Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-02
ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL
LORDS DAY CONVENTION TO
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
SrA les

The Convention of delegates assembled
in tins city from various parts OF the Uni.
on, 10 consult on the means OF promotng
more general observance OF the Chris
tiqn S4bbath, would respectfully soici,
the attention of their fellow citizens t.
the subject Of their deliberations. Were
an apology necessary for an appeal 50
wide as this address contempt itrs, II is
found in the fac, that the object concerns
lall--whelher they dwell in thu crowded ci-
itv or the scattered hamlet; in the palaces
of the Iich or the coltsges OF the poor
They believe tina, the results of the de.
cision which the nation shall maiurely
form as {, the claims of this institution
viii reach far onward IN its history, and
that we are dealing with the elements Of
the future veal or wo OF the hundreds Of
millions who are TO inhabit this land
when we and ours will be remembered
only by the h, althfu or bsneful intluen-
ces we have exerled upon this forming pc
Rod OF our career.
That our means Of safety are as pecu,
liar IS our perIls, is an admitted tfulsm.
We have parted with many of the pre-
scriptive safeguards OF other countries. -
The popular ignorance, upon which the
mon archies of the old world have so
greatly relied for safety, we deprecote as
our danger. The elevation Of the masses
IN intelligence, which they fear, is our
hope. They are building ci,adels Of de-
fence from their own people. w. are
seeking to awaken in ours higher and
higher estimate OF their power and their
rights. Their restraints from violence
are external force. Ours are the love OF
order, the sense of justice, tho power OF
conscience, and the fear Of God. Such
are our trusts; if they fail US. all is lost.
Our mistake is fatal, and there is no rem
edy.
Ii is with refer nee TO considerations
like these that we desire to fix the at
,ention Of our fellow citizens upon the
Sabbath, as a moral safeguard rendered
to us by our benefcient Creator for just
such exigencies as ours aud as nations
are what individuals are. rendered TO us
as nation, TO each Of US as individuals,
with ali its blessed influences on the life
that is and the never ending life that is
TO come. Were it human device, we
might well fear least evil should be min.
gled with lis good, and could Justly ques.
ton its claims upon our unlimited conf
dence. But il is law of God--coeval
with creation. 1t is one of the selected
few. the Ten Commandments, the brief
but comprehensive expression Of his will.
Among these it stands and we may not
say that it IS secondary in Importance or
obligation TO any. For aught we know,
it may be the very keystone Of the arch.
This should be enough. There 10 no
higher sanction our reason can ask or
conceive.
But were there no such revelation, and
were we compiled 10 trace back from ef.
| lects to causes, so manifold are the Sab
bath blessings, so complete it's adaptation
to our physical, social, and moral neces-
sites, We could not fail to refer its origin
to Him who made man, and who knew hls
wants as his Creator alone could know
them. That it was made Tor man as
man, is proved by all its bearings upon
all his wants.
As period OF rest, after six days con
tinuous toll, It is indispensable 10 the labor.
err. Without this gracious interval, his
health and vigor prematurely decay as
certainly, although not as speedily, as if
debarred from the refreshment OF sleep |;
and health and vigor are the poor mans
capital. The statistics, now so greatly
accumulated that we cease to gather them,
showing the fearful waste of life in these
employments which know no such suspen.
sion, are full of warning aud instruction.
Sad indeed is the lot of the laborer with.
out this jubilee Of the week TO recruit his
exhausted energies; when he may wipe
the sweat from his brow. and lift up his
body, and lift up his spirit, alike bowed
down by daily toll.
Nor is this interval Of repose, rs a law
Of our physical nature, less necessary TO
Intellectual occupations. THE mind mus,
BE stately unladen OF its cares, as the
body Of It's burdens, or a similar penalty
must be endure ed. The ordinary effects
of systematic violations Of the Lords Day,
by men OF business or prof ssional men,
are less ciesrness ofperceplion and power
of discrimination, and soundness Of iudg-
ment, and generally by diminution Of
intellectual vigor; often followed by a
sudden breaking down of The over,asked
mental faculties in other instances the
results ore lunacy or self murder. In
short, moral and religious considerations
apart, nothing is gained by violation of
the Divine commando truth often learn
ed TOO late. 1 a man would make the
most of himself in all respects, he will do
well TO remember the Sabbath day TO
keep i holy.
But the demands OF our moral and so
ciqi nature for he blessings of sanfti
fed Sabbath are still more imperative, and
lake hold of higher results. We cannot
dispense with this pause from the cease
less pursuit Of pleasure, gain or dis,inc-
ton we need it 10 mode ate our pas
sions. to chasien our desires, to purify
our natives. to elevate our AIMS, and to
seek the salvation OF our souls. II is
here the Sabbath chiefly discloses the d.
vinty Of IFS origin aud the benevolence
of lis purpose.
Ii sp axis IN Gods name TO the tide Of
worldiness, 'ahus far shalt thou come bu,
no farther. :" and commun~s with him ot