, 1859-07-04
THE SUNDAY QUESTION,

~" 14aEc ITO deSsfe 10 take part iii the con
1r'"cr*y which has So long prevailed ~ /,
what constitutes the proper observance If tht
Sabbath. Ci'ou tlis subject different sects
dlflrrcnl countries, and different ages have ell
t"rta1nctl opinions Of great diversity. 1twou1.
's' impossible to lay down any general rule:
for the regulation Of human conduct s,n 1]l,
day that would he satisfactory cvcn to all re-
ligo'ls ln"ple. to say nothing Of the rrclisious
Tt" subject lies purely within the domain Il.
conscience, and is beyond thu province O.
human law, except SO far as the peace, stnl
order aud welfare Of society may require it,
interrosi,ion
Just HOW the subject is cliciting oonsidcra.
bic thought and discussion in tl.is community
Our city population is composed o. people who
have hten reared and educated Under different
systems. and who consequently entertain
widely diverse sentiments Oh ts and oil,cr
SUBJECTS About ono third Of them hayc nccn
trained under New England ideas mud iutI,,.
enccs nearly another third rn,lcr those c,:n.
mon tn Germans; aud \ like proportion unLy
those Which prevail in ireland. Couseoucutir
"f'iie some flour citizens regard lhc Sabba,!,-
day from strictly Puritan standpoint, tl.rre
are'others who believe that it imposes no ol1i
CATIONS Of restraint which arr III, common IT.
the other days Of the week, and not II few &c.
cupy every possible intermediate position lie
tween the two extremes. Where 10 wide
diversity exists among different portions q!
our population, So nearly equal rs 10 numbers.
to attain ut once, OF in LIFETIME to uniformity
o! views and practice, is utterly ont Of the
question Daily contact, intcr,narriage, soc:a
intercourse. aud otlscr like influences may, III
t''' '1's'rs" q! generations, produce remedy:
INT 'oF the present we must expect that snnc
will ," constantly giving afencc 10 others rs
t" the manMr in which they observe, or f.i,
I" observe. the Sabbath; that sn,n" will desire
IN" enactment of more stringent l:,ws t!,an ,yc
40" have 10 restrain the action Of others.
while these. i'll turn. will invoke the sanctions a
law IN protect them in what they regard as their
Inherent rights; that tile conflict Of opinion
and the heat If discussion will .,tiu.e 10 :n,-
1rl EACH class into positions more ar less cx-
trcnlc. and that views will continue to IN,
expressed "a }ntf sides rcpugnant 10 s.ll con,.
-o'l-s''ns'' notions ofindividul rights. and tic
proper objects and scope Of civil government,
As We raid III tile ou,sct- it il not our pur
pose to participate i'll the controversy ,onclsin.
the proper observance Of the sabbath. We
have our own views upon the subject, wlir..
we try 10 carry into practice in our individual,
conduct. but rs VIC hare no desire to mako
these views the standard, aud enforce alI mcn
to1hcir observance by tic strong arm Of the
civil law, We do not care ID obtrude them upop
the readers Of the PRESS AND TmEUxE. There
is one view ot the subject however. whic!,
comes lcgt,n,atc!y within the province Of
Journalism, aad upon TINT NC have some sur-
geslions to offer.
Ia this country Of civil and religious lacr.
crtv, it has passed into an axiom tlat tyer,.
man is entitled 10 think aud 10 :.ct rs h.
phases, provided llc violates no law or it,
fringcs upon none Of the rights Of his fellows.
This principle is Of general application. aud is
as relevant to the Sabbath question as to :,nv
o,llcr. Those who hold to a strict observance.
II the Sabbath may mt compel Others Of diff.
;crent belic(, to the same line Of condc. wl,j.
they lay down G"r themselves, any more than
hose who entertain laiitudinarian opinions on /
s,n the subject mar enf.rre t}a stitkl.rs e..
Sabbath observance iuto the adoption of their |
various modes Il recreation ard enjoyment III,
that day. Each is entitled to protection iu tit
enjoyment OF his own opinions, subject TO the
limitation maintained above. +" Ibis extcn,
We have lad legislation The law. stcrs in
AMI declares to 4, that be shall no, innr,l;tc re
to prevent from the peaeeable enjoyment Of
-, notions Of the proper observance q. the