Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-01
The Day OF Rest.

Considerable controversy has been going du-
ring the present year about the Sunday laws in tho
various States In different places it took various
shapes Here IL was on the policy and lawfulness
Of running our street cars; in Boston it wheth-
or the public library should be opened and in New
York ms we'll in Philadelphia, there is a conflict
Of opinion about the closing of the beer saloons
and gardens and tae tayerns. Upon none of these
questions, however, do we design to enter The
Sunday car question seems 10 be virtually closed,
and the Boston library remains closed too. The
present state Of the law makes the same disposition
Of the taverns and saloons IT, New York and in this
city Nor have we anything TO say concerning the
Sunday laws beyond a mention Of the fact that
there Is n wide margin for sound discretion between
ri Sunday laws and the aus,ere early legislation Of
one Of the New England States, where women
we're subject 10 fines x found kissing their babies
on Sunday. Whether even the old Jewish idea Of
the Sabbath or rest dag was, by any New Testa-
mont command transferred from the seventh 10 the
hrst day of the week is not suitable for pro-
longed discussion here, nor can we Just now define
how far any legislation on the subject is right or
judiciousi but behind all these points lies another
question, about which there can, we suppose, be no
controversy; bat il is the most important Of the
whole, namely, how the day can be most wisely
and probably spent by individuals and families as
members Of society.
TIE Sabbath was made for man. and not man for
the Sabbath, is the chief rule for the concience Of
each 20 apply 20 his own circumstances. With a
sufficiently broad, wise and proper view Of what
the nature and good Of man requires, he needs but
little legislation on the subject To obtain this view
and give IL sufficient uniformity and currency is the
great officially. Man is essentially religious be-
ing. he never can be happy, civilized or progress
sive without strong and supreme sense of his re-
lAtions TO the Great AGthor of his being Indeed so
clear and strong is this, that if the knowledge Of
the Supreme Being is in any way suspended or Ia
ken away from him, be will make gods of wood and
stone he i7il worship somsthing.
Even Oomte, the great atheist ST last found II
necessary 10 set apart Wednesday afternoon 10 wor
ship, and he then worshipped woman and the spirit
Of humanity. Absurd this is il shows how cs-
sentRl il must be for every individual TO set apart
portion Of his time Sabbath for physical rest,
for the cultivation Of his moral being his religious
feelings, taHt he may with the utmost truth d.
rect his holiest and nOblest impulses 20 the most
true and exalted worship, and 20 the truest most
consistent and proper life. Every man wants day
like tins Tor his own Improvement; not day OF
mere negatoil' but Tor the improvement and cultl-
Vallon OF the hoolest powers God has given him.
But beyond all this all men and women are more
or less connected in family ties as son or daughter
mother or sister, husband wife child or parent.
To discharge these obligations properly needs much
consideration, the employment OF much time ia
giving receiving instruction and the exhibition
Of n proper example by the suitable and wise
distribution Of time Beyond even this as mem
Der Of society, day like this affords the best OBJ
portunity Of doing good by teaching OF of receiv-
ing wise Instructions and culiivsting morals in the
community. As 8 day Of spiritual instruction il
does more 70 oivize and elevate than il is possible
70 estimate BE who, bearing this in mind in youth
viii study bow be best act in the spirit 81 such
advantages, rs 20 use them for their great pur-
nose will not fail 20 become wiser snd better
man every year be thus lives.