The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-17
Governor Dockery's Proclamation
for Prayer and Fasting Brings
Forth This Question.
SOME cLEReYMEN CRITICAL.
Catholics and Episcopalians Will
Not Observe Sunday as
Fast Day, but
Will Pray.

In response to the requests of the Chris
tian people of Missouri. Governor Dockery
set aside next Sunday as a day for fasting
and prayer that the drought may be dis
PEELED. and now discussion has arisen as
to whether it would not have been more in
accordance with the custom of the churches
to have named a week day.
Some persons object most seriously to
Sunday. as that day is little observed as
fast day. 1t being rather a feasting day,
and the same persons contend that in OBJ
serving Sunday no special sacrifice will be
made for the blessing that is asked. These
persons ask II the Governor acted thought
lessly. not thinking of the fact that the
Catholics and the members of the Episcopal
Church never observe Sunday as a fast
day.
In his defense. others say that surely the
Governors object was to appoint day
which he thought would be most widely OBJ
served.
Many are in favor Of asking the Governor
to change the date from Sunday to week.
day, but the majority of Christian people
express themselves as feeling that. In the
| face of criticism. even from the clergy the
Governor acted with great deal of moral
courage. and they have so far prevailed
| upon the dssenters to make no request fo1
| a change in the day.
The Reverend Doctor P G.. Robert former
| rector of the Church of the Holy Comnun-
| ion. says the thinks the Governor must
| have acted in error. or perhaps In ignorance
of the customs of the Catholic and Episco-
| pal churches IL can't understand it,, he
says. II can't believe that Mr.. Dockery
has acted in anything but good faith SIM.
| it is strange that man of his ealiber
should he ignorant of church customs as
| to appoint a day of feasting for day OF
prayer. | don't see how any Catholic or
| Episcopal church is going to observe the
| day the Governor has set it
Lean &. NJ. Davis of Christ Church Ca
| thedral says:
| II am so glad the Governor gave us the
| day that | can fast and pray regardless OF
| custom. We need the rain. and l do not Pc
| lieve it will hurt US to fast on Sunday. l
| cannot criticise the Governor. although he
| did. perhaps. overlook the custom of our
! church in observing always Sunday as
| feast day instead of a fasting day. l
, think We will observe the day very general
~. am in favor of both fasting aud pray
| ing that day.
( canon Allen X. Smith of the same church
| feels Just as Dean Davis does. We shall
| pray ne SAID. and all those who feel
| like il can fast. We are glad to nave the
| Governor set aside day. l should think
| his object IN giving us Sunday was because
| he thought more people would observe sun
| day than could De induced to observe any
| other day.
.i'he call for observance of next Sunday
| as !. day of fasting and prayer was In re,
| not think or Directing to it," said J.. e
Armstrong. the Baptist publisher. %of
| course. 1 never before heard Of Sunday ne
| ing named as a fast day, but suppose the
| Governor thought Sunday would be more
| generally observed than any other day. l
90 not think fasting on this day would be
| in the sense of making special oHerlnS,
as Sunday is already the Lords Day. But
| Sunday may have more general opserV-
ance, and l cannot crlticise the Governor"
The Reverend Doctor Daniel Dorchester,
even for that day. He. believes the day
| will be generally observed and thinks much
good will come OF it.
Il cannot criticlse the Governor, says
| the Reverend Doctor J. +. Cannon. Presoy.
tcrian. "Of course. we make no special
| sacrifice in going to a place OF PRAYER on
the Lords Day. but the special call 70
t>prayer may be more generally Observed.
The Reverend G. d. Power. pastor of the
| Church OF the Immaculate Conception, says;
THE Catholic churches have held special
several days. We are glad the Governor
has called a special day for all the people
| to pray for rain. l suppose he named sun
day because that day IS more generally ity, 90.
will observe 1t as fast day, but that can n
be made a personal matter, and all VINO
| wish to DO so can fast
| Father James T. Coffey Of st. John 8
says: THE Catholic churches are having
prayers for rain every day. We never OBJ.
serve Sunday as fast day. but we hope
the call made by the Governor w'it De .ee gen
thinking that the day would have q more
general observance than any. other day.
We are glad the Governor acted IN response onse
to the call of the people. 1t takes great
deal Of moral courage to do what he did.
think the Governor did what was right:
and surely there should be no fight against
him. The day has been named so why not
| lot CT nIo