The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-22
SUNDAY LEAGUE
A REFORM FORCE
Ii is Organized and Its Influence Will
Soon be Felt.
MAss-MEETlNG TO BE HELD.
Good Men a, the Head of the Move
mcnt TO Enforce the Proper
Observance of the Sab
bath in liichmond.
mAss-MEETlNG TO BE HELD.

Through the faithful efforts of few
who have labcrcd earnestly since the
first conception of The idea of setting on
foot in Richmond "A movement to enect
a more reverential and proper opser-
vance of the Sabbath, The Sunday OBJ
servance League fof Richmond ana Vlcitii-
~, 1t now seems. is destined soon To 10
a great power for the accomplishment OIL
as lanldable aim The movement has been
.,ppareurly slow, but all the while it has
haen gathering force, and those interest
ed In the work have been considering well
The selection of the League officers, TO
the end that there are now men at tle
head Of the organization in whose hands
ii is certain the aim and object of the
League will be carried out and their Ell
forts rewarded with success.
THE OFFICERS.
These men are:
President, James d. Crump; First Vice
president, Eugene c. Massie; Second
vice-President, T. w. Wood: Third Vice
PRESIDENT, John L. Mayer; Recording
Secretary, G. NJ. Snithdeal; Correspond
fng Secretary, Rev. William S. Campbell,
and Treasurer, Nc. n. Newman.
III has row been nearly one year since
the resolution which dnausurated the for
unatien of this organization was intro
duced in 4 meeting of the Ministerial
Union. For some time the violation OF
the Sunday DAVIS have been from time TO
time commented upon by the ministers OF
the city, but it was something they could
not among themselves control, except
with the cooperation of the Christian
people of the city. This resolution was
introduced at the June meeting, and was
referred TO the Business Committee.
During the summer months there were
no meetings of the Union held. conse-
auently the matter was not taken up.
nor acted upon until the October meet
ing. at which time a special committee,
composed of Rev. w. S. Campbell. Pew.
w. b. Eeaucltarnp. Rev. L. r. Mason,
REV ]. b. Hawthorne, REV. Dr.. g. T..
Morgan, Rev. c. A. Marks and Mr.. s. IL
Mckee was appointed to investigate and
formulate plans by which strict obser-
vance of the Sabbath might he brought
about In Richmond.
REFORM FORCE.
These gentlemen went to work in car
nest They made known their desire to
the people. and from their respective con-
creEations selected one hundred and
fifty laymen. who, with about eighty
ministers of the city, held a meeting in
the ChaInlber of Commerce. AT this meet
ing the League was practically establish
ed as a great religious reform force in
Richmond A constitution was drawn
up at the time, but was not
adopted until n few weeks later, as there
was some question as to the object of the
League, whether 1t should be TO secure
the proper observance of Sunday as a
civil institution. or go further and ady'o-
cate the observance Of the day accord
ing TO the Christian idea However, the
constitution reads that the League shall
secure the observance of the day as a
civil institution.
The membership has greatly increased.
numbering now possibly 800 members. and
by the systematic plan for securing men,
bers, which has been adopted. it seems
certain that within a comparatively short
time it will reach nearly "a Thousand.
The Nominating Committee is now
working for the holding of great mass
meeting in the near future, by which
TO arouse the interest of the people, and
to accomplish practical results by the
carrying ont of their plans.