The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-11-07
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
The Sabbath in Time of War.

The fact that in California a Sunday Law has
been enacted, and l. 70 a considerable degree en-
forced. gives special interest 70 the question how
far tine sabbath i u be respected and observed
by the army of = Christian people in time Of war.
The y. \. inns has the following editorial on
the subject
CEN. N'CLELLAN AND TIE SABBATH.
The country viii be- gratified by the order which
has been issued by Gen. Mcclellan, enjOining u
more perfect respect for the sabbath, on the part
Of his command, than it has heretofore received.
The order i happily - specific that it cannot fail
t. secure the eminentiy proper object in view.
The General SAYS:
'. Unless in the case Of an attack Jv the ea7ay.
or some other cTtreme military necessity. il i
commended TO all commanding officers that all
or0rk shall he SuSDelded IN the Sqibafh that no
unnecessary movements shall be made on that
day that the men shall, as far as possible, be
Pelh"it,od 10 rest from thar LaJorS: that they shall
attend divine service after the customary morning
inspections and that officers and men alike use
their influence to insure the utmost decorum and
quiet on that day
Gen. Mcclellan does not give this order as the
trick OF a politician 10 get a little Fictitious APP
plause among religious sects nor yet as the expe-
dent, without moral meaning, of one who feels
Obliged TO give an Overworked army more rest
but he accepts the rule he enioins as n Christian
duty, springing ont of the relations that ali men
bear to their Creator.
III ItcOSulLcS IHdI the HlTnc-O ucNtlOpIneiC
and greatest efficiency of the physical man will
always be obtained by the closest adherence TO
the dIv~inely-imposed duties Of the perfect reii-
gIOus man. The General says he - regards this
observance of the Sabbath as no idle form.
One days rest in seven Is necessary for man and
animals. More than this, 5he observance Of the
holy day of the God of Mercy and of Battles is
our sacred duty"
This reform Of Gen. Mcclellan in the general
moral regimen and practice of the army will
give profound JOY TO hundreds of thousands of
loyal citizens, who have been panied more than
the Government has been aware of by the appar-
ent total abolition of the Sabbath in the organl-
zation and movements of our armies. lnfdels
and s%cotfers may sneer, and satanic presses may
rail in strains of unmeasured blasphemy against
any attempt 10 conform the code of war 10 the
conscientious views of a Christian people. But
there is no mockery 50 dangerous and diabOlical
as that which makes light of the convictions
stigmatized rs 81 prejudices" and - superstitions''
of the religious part of any civilized nation.
For it is this class, as tie history Of the world
will prove, that will endure longest and sacrifice
most IN any cause that receives the hearty APP
proval of judgment and conscience.
Men of the world, and even shallow Christians,
appear 10 have Il very confused idea of the SUI
preIne Being. The prevailing idea in peaceful
is of Il benevolent, peace-loving, mild and
merclful Deity, delighting most III the willing
and diligent obedience by his creatures to his holy
commandments. But when war comes, the same
persons seem to think that their God has abdic-
lted his throne, given over his sceptre to the
devil, and turned men loose to Il carnival of
crime, riot, bloodShed and general ungodlineSS.
His eyes are supposed to be yelled to mems wick
edness, his laws to be all suspended, and no re-
cord made of any transgreSsions of his command
nents, for which men in ordinary times would be
to account. Gen. Mcclellan reminds such
men of .heir error, by the timely suggestion that
the - God Of mercy is also the = God Of bat
Ties and that his service does not change with
mems passions.
There is nothing in any intelligent mans faith
to make him conclude that Christian nations may
on just occasion, go to war, and wage it To
its dIrest issues nor is there any excuse for the
sheer that a pious regard for the Fourth Com
might often lose Il battle, an army and
1 good cause. The order of General Mcclellan
strikes the happy mean of an intelligent con-
science, and requires, AS far rs possible" the
lecOrOus observance of the Christian Sabbath.