100 years ago in The Saratogian
Friday, April 20, 1917
Motor buses are an increasingly popular commuter alternative to trains and trolleys, and in Saratoga County they’re popular enough for competition to exist and go to court.
For the past three years, the Saratoga Stage Company has been running a bus line between Saratoga Springs and Corinth. Saratoga Stage now has a rival in J. Howard Pitkin, who plans to run buses along the same route.
Saratoga Stage protested to the state public service commission, claiming that its certificate entitles it to protection from competitors. Disagreeing, the commission has granted certificates to both companies permitting them to run their Corinth buses within Saratoga Springs.
“The Commission reiterates its opinion that it is without power under the present law to control competition between motor bus routes on State Highways outside of cities,” The Saratogian reports.
“As both of the present certificates are granted for that part of the route within the city of Saratoga Springs, over which neither line can carry local passengers, there is no competition involved in the granting of these certificates.”
Modern church music criticized
The Troy Methodist Conference remains in session in Saratoga Springs today as Bishop William Burt criticizes “some modern tendencies in church work.”
“I’d like to shoot out of our church a large part of the musical programs,” Burt complains, “There are two motives in singing, one to praise God and the other to exhibit our talent. This is the one that I am afraid is taking up the time of many a choir today.
“O, for a return to the singing of our great hymns! I often wonder who is making the money out of selling the music now used in the churches. It is wrong.”
Burt finds much to dislike in modern worship and evangelism. He especially dislikes the employment of celebrity evangelists like the former baseball player Billy Sunday. “Although he did not mention Billy Sunday by name, [Burt’s] auditors gained the impression that the speaker had in mind the methods employed by the famous evangelist,” The Saratogian reports.
“An impression is prevalent that when you seek converts you have got to have an outsider come in,” Burt says, “Nowadays you must build a tabernacle and have a full crew of helpers. I don’t believe in that. Seek converts to Jesus Christ through the ordinary service of the church.”
What’s happening
The Broadway Theatre hypes its new picture “A Daughter of the Gods” as “the Picture Beautiful.” Its main attraction is a nude scene featuring its star, Annette Kellermann. In competition, the Palace presents a fully-clothed Marie Doro in “The Lash.”