The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-25
Rev. Mr.. RAIDER Lays Blame ON the
Arrangements Committee.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
have read with some surprise the reply
OF MIR. Fortune, chairman of the committee
on the entertainment of Prince Pu Lun to
the published reports of the Methodist Min
listers Association. 1 am a member of that
body was present at the meeting on Mon
day and heard the discussion of the ques-
ton referred to. Permit me to say that,
not knowing the attitude Of the committee
as whole. of which Mr. Fortune is the
chairman. or the views of single member
thereof personally there was in all the
speeches made the most pronounced senti-
ment in favor of placing the most charitable
construction possible on the actions of the
committee. All felt, and some did not hest
tate to express their feelings in rather
strong terms, that great blunder had
been committed by some one in not seeing
10 IL that the prince was given a chance to
see some of our representative congrega-
tions engaged in worship. Mr. Fortune
says the prince was not invited Grant il.
How could that fact in any sense justify
the course that was taken in the use and
abuse of our Christian Sabbath? But is
the blame for his Majesty's nonattendance
at church. and the continental use that was
made OF the Sabbath, to rest with our min
listers? If so. for what reason? If reason
minded person that il is TO be found else
where than in our failure to extend an in
Vitauon. The ministers did not bring the
prince to the city. The churches had moth
ing TO do in arranging for his reception and
entertainment. Had any church, therefore,
Ventured through its pastor to extend an in
vitauon to the distinguished visitor to at
tend religious services would not the act OF
that church through its minister have had
the appearance at least of an attempt to
interfere in a matter that did not properly
tnemv would no q H.
able consequences of such an act that any
church would naturally hesitate to extend
formal invitation under such conditions.
The committee is to be congratulated on
the splendid arrangements provided for
showing the prince the best material speci-
mems of our Western civilization The min
listers of all denominations, Protestant and
Catholic, far as l have heard are with
out a single exception justly proud of the
showing made to his Royal Highness. The
only point of disagreement between us and
those aVing the matter in hand is in the
Another reason why the committee should
have taken the initiative in the princes
church attendance is this: Had one church
the right TO extend to him an invitation, all
the churches had the same right and had
all acted on this prerogative, the prince
would have been placed in the embarrassing
position of having to select one of the many
churches inviting him as the one to which he
should go. But had the committee, who
took the initiative in all the other arrange
ments of the princes visit, acted in the same
manner in the matter of his attendance at
church, / am quite sure that whatever
church would have been selected for him the
other Christian denominations would, with
the most cordial Christian unanimity, have
sanctioned the procedure just as they have
almost every other detail of the committee
arrangements. In all candor let us let the
blame for the blunder rest where it belongs.
w. S. RAIDER
Pastor Madison-avenue nj. Z. Church
Indianapolis May "A.