The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-05
CRITICfsEs THE CHAUTAUQUA

Editor Star: The program of the
projected Ocala Winter Chautaqua
Is before me. May l trespass on
your space to call attention to one
feature of the program against
which l feel called upon very cour-
teously and kindly but firmly to OBJ
ject. The motive and purpose of the
proposed Chautauqua is perfectly
proper and correct, and there are
some features Of the Chautauqua
work which We can all heartily
commend. But this especial Chau-
tauqua is to be held under the au-
spices of the Marion County Board
of Trade. an organization whose spe-
cific and ayowed purpose is to ad-
vertise and advance the material
prosperity of Ocala and Marion
county. The organization is thor
oughly worthy of the united support
pien of this community / am sure
my good friend, the secretary of the
Board of Trade, would not and
could not willingly or consciously be
guilty Of any discourtesy, nor would
he be willing to take liberties with
any mans name or calling in life.
And yet, in placing my name on the
program of the opening session Of
the Chautauqua, Sunday March 1,
he has quite unconsciously, done
~ "a hn Of
| regret exceedingly that l was not
consulted in reference to the use of
my name, and my official position
on that occasion, and that this COM
munication could have been avoid
ed. l am, of course, speaking only
for myself Ny brethren of the
ministry of other Christian bodies
may hold other views, and | do not
speak for them.
The unauthorized use of my name
on a program intended for use on
Sunday, and which has doubtless
been widely circulated, calls for this
public request that correction be
made, and my name be removed
from the program itself.
In the first place, as. a minister, /
wish to say that the Marion County
Board of Trade has gone beyond its
legitimate limits, and taken lib
erty in calling an 'Interdenomina-
tional Mass Meeting" on Sunday aft
ernoon, purposing to take an offer
ing" for defraying the expenses Of
local commercial body; and inyit-
ing the public, under the guise of a
religious meeting Of any kind, to
listen to 1ecture-sermon, to be de-
lirered by woman.
Ny criticism includes also the
program for Sunday, March s, when
"a vesper service-whateyer that
may be-is to be conducted by a
woman, assisted by the local min
listers The announcement is in
elusive, and as such. includes me. It
might at least be presumed that
some one of the local ministers
might be competent, if it should be
ueSHGI. 10 COn1uCl Nc5pSI SCI VIC,
unaided by a visiting feature of the
Chautauqua.
An MISREPRESENTATION Mass
Meeting means a meeting for reng-
ious and devotional purposes. by the
Christian bodies, or denominations,
OF any community. And my protest
is against the principle involved in
the use of any such meeting in the
interests of the Chautauqua. 1t is
commercializing the Lords Day. 1t
is using the official position of the
ministers of the city to boost COM
mercial enterprise, by placing be-
hind it the moral weight and sup
port of the Christian ministry. 1t is
asking them to stand sponsor on
public platform for the utterances
and convictions of totally unknown
and irresponsible strangers. And as
such. it is utterly wrong. What We
are needing today is less entertain
ment on Sunday, and more willing
ness TO listen TO the preaching OF
the gospel of salvation to genera