Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-03-01
ADDRESS OF THE
Ohio Sabbath Convention
To the Citizens of Ohio.

Fathers, and Farmers, and Mechanics,
and Merchants, and Physicians, and
Lawyers, and Judges. and Ministers OF
the Gospel, and Church members ol va
r,ous denominations, and Patriots Of the
different political creeds, 10 consult TO
gether and adopt measures tor the pre-
serva,ion OF The Sabbath, beg leave, by
their cemmillee, to lay before you facts
and arguments submitted 10 their con
sidera,lon, and which formed the basis
oil their action
It is universally admitted, that kOoWl
edge and virtue lie a: tine foundation oil
the prosperity and perPeluity OF a re-
publican government
or course nation so extensive IN 'er'
ri,ory as ours, so rich in SOIL and 90
aboundiog in numbers, and VogorlouSG1
enterprise, cannot be kept from etfeHn'
pacy and ruin, without the moral pow
er associated with the Sabbath.
II is alike obvious, that the Sabbath
exerIs it's saIu,ary power by making The
popua,ion acquainted with the being,
ne ertectioDs and laws OF God; with our
relations 10 HIM as His creatures, and
our Obligations 10 Him as rational &C
countabe subjects, and with our cha
raclers as sinners Tor whom His mercy
has proved a Saviour; under whose
oovernmept we live to be restrained
from sin and reconciled 10 God, and fl
ted by his word and spirit Tor The inhe
ri.ance above.
Il is by the reiterated instruction and
;mpression which the Sabbath imPar's
10 The population Of nation, by the mo
raj principle which it forms-bV the
conscience which it mainlalDs-by lhe
habits of method, cleanliness and indus
trv it creales-by the rest and renoVa
ted vipor it bestows on exhausted animal
na,ure-by the heightened lie and
higber health it affords-by the holiness
il inspires, and cheering hopes OF Hea
ven, and the protection and favor OF Got
which it insures-whlch renders lht
Sabbath the moral conservator OF ma
tions.
This omnipreSent influence the Sab
bath exerts, however, by no secre
charm, or cOmpendIous action upo
masses of unIhnking mind; but by al
resting the stream Of worldly thoughts
interests and affections stopping IN
din of business nloadiog The mind {
its cares and responsibilities, and III
body ol it's burheUs, while God sPeat
10 men, and they attend and hear an
fear, and learn TO do His will.
The Sabbath exerts no moral powt
vpon those withdrawn from its instru
lions more than schools and seminarI'
exert an intellectual power upon It
vsgrou, population who never alter
them; aud the folly OF attempting
maintain the moral character Of the n
uon without The Sabbath, would not
surpassed by the attempt 10 exte
learning over the nation by emp
school houses and colleges. 10 ProPo
ton, then, as the population OF nur NJ
lion is Withdrawn from the instruct
of the Sabbath, TO the same extent
lis morol influence TO restrain, and p
riCy. and save The nation, be impalFt
and temptations prevail 10 corrupt O
virtue, undermine our institutions, a
hasten us to that fearful state ol gu
and suffering which will render Sc
government impossible, and desPoI'
the lesser evil.
From the statements made 10
Convention, and what was notorious
fore, it appeared, that unless spet
efforts are made Tor the preservation
the Sabbath, it's conservatory POI
mus, fall Befo,e the nundalions OF
siness and pleasure.
The commerce on our seaboards,
on our rivers, and on our canals
mrnpIkes, and railroads, is puuinl
motion a secular enterprise which IS
dsadening the national conscience,
rolling the wave Of oblivion over
sacred day.
That our population, doubling so
idly, and rushing up TO It's hIly and
dred millious, with ils correspon
momentum OF business and Sabbath
ecra,ioD, will constitute nation oi
impie,y and violence, and dlssoIuteT
as God is not won't TO reclaim, but
terminate.
Tha, secular business is a|read
sx,ended and interwoVeu as TO odrav
Ipc,su, individuals more end more
us stream, leaving no alternative
The united flight oI the people Iro
Tesistess course,
Already dO We approach The Per