The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-11
sundnv Cars vs. sundav Chnrches.


Sunday Cars Sunday Churches.
Rditor of EUening Tetegrdph!-Much logic has
been expended in proving the utility Of one day
OF rest out of seven. Whatever force the reason
ing carries, is doubly applicable to periodical
term of recreation and rest. Night is the time
which nature has clearly marked out for rest.
II is ample for that purpose. What men want
is relaxation from conhning occupation, exer-
else in the open air, to develop the dormant
mental energies, to promote health, to invite
social communion. "Cheerfulness is the health
of the soul, and innocence is its foundation. 1t
makes us happy in ourselves, agreeable to others,
and pleasing to the Lord"
While we boast of our freedom from the
tyranny of Great Britain, the moral slavery she
imposed on us eDChans US stil. All the tyranny,
all the acknoW Wlcdged corruption OF proHgate
church, accumulated In past centuries beyond
our control, the Purltans imported hlth
The robbin9 Of the poor mans little pleasures,
the scouIglng and the puohc exposure OF pious
females, the hanging OF Quakers TOR honest
dissent, the burning OF innocent women tor
that phantom OF superstition, wit chcratt-these
wicked and debasing principle sstill abide here,
a curse and blight upon our freedom, and
they wait only for a favorable moment to renew
their works OF darkness.
Our mild religion is not stringent enough to
give to the Church that complete power 1t seeks;
hence the late DANGEROUS Cabals among the
modern Puritans to control legislation, and to
revive against the poor the seveTues OF the
Jewish law, from which the new dispensatlon
came expressly to redeem them.
Jesus and His disciples enjoyed their walks
through the green fields, gathering fruit on the
jewish Sabbath; they feasted, and cheered their
hearts with wine. On Sunday they did every
thing they performed on all other days, making
no distinction. In preaching against this eX
ample, our modern Pharsees virtually condemn
Jesus and His Apostles as mddels and uuholy
transgr essors OF what they please to call the law
OF God
To hlm who calmly looks into the depths of
these errors, the course OF these misguided men
Is impiOus beyond expression. No plea OF
antiquity or example can excuse the sacrlege.
What plea. indeed. can justify the savage de-
nunciatlons OF what are styled the Sabbath
conventions, against the rights of conscience of
those who hold opinions different from them on
this subject? He that has traced in history the
insdlous advances OF the Church. under a show
OF zeal, towards the usurpatlon OF power, must
see IN this scheme a bold thrust at our liberties,
a vital stab at the rights of conscience, Every
man who hCnors the gift of freedom, for which
our ancestors bled, should awaken to a sense Of
his danger. Why waste our sympathy on the
poor bUndman to bodily servitude, while we see
our OWL people bound hand and foot, and carried
away into moral slavery. under the jurisdiction
OF proud hireling ministry?
Let our Legislature have a care. If the people
OF this country, easy they are OF imposition
and slow TO anger, should get glimpse behind
the veil OF mock piety, and see the true intent
of this scheme against their right OF conscience,
a fearful retributIon Will be eXaCted. The
national pride has already been aroused, and
strong Party is now organized to shake OIL the
remnant OF the foreign yoke yet clinglng round
our necks. The Christian religion is republican
! as It exists in the Gospel, and so it should be
| here; but the Church that tyrannlzes over our
people to-day only usurps the name-it is
ant-republcan. During fifteen hundred years
! 1t has been moulded under monarchles, in rigid
adaptation to that form of government which
! We abhor. 1t is foreign enemy in disguise,
! daily and hourly undermining the temple OF our
liberty, it is the only hope nOlo renaGhtng, the
only tool that Europe depends upon to destroy
| our hated republican freedom. Mark already how
it has mixed a Legislature to violate our Con
sutution, by enactlng sectarlan laws respecting
particular days and SURPRISING innocent en-
ployments. Mark how, by exciting unholy
prejudices, it has cried down liberty Of con
science, and stihed the right of inquiry and free
investigation into doctrines and practices of the
Church. "a Reasoner,n "a Free ThinKer,'
IA Free Inquirer" IAN Investigator Oh,
how shocking! What rejecting man does not
know that only a strong necessity tor conceal.
ing some dark and damnlDg scheme of wrong
could urge II TO venture on this dangerous eX-
pedent, thus setting its lite on the mere hazard
of perpetuating our ignorance and blindness.
If we should detect among our political parties
well organized system of persecution against
every mans business, to compel him to vote as
directed, would we not rise as one man to crush
party, and to redeem the purity OF the cleo
tive franchise? Is 1t not OF vital Importance
be secured upon all subjects touching the pub
lie welfare? Then, why were the citizens of
Philadelphia denied this privilege by our last
Logls ature, in regard 10 the Sunday car
question!
This plainly shows that this blessed privileg c
TO the poor manwhch ought to distinguish free.
men from serts, has been nsidiously taken from
the people by the Church. Already it has OBJ
tanned a toothold in every Legislature, and in
spite of constitutional guards, we are t0Ded to
pay tor its usurpations. BY improper inhu
ences exercised there, it has formed an uacon-
StitUttondE league with our Government to eX-
empt ITS most profitable property from PAYING
Its snare Of the public expenses, to stop the
public mails, to arrest the poor mans pleasure
OF riding in Sunday Car, to rob him OF this
innocent recreation on particular days winch
selects for the great nlarket-day of the Church
the ousy day-the working, mOne5-gdtheTtRS
day OF the Priesthood.
This they call giving the day to Cod" Is il
not too plainly giving il TO themselves? Auc
using force TO compel all men to go to then
Market by shutting up every other avenue o.
| exit, from the confinement of their homes? l:
this the mild persuasion Christianity relies
upon, or is it the force resorted TO by all I'M
| postors? And where Is American freedom anC
| right OF conscience? Yours respectfully,
JOSEPH L. THOMPSON,
| WillistoWn, Chester county, Pa.