The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-15
VIEWS Of READERS
ON issue OF DAY.
A Gard From Rev. Mr.. Maxcy.

through the papers that the Methodist
preachers OF Richmond were. at my sLy-
gestion. contempla ting the establishment
of newspaper. coffee houses. pttrAs
with soft drinks RS means of reclalnli'1.
our city from Sabbath dissertation to
Church attendance etc The report was
very unjust, but tried to pay little at
tention to it. though many questions
were asked and newspaper clippings from
papers from Richmond to New York
were sent me Still Gune 12th1 qiee-
lions and clippings come in. Therefore
I ask sufficient space to answer all at
once by giving the facts as recall and
understand them.
Let it be understood first that In our
! meetings we sit in Executive session.
and that it is agreed among us that what
ever goes to the press from our meet
ings is to go through the secretary. This
arrangement grew out OF the fact that
one Of the brethren made most earnest
protest against the manner IN which the
preachers names and plans were handed
| by some Of the paIas;, closing his re-
marks by Offering a resolution that mere
after We sit in executive session AS l
recall now one or more OF the othcr
preachers Joined in the protest ano the
resolution was passed
Let 1t be understood, second, that once
in each month we have what we call
Literary day." when some member ap-
pointed by tho chair brings in paper
on some subject Of his own selection.
Now. as to the paper offered by my
self. the facts are about as follows:
About two months ago Q do rot re-
member the exact date) I called the at
tention Of the meeting to the fact that
on Sundays the churches are not crowd
cd while the strect-cars seem busiest on
those days and the parks and other re-
sorts in and around the city are fuil
then moved the appointment of q COM
mittee to consider this and kindred facts
and report or suggest to the next meet
ing some plan whereby we might CO.
operate for the moral and spiritual bet
tcrment of our city. At the same time
I asked that I be not placed on the COM
mittee, because I had already thought
the matter over and had no suggestion to
offer. The ministers present agreed that
the subject was q proper one fer our
consideration. A motion was made and
carried, over my protest. that I be re-
quested to read q paper on the general
subject of Church Attendance, Sabbath
Observance, etc." at our next literary
| meeting.
I did not like to refuse a request SO
heartily made, and therefore by silence
consented-rather submitted. When I
the body in the form Of a speech, in about
! the following form:
| called attention to the fact that we
| were in Executive session" and that
| was not speaking for the public ear. 1t
| was stated that to cure a disease We
! must doctor the cause and not the symp
| tom If the cause be temporary the dis
ease will pass away Of itself IN the
| judgment OF the speaker the troubles I'M
| der consideration grow out OF human
nature and therefore will always exit,
| in one form another. while human ma
ture remains what it is.
The first source 7 mentioned was what
we may call "the social instinct" Peo-
| pie must meet and talk with other people
to hear the news, exchange ideas and
! so on.
Another cause is desire for relaxation,
recreation excitement.
The rich can meet in their clubs, drive
| out in their carriages, or gather in their
| bones Many of the poor. if they meet
| in their homes, must meet in q garnet;
| or Il they meet outside their doors. must
meet in the alleys into which their houses
! open They have no broad and airy
! porches. no elegant drawing rooms where
| they can sit and talk with friends q sum-
mers afternoon or winters evening
| IIenc largely the popularity CT the
| park, the Sunday excursion, &c.
,rEen came the remedy. I mentioned
| incidentally that I had heard that in
| Venice there are coffee houses" at which
| the poor can meet and talk while they
! sip their coffee. I did not recommend
| coffee houses for Richmond or any
where else. I then stated that the city
| Of Boston maintains public baths for her
citizens [ did not recommend public
| baths for Richmond or anywhere else.
| It was stated by the speaker that if
we are to reach, control and benefit the
| people we must first reacA the public
| mind. Mind leads Then it was that
! referred to the power of. the press and
said that a paper run by our preachers
| meeting might be made q means OF wide
influence but that did not thin. the
suggestion practicable I repeated the
same statement when the matter came
| ", for discussion q second time. l did
| say that q park rund under Christian aus
pices would be a noble charity, but L
did not think it feasible.
The question was then asked by the
| speaker. What can we 90 on our own
account to better the moral and spiritual
condition of our city? 7 answered as fol-
| lows:
l. We can with love and firmness en-
| force the discipline of our church.
Q We can lay aside fads, hobbies. SEN
satiopaIisrn, and preach Christ and Him
| CiNcltled. Inel dlSllnCtlE aCueu THESE
worts, to mention anything as a sub
stitute for, CIR in comparison with this
would be sacrilege'.
| II to make these suggestions and state
| merits in Executive session" was fool
ish'' or sinful then your correspondent
| pleads guilty to which ever charge the
public may be pleased to bring.
These facts are here given as before
| minated, in answer to the many ques-
| ms OF friends who We're dissatisfied
with the matter as they had read it.
| It.would be interesting to know; a. Who
| offered the resolution according to which
| the reporters We're excluded from our
meetings? CO Who made the motion in
obedience to which my paper was
| brought in? (3) Who gave report on my
paper to the reporters? The secretary
| says he did not
But as the answers to these questions
are not now germane they need not now
| he sought or given.
r. N. MAXEY.
Richmond. Va, June u.
|