Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-10-08
Anti-Sabbath Movement.
We canno, but regard with deep i


81. Louis, and other large ciues OF our
country. 1t perhaps The most serious
assault on The holy day that has ever been
made in this country. In New York 1t
seems to be made mainly by motley
crew of lnfdeEs, Communists, and Radl-
Gals, who regard the Sabbath as onl Y one
of the barriers in their way 10 doing eX.
scly as they please. Some respectable
names may he connected with it as giId-
ing, but the mass is such material already
mentioned. In PhiIadeIph phia, the Quaker
infuencs makes the movement more Sc
riuus, because more oulwardly reputable
than the plebald, FalsslaT regiment eI
New York. In ST. Louis and other WeS-
tern cities il is the French and German
element that is mainly at work, TO secure
a Parlsian or Austrian Sunday. If these
efforts should succeed, the assaults will
be renewed, until every veslige of the
Sabbath shall be swept away.
Ilis, therefore, with deep interest shat
we look on this struggle, for it involves
The deepest anG best interests of our land.
The Sabbath is one Of the sheet anchors
of our shp'of State, and when 1t is broken
the vessel will soon drive on the rocks.
We may bear Partisan and Austrian
Sabbath. when we shall have French or
an Austrian deSpollsm to keep the masses
in check by the bayonel. But in such
country as ours, the moral restraints OF the
Sabbath are absolutely indispensable. /!
it should be made a mere holiday, II will
be mere curse. Let the young. and es-
pecialy the masses in our great Giles be
let loose to spend the dav in mere idle
ness and pleasure, and it must be day Of
mutual decentralization. Released from
The oversight Of parents and employers,
eager for some excl ement of some kind,
they will as certainly plot and execute
schemes of wlckedness as human nature
tends to sin. The leisure of.the day, the
many facilities 10 crime that will be afford
ed, and the natural aversion of the heart
10 moral and religious restraint will make
this mutua corruption inevitable. 1t will
be the Devils day as soon as it ceases to
be the Lords Day, and most potently and
fatally will he use it, In few years we
should have the rottenness Of European
capitals, without their restraints.
1t is hardly worth while to- answer the
transparent lwAddle about securing the
Sabbath for the poor man and his family
to 90 forth and breathe the pure air, and
walk in the green fields of the country.
All this talk is mere sham. Every one
knows this Arc dian picture of sylvan
scenes and rural enjoyments is purely IL
dculous. The green fields that are resor-
ted TO now, and would be increasingly so
then, are bcer.Swilling saloons and drink
ing gardens, ,and the pure air is the almos.
phere reeking with bad tobacco and worse
liquor, for no other resorts ever pay. In
the neighborhood of great cities, expert
ence extending 10 orchards and hen roOsts,
even now, bias given farmers forelaste. of
what may be expected if the population
of the city is let loose Unresrained, every
on the accessible parts of the
country. Increase the facilities and re-
move the restraints,and it needs no proph-
ct TO tell what the result must be.
We are willing to have the case deci.
ded by the testoG facts. Let any half
dozen families be selected who observe the
Sabbath according to the Scriptures, and
another haIf-dozen who spend it in excur-
sons to the country, and if at the expira-
ton Of a few years the former have not
more health. more wealth, and more moral
and social elevation than the latter, we will
listen with more patience TO this senti-
mental dawdIing about green fields and
pure air. Meanwhile we hope that every
friend Of pure morals and good govern
nent will resist this sudacous attempt to
pluck away one Of The main stays of our
national Iife.-Richmond Central Pres
5yterim.
Gen. Houston and the Ladies'.
Gen. Sam. Houston. just before the
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