Smyrna times., 1903-10-21
FAVORS ABOuSHINO cOLORRO CAMPS.
Kew. Z. W. Nichols of Mt. Friendship Attends
Meeting of African Church at Dover.

meeting OF African Church at Dover.
To the Editor of THE SMYRNA TIMES
olr;-We came together in Dover on
tuesday, the 9th inst, as representa-
yves OF the African NJ. E. Church. not
merely for our happiness and benefit
as individuals or families, but for our
welfare as a race. We can not better
improve the opportunities that we
nave than by looking into the condi-
ton OF people, and accordingly we
TOOK up the much mooted question of
camp-meetlngs. AS representatives of
church that has at least 3 OOO com-
munlcants and still greater number
OF congregatiC nal members scattered
throughout the State of Delaware
from the Brandywine in New Castle
to Baltimore hundred in Sussex. SUI
porting US, we have concluded that
tne condition of our people is simply
dePlorable. We think, without doing
injustice to any other form of sins, the
most dangerous of all is the one that
sets up Christianity as a pretence. in
the form of holding camps, in the con-
Quoting and management of which
tnere Is so much for good men to de-
plore' and so little for them to prize.
IL Is detrimental to defer the in
eVltable. We know that movement of
any Kind lnaugurated of such impor.
lance and magnitude, as this one of
regulating or abrogating the woods
gatherings under the guise ofreligions
"orshlp Will elicit adverse criticism:
put there must be some restraint. as
Oh bad men by good men, but it must
% restraint for the joint good of all
parties concerned, and not for the ex.
'iuslVe good of the restrainer. The
consequence of this will ba
he material and spiritual welfare of
W. Gambling, whiskey selling
drunkenness, fighting, murdering
manning for life, ETC., to the extent
arrled on at the camps held this mast ,
ummer, makes them become a sarioro
VII and menace to any community t
"hlch they are held, disgrace to /
ny race that persists in holding them
nd blot on the fair name of ON, t
,ate that will legalize and tolerate
iem without exercising some repu. -
tlon over them. As a compromiso -
easure some have suggested that tbo "
ATE furnish police protection. which a
believe to be impractical under tho a
'cumstances. Suppose 1t was prac. in
'al' then 1t would only serve IN
'engthen us in our opinion. that W
mps have survived the day of their -
eiulness, for when any form of re-.
lous worship has become SO inef- %
1--WE as to be forced to appeal to tbe tn
'norltles Tor such protection, to
ler than prophets, the ultimate re. pa
I Is plain to foresee. No mora tn
nps' Is the motto of the A. ME- II
urcn' Some will say if the conduct ~,
10 obnoxious to your church. wbv an
you mold them? In reply we NAV
That 1t is to benefit the negro race
HoC simply those of our church =,
ong as other denominations hold
~ even though we stop, the same To
OF conduct will attend them. life
"hen something occurred that de- "
'ed to be denounced, it will be the thil
ana not a particular class of the 81
or church, and hence no ma forl
Al benefit would accrue to the A ueil
D. Church or the race, and for thai
on we invite the pastors and in ~,
ltlal members of other denomina. Inc Inc
to join us in this movement. bea,
chairman of a committee an. best
ted by the Presiding Elder 70 Sore
ent memorial to the Governor OK 9hiL
ing Tor his support as chief execu- bv h
oI the commonwealth, to use tba
ence OF his high office in anv wav
seemed right to him, in aidino TIL
OBTAIN the desired result. in hibit
tne Wilmington District A. NJ thing
reachers' Association to accom-. splrl
US to the office of the Governor tr ,nsIl'
,hes were made by Revs. Thorn a'". a",.;. :
Laws, Wlsher and Nichols. The moro
rnor IN his reply promised TO j.
ne attention of the legislature of ...-..,
IN his biennial message to this .
mooted camp meeting question 4
q. W. NICHOLS, n.
on, Del, Oct. 9, 1903. LIS