Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-14
Observance of the Sabbath.

The question of disseminating Sunday trains
ON the Virginia Central Railroad, has been agi-
tated at every meeting of the stockholders for
several years past. A former Superintendent Oh
the road has demonstrated by facts and figures
that Sunday trains do not pay; public sentiment,
we believe, is in favor of the reform; and we
have no doubt that at least portion OF the Dl-
FACTORY feel and lament the demoralizing intiu-
euce of this kind of Sabbath Dissertation. let
for some reason or other the passenger TRAINS
continue to run on Sunday. We are not IN des'
pair however, of correction of the evil and at
anv rate shall continue to do our duty IN tue
premises by continuing to call attention TO the
subject. 1t is not question OF dollars and cents
but one involving the highest moral interests OF
the community, in comparison with which Pc
cunisry profit aud loss sink into insgnlhcancy'
We are reminded of the subject at this time by
an excellent article on the observance OF the
Sabbath, in that excellent and influential journ'
al, the Baltimore American. with the theo-
logical discussions belonging to the SUBJECT
SAYS the American, sit is not our purpose, OF
course, to NEEDLE. There is just this much,
however, to be said-if the authority Of God has
anything at all to do with the appointment Of
the Christian Sabbath, it is not possible that lie
would formally set apart day to be observed
by men, merely or principally for the purpose
of giving them rest from bodily toll, or for the
seeking of mere amusement, however innocent.
By the very constitution of their nature-by all
those attributes that distinguish men from brutes
are they bound to devote such day to intel
lectual and spiritual cultivation.
sBut our concern is with the law of the land.
It plainly and stringently forbids all kinds Of
traffic on the Sabbath, and it is law OF uniyer-
sal application. 1t compels the dealer In dry
goods or hardware to close his store, and makes
no exceptions in favor of liquor sellers, cigar and
tobacco dealers, or ice cream saloons" Not ex-
astly "of universal application restrlc-
tions are laid upon individuals, the great incor-
porated Sabbath breakers, whose influence is
ten fold more injurious, run riot through the
land. awe discover, says the American, "how
priceless jewel consistency is, in discussing this
subject. Pious people-(and the pious people in
this community are not a beggarly minority
look with horror upon railroad travel on the
Sabbath. If an omnibus company proposed to
run line on Sunday, even for the aceommoda-
tion of persons who lived too far from church,
the Company would be overwhelmed with q
storm of indignant -ebuke."
The American concludes its article with the
following extract from an address put forth five
years ago by a large and influential body of
men:
'.Finally, the Sabbath is sign OF Gods cove
nant with us. 1t is brilliant bow OF promise
upon the very darkest cloud that hangs upon the
horizon of our country. So long as we observe
it, so long shall the flood of despotism, inhdelty
and anarchy threaten us in vain. If we aban-
don it, or treat it with contempt, then comes
merited vengeance; the opening of the windows
of Heaven, the breaking up of the foundations OF
the deep, and q shoreless ocean, engulphing all
that has exalted us, and made us prosperous as |
q people, and the brightest hopes and antieipa-
tious of the nations of the earth"