them and other
Alleged Evils.

Resolutions Against Them and Other
Alleged Evils.
At the afternoon session of the conference
held yesterday reports from a number of
committees were received. Rev. G.. l.. Cur
tiss held the chair until Bishop Bowman ar
rived. The report of the committee on
Sunday schools showed that there had been
a marked Improvement in the attendance,
but there were still thousands of children
not enrolled. among them the children of
members of the church. The report de-
plored the fact that eighty charges had re-
ported nothing for the Sunday school
Union. The committee on family religion
reported that the family altar is broken
down and that family prayers are much
neglected. The committee held the pastors
largely responsible for this, and recommend
ed that the members of the conference do
their full duty and endeavor to restore the
family worship. The committee on domes-
tic missionary work recommended that
there be formed organizations in every
church to reach the nonchurch- going people
Of the community. This could be done by
a house-to-house visitation.
The committee on Veterans Home So
ciety offered a report but it met objection
because it asked the Endorsement OF the
know what the society had done during the
last year. 1t was withdrawn to be called
up after a report of the superintendent of
the home has been made. The report was
against the consolidation of the society with
the Preachers Aid Society.
The committee on temperance reported q
resolution stating that the liquor traffic
was the cause Of all the evils of life and
a menace to The church and school 1t
recommended that the Methodist Church
stand by its past record and be satisfied
with nothing less than the complete ex-
termination OF the saloon. 1t recommended
the organization of anti-saloon leagues in
all the charges of the conference.
The committee on Sabbath made the fol-
lowing report: We believe 1t absolutely
necessary to heed the command of God and
remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,
and as there is tendency of the times to
profane this holy day, we protest against
the further indulgence in the direction of
we deprecate the keeping open of bust
ness houses on Sunday, and Sunday base
ball and other games merit our unqualified
contamination for they are evil in their,
influence and sinful in their practice.
The Sunday newspaper the Sunday the
alter. the Sunday ride, on wheel, in car or
carriage for amusement or recreation, and
all other entertainments which preoccupy
the thoughts and distract attention from
sacred themes and associations strongly
merit and should promptly receive the Wig
orous and persistent reprobation of all
Christians Of whatever name or creed.
Resolved That we insist that the men,
bers OF our church discourage all such
desecration of the Sabbath day;
That we urge upon the officers of the
law the enforcement of the laws regarding
the Sabbath, and
s'That the rule of our Discipline concern
ing the Sabbath be rigidly enforced, and
that the members Of our conference preach
against all forms of types of Sabbath desc
crations
The committee reports, with the exception
OF the one from the committee on Veterans
Home Society. were adopted. and also re-
ports from the following committees: Ep-
worth League tracts, Womans Foreign
Missionary Society. church periodicals and
literature Preachers Aid Society The re-
port Of the committee on education was Of
fered but it was made special order for
Monday morning.