The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-07-09
TO THE CITIZENS OF WORCESTER
COUNTY,


day June, appointed the undersigned Committee
communicate their feiow-ctizens the views and SEN
tmens entertained by that meeting In the discharge
of the duty assigned he the Committee beg leave re-
specially to present the following considerations
We hold the Sabbath to be a divine institution pre-
emnenty adapted to promote the best welfare of man.
as mora intellectual and spiritual being, and nds-
pensabe to the highest enjoyment and exercise of his
physical nature. The obligation to keep the Sabbath
as day holy TO the Lord, is in view unquestion-
able. Wisdom and utility, humanity aud pety alike
demand its observance. The people of New England
have been distinguished Sabbath-keeping people
Generation after generation have been reaping the
fruits Of the unyeldng principle and elevated pety of
our ancestors They left European and hierarchical
notions of the Sabbath the other side of the waters
They had borne the reproach of puranism for their
strictness; they willingly submitted for conscience and
God were their only masters. We can hardly over
rate the influence which their manner of keeping the
Sabbath has had upon the integrity, the good order and
the pety OF the people of Massachusetts. They illus
traed their doctrine the memorable first Sabbath of
their arrival The Maytlower to anchor in Ply
mouth harbor Saturday night; they spent the Sab
bath on shipboard, a wnry coast after their long
and perous voyage, within sight of the chosen spot for
their settlement They would not land, because thew
would keep the Sabbath holy. This was their doc
trine, and this their examples and New England to this
day smiles under the light of their distant and vet y
ing influence Our earnest desire is that the New Eng
land Sabbath in its spirit may be perpetuaed for our
common welfare for the prosperity of our children and
or the glory OF God and that approximation shall
be made to European Sabbaths, DAYS of pasme recre
alton, and unhalowed sports.
The friends OF the Sabbath, who originated this Com
vention, impressed with the conviction that
needu, and would be useful to call the attention of the
public TO the subject of Sabbath dissertations Much
annoyance had been experienced in villages by per-
sons riding for pleasure, assembling at houses Of en-
ertalnment Tor the purpose of feastng and drinking
1t had been feared that young people were contract
ing the habit of devotng the Sabbath to recreation
that ruinous consequences would to themselves
and to the community, unless seasonabe and saIu-
ary check could be nterposed 1t is not believed that
the Sabbath has lost its hold upon the affections or the
confidence of the community There are indeed those
who waste its hours in ideness; those who stroll about
the streets in the city, wander in the fields in the
country There are those, who, for the miserable re-
muneraton they get, will continue their secular bust
the Sabbath, and those, who, on that day. ex
act of others unnecessary labor their mutual detr-
ment. But the majority still Sabbath. loving and
a Sabbath-keeping people, They seek 10 spend the
day in the of the various means for religious i'm
provement, and in such acts of worship as conscience
and pious feeling dictate and it is clearly privilege
which ought not to be invaded. Such enioyments are
the right of those that seek them and the Sabbath
should be, for their sake day of quiet Its haloxved
hours should neither be disturbed by the sounds of bust
the shouts of mirth
The Committee in addressing their fellow citizens
propose make their appeal earnestly in reference
to the young not because they deeply involved
in the evil Of desesratng the Sabbath than Others but
because they worthy of our warmest regards our
deepest sympathy and earnest endeavors both
account of theirposon and their dangers To them
the Sabbath is of ncalculable worth. 1t is the centre
fhealthfu influence 1t is the barrier which the wis
dom and goodness of God has nterposed to check orr
| progress in worldliness, immortality and crime
| The history OF young men, ruined in character in
hopes for time and eternity, will often show that their
| first downward step was in breaking the Sabbath
The history of those who grow up to be 70
the world and the evident heirs Of heaven win show
that they have been Sabbath keepers. The Sabbath is
Gods institution. la violating it you incur penalty
| in observing it there is a great reward.
Eight young in the city of Boston, preparing for
business, lodged in one house. Four keptthe Sabbath
-Four devoted it to pleasure. The first four succe eded
The others ruined In a boarding house con-
neced with large manufacturing establishment there
| were eighty young men. One kept the Sabbath at.
! tending church regularly The rest gambled and
drank, and rode and sailed. That is wealthy, re-
speced citizen of this county, nearly all the rest have
gone to drunkard's grave.
Our penitcntiaries and prisons furnish proof that
crime is the result of neglecting the restraints and
abusing the privileges of the Sabbath The best and
happlest men in the community, living witnesses to
the advantage of conscentiously improving them And
II we could look into the destnes of men, in the world
to come, should, doubtless, find the eternal Sabbath
OF Heaven vocal with the praises of those who most
wisely, and in the spirit of it, kept Gods Sabbath on
earth.
We are moved by feelings of deep interest in the
welfare of the young, to urge this subject upon their at
tenton We fully believe that safcty prosperity char
acter, happiness salvation, all involved in the man
ner OF keeping the Sabbath. We propose no formal
rule. We urge upon the young to examine to consid.
er, and to resolve for their sakes for their own
honor, interest, and highest happiness, the Lords
day for those ends and purposes for which God gave it
to us The Sabbath made for man. 1t is needfu
for him. He cannot dispense with it without suffering
lie cannot rise to that elevation Of character to that
dignity that enjoyment, of which he capable with
out it. And feel ourselves authorized in being earn
est in urging this subject upon the attention of all who
are forming their characters and their habits for life
because we know, that the highest wisdom and the
widest experience, both commend the keeping of the
Sabbath an Indispensable element in character and
in happiness.
And il It be of much consequence that the Young
by their principles and under the guidance Of their
own consciences should observe the Lords day. it Is
OF equal moment that parents and guardians and en-
poyers should earnestly aid them in their endeayors-
The influence Of parents is mainly relied on, TO incu-
cate correct principles, and lay the deep foundations
of correct habits The sacred attachments and asso
Citations Of home should mngle with the sentiments and
requirements Of religion parents counsel, parents
example, and tender solicitude, should be reme
bered in connection with the keeping of the Sabbath
III r II