The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-14
D[Cl|hEDfT0IMAK
Announcement [ D.. | { | 4 1
Ministers Refuse to Advertise
Reform Movement from Pulpit.
a VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION.
Rev. W. 9. eeauchamp on sThe Church
and the Saloon"-Dr. Strickler's Pa
.Npr Before the Ministerial Union.
Religious Items.
A VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION
Rev. W. 8. Beauchamp on sThe Church
and the Saloonn-pr. Stricken. Pa,

At the first fall meeting OF the Minis
terial Union OF Richmond Manchester
and vicinity, held yesterday at the Y. NJ.
C. a., there developed somewhat I'M
usual situation. provoked by the refusal
OF two prominent ministers to announce
from their pulpits on Sunday next a
mass-meeting to be held in the interest
4 OF the reform movement. A rather lively
discussion was imminent, but was headed
OF In time.
The request for the announcement was
made by DR.. j. B. Hawthorne. In behalf
Of the committee appointed at the recent
meeting of citizens held at the Academy
/ OF Music. He said 1t had been decided to
recommend the formation Of a Reform
League. to be composed Of prominent
citizens Of Richmond, and to get out
for steady and permanent work. This
League will be formed at mass-meet-
ing, to be held next Sunday, and he
asked the ministers present to make an
nouncement of tho meeting from their
pulpits and urge q full attendance.
Both DR.. r. P. Kerr, of the First Pres
byterian Church, and the Rev. r. "A.
Goodwin, of St Johns Episcopal. ex-
pressed heartiest sympathy In the work
OF the proposed League, but declined to
carry the matter into their pulpits. DR..
Kerr said the movement had
political bearing, and while, as clt1-
zens. the ministers had as much right as
anybody else in politics, yet he thought
that as ecclesiastics they had better
stick to the gospel Of Christ. He did not
think the ministers as sucn should go In
for it though they should give their per-
sonal influence to the movement Fol-
one, he had to decline to make the an
nouncement fom his pulpit next Sun
day.
A rather brisk reply was made by DR..
Hawthorne to DR.. Kerr and big dis
cussion was imminent. Dr. Hawthorne
declared that the ministers who objected
to making the announcement had mis-
apprehension of the spirit of the move
ment The city, he said, IL in q very de-
moralized condition, the features OF
which immortality have been made known
through the press and otherwise. Mo-
rality is an element Of religion and If
elimina ted, the world would have little
respect for that religion. The ministers
Of Christ he continued, cannot ignore
the obligation to seek an honest and
clean administration of the cfty's affairs.
He thought 1t perfectly right to adver-
tise from the pulpit movement 1or
morality.
with all due Difference to their SUI
perior wisdom and piety,' he continued,
..I think the two brethren are cnerlsh-
ing radical mistake.
Just then. the Rev. n. A. Bagby arose
and stated that while he agreed with
DR. Hawthorne, he did not think the
Ministerial. Union the proper place for
discussion OF this sort He called for the
regular order of the day and the debate,
witch bade fair to be an interesting one,
was headed OIL.
1T lust want to let the brethren know
said DR.. Hawthorne, as he sat down,
chat il: carrying this matter into the
pulpit. do not believe am transcend
Ing the functions Of the Christian
The regular monthly and quarterly
meeting of the Baptist Sunday-scnool
Association Of Richmond and Manchestel
was held Sunday afternoon at the Grac C
street Baptist Church. President ". -
Duke presided The meeting was IN tht
nature Of ..fall rally" for the workers
IN the several schools represented IN t tEs
Association, and was largely ATTENDED
and full Of interest A programme OF
snecial music was rendered by the chorus
of Grace-street school. accompanies oy
the school orchestra Rev. l. :. boyles
of .Randoplh-Street Church, delivered
forceful and interesting address on Inc
subject 1.-THE Other Hail.
The following reports for September