The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-05
/ ! I } s. SERVICE:
But F|:E||::,l,v'0|U|..|.'I|'''
The May Festival Held at the
Academy Of Music y Isl Sunday I "a
a SCAR CITY OF j: MINISTER'S ]: r J;
one Of the Pastors Said Later That He
Regarded This Absence as IL the
~ Mature Of i Discour.
tesY. 81
A. SCARCITY o MINISTER'S i; ii: RS:

The lack Of interest manifested BY
many Of the ministers Of the city In the
May Festival for Christian Unity, held
Sunday afternoon In the Academy Of
Music, emphasizes remark dropped
yesterday by O we'll known local pastor,
to the effect that the institution is q
miBnomer.
$| Considered in ITSELF the service was
one OF an exceptionally high order. The
efforts Of the meeting, SO far as It went.
was excellent, and there were several
notable addresses. But the fault lay In
the attendance. The ajority OF the
pastors OF the city were conspicuous BY
their absence except the Presbyterians
and tho Christians. who were well reps
resented. For the Baptlsts but one min n.
lister appeared. for the Episcopal ans but
one, and for the Methodists but three.
All save one OF these FIVE were on the
80 FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY. s1.f5
III The May Festival Is an annual afkalr.
Instituted some years ago largely through
the lnstrumentality OF the Rev. DR.. r. P.
Kerr. pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church. r was thought that once each
year, 4 in the fair month Of May the de-
nominations might come together IN
great union meeting and emphasize those
points upon which they agreed Speak
ers from the different sects would dis
ouss general themes dealing only with
the broad fundamental principles which
were broad enough and Fundamental
enough to cover them all.
This year, as usual, the Ministerial
Union prepared for the servic and ap-
pointed a Committee on Assignments to
3iook after all necessary d etails The
service was set for $3.50 o'clock on Sun
day, and was held at that hour The at
tendance was not so large. only. some
four hundred being present. But the alb
sence Of the ministers themselves was
even more marked. 5i =: <; sS
II All four OF the Christian pastors were
present-Rev. Carey z, Morgan. Rev. 2.
al Cave, Rev. 3. n. Melton and Rev Fl.
p Atkins. Three Presbyterlans--Dr.
r.. r. Kerr, DR.. Jere Witherspoon and
Rev, James e. Cook-were on the plat
form and two others-Rev. W. 8. Camp
bell and Or. J. P. smith--in the audience.
But OF the Baptists only one was there.
Rev b. "A. soly, and Of the Episco-
5palians only one, the Rev. Thomas :
semmea. and OF the Efothodists only
tf,re.--Dr. John Harmon, Dr.. II. p, John
son and Rev w. "A, Cooper. The Ger
man Lutheran Church was represented
In the person OF Rev. T. Lehmann.
TFs presiding officer was DR.. w ithsr-
'spoon. prayer was offered by the Rev.
Mr., semmes. ana The benediction by the
Rev. Mr.. Cooper. There were addresses
by Or. Kerr. DR.. Harmon, Mr.. Cave and
Mr., solly Tho Episcopalians were not
represented among the speakers. Pr.
Kerr had to be appointed on Saturday
In the place reserved for the speaker
from this denomination. DR.. Grammer,
Z Of Norfolk, was to serve, but could not
come, 81 q 5 fls .s
M THINKS IT DIsCOURTEOUs.
II think It 81 d!sc os,--teous to the rest
Of u.s. said one Of the prominent pas
tors there. Tho meeting ia arranged
BY the Ministerial Union and Is q Chris
tian unity festival. As 1t was, i ap-
peared anything but that. Why, I un-
sderstand that some Of the preachers
didn't even announce that the service
was going to be held, expected a. great
gathering OF the pastors. but was dis
gusted when saw what q slim attend
ance we mustered, 1t looks to me as II
1t is the end Of the Christian Unity Fes-
tiyaln PIX 5}a r