The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-29
DO NOT AGREE
WITH DIR. THOMSON
Baptist Ministers Object to Some Of
His Ideas.
LEAGUE OFFICERS ENDORSE.
They Think the Uitcrances of the Gem
eral Manager Were Entirely Ill
Accord With The Objects
of the League.
LEAGUE OFFICERS ENDORSE

Rev. Or. Edward Thomson, OF Atlanta,
Ca, general, manager of the Sunday OBJ
servance League OF America, has entered
upon u ten-dayS' campaign here in the in
terest of the more rigid enforcement Of
the Sunday laws. He addressed three
large meetings on Sunday and another
last night.
Some of the ut1erances of DR.. Thomson
appear to nave created among the Bap-
list ministers the impression that ne is
running counter to their doctrine with
reference to the separation Of church and
State. DR.. Hawthorne, one of The lead
ing spirits in the formation of the sun
day Observance League of Richmond, IS
outspoken in opposition TO the views OF
Dr. Thomson. and there was an ana
|. mated colloquy between the two in the
meeting of the Baptist Ministers Con-
ference yesterday morning.
DR. Thomson was invited here TO hold
d series of meetings for the purpose OF
exciting interest in the movement for Sun
day reform and to increase the member
ship of the local League. His first meet
ing was held Sunday morning. at the First
Baptist Curch, and his sermon on that oc-
casion has been the subject OF consider
able discussion among the Baptist pastors
of the city. In this sermon DR.. Thomson
argued the observance OF Sunday on re-
ligious grounds, saying that the Govern
ment OF the United States is founded dis
1inctly on Christian principles, and that
although the laws are enforced as CIVIL
; laws, nevertheless the jurisprudence is
based upon Christianity
BEFORE MINISTER'S CONFERENCE.
At the Baptist Ministers Conference
Yesterday morning, DIR. j. B. Hawthorne
took issue with these views OF DR. 1hoin-
son, and after a statement by the latter,
IL r-1oIsy,o in a T.
dance with the declared policy of the 10
cal League. He said Sunday should be
recognized as a civil institution and that
If the remarks of DIR. Thomson sisnifed
it 10 be the purpose of the League to Sc
cure an enforcement OF the laws on re-
lie:o,ts grounds, he could no longer sup
port It.
The Conference, at the conclusion OF
DR.. Hawthorne'S remarks. appolnteu
committee 10 voice the sentiments Oh INC
body This committee consists OF a'1S. H.
II. Pitt, j. B. Hawthorne, L L. D"iiamas
and ]. 3. Hutson, and Will report at 'he
next meeting OF the Conference.
APPROVED BY THE OFFICERS.
Mr.. James D. Crump. president oil me
Sunday Observance League, when seer.
YESTERDAY morning, stated that he heard
Or. Thomson Sunday, and MS tiSit-
ment of the subject of Sunday I'd
Serya,ca was in accordance with Tie
nurucses of the League in the matter
MIR. Crump-stated that Dr. homsoh
argument for the observance Oh d Jay
of rest was twofold, being based upoi,
religious GROUNDS on the one haho anu
unoo the civil and economic ccnslderatioii
Of the subject on tie other ME-. Crutap
does not believe thai DIR. thomson l,o-
sition results in any confusion or uiS-
iurbancc of tic functions OF ChuEch ana
state. or of religion and civil law he
states that it is his belief and that Oh the
League that in this day and generation
no one would attempt to unsett,e the
well-established relations now existing
between them.
secretary OF the League, when seen,
stated that the object OF the
que as shown, in the constitution, is.
twotoid. covering the personal observance
of the day by the members in any way
that they deem right. and also the IN
auguration of u movement to secure the
proper observance of Sunday as civil
institution. They said there should be no
conflict over the nntter at all.
-FOUR MEETINGS HELD.
DR.. Thomson held three meetings Sun
day and the fourth occurred last night at
Calvary Baptist Church The pastor,
Rev. II. "A. BaEby, opened the meeting
with devotional exercises. and spoke en-
dorsing the movement and called atten-5
ton to Its necessity. he said that the
greatest cause for fear is the failure on
the part OF Christians properly to observe.
Sunday themselves, and II Sunday is not
observed by Christians they have no right
to exocct its observance by others.