The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-19

SENATOR DRODERlCkS OESEQUiES-hEMON-
STRANGE or THE SADBArARIANs-In another
column will be found document Of singular
character, being no less than remonstr lnce
from the Sabbatarians against the selection of
Sunday for the funeral ceremonies in honor of
the late Senator Broderck. II is signed by
nearly six hundred of the wealthiest merchants
in the city, and is addressed to the Firemen's
Committee of Arrangements. The remon-
strants are the same persons who have dstin-
guished themselves by various similar move
ments against the sale of the Sunday newspa-
pers, the running of railway cars, and Sabbath
recreations generally. They are, for the most
part men who live in fine houses, and who eat
sumptuous dinners, drink costly wines, and en-
joy the pleasures of society on that forbidden
day. They do not spare the labor of their
cooks or diminish the work of their other do
mestics any the more because of their Sabbath
doctrines On the contrary. in the families of
many of them the day of rest is day of the
severest toll to those who minister to their
wants.
Ridiculous, pharisaical and intolerant as
have been the arguments which these selfsatis-
fed and selfrighteous gentlemen have brought
forward to sustain the various other restric-
tons which they have sought to impose
upon freedom of conscience and individu-
al liberty, they fall far short in absurdity
and Inconsistency of the reasons which they
put forward for their present modest demand.
Let us just see what the proposed ceremonial
so< 10 ca Of tn rlA hot l. c.vp
justice to the common sense and piety which
have dictated this remonstrance. In the first
place the procession is to be strictly mortuary
in its character, and will be conducted with all
the solemnity and decorum which are observed
by our people on such occasions. The banners
and badges that will be used will have relation
solely to the personal merits and connection of
the deceased with the department, and will be
free from all political significance. We see no
difference between such ceremonial and the
obsequies of military or naval officer, and
these Sabbathday observance gentlemen have
not as yet ventured to object to the perform
ance of the latter on the Sunday. Can it be
the organization simply which constitutes the
impiety? Is there no place for fremen in
Heaven, or are their services specially reserved
for region in which they may prove useful?
The other features of these obsequies, by
which, according to the remonstrants, the
Sabbath is to be desecrated are-frst, the
prayer which is to be offered up at the Univer-
sity; secondly, the funeral oration and thirdly,
the benediction. What jewel is consistency!
Can anything be more natural for those
who are unable to "find tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks, sermons in
stones, and good in everything" than to detect
sin in prayer and impiety in benediction
AS this communion of souls with heaven is to be
effected on the broad guage principle, and not
according to the modes and forms practised in
fashionable up town conventices, it is properly
denounced as revolving to the religious sense
Of the community. Pushed by such logical
and convincing appeals to our consciences, we
shall soon find ourselves moving within rather
tight limits. If it be sinful to eat, drink, exer-
else and pray, we do not see why admitting
the force of these gentlemen's views) it is not
equally improper to die on the Sunday.