Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-02

side In the whole range of polemical literature
there is no more open question than that of the
right Observance of tie Christian Sunday. Dr.
Hessey In his elaborate work on the "0rigin histo-
ry and present obligation of Sunday" cassifes the
views that have been held by theolOgians at differ
ent times or in different places under no less than
! SIX distinct heads. 1t is manifestly impossible
even IT it would be just, to undertake tocommt the
| government, whether national, state or municipal
TO any one of these theories so far as they bear
upon the private home life OF individuals In our
own CITY for example, where the foreign and native
born elements OF the population about balance each
/ other IN numerical strength how unjust it would
DC Tor me civil government TO pronounce judlcially
upon the truths Of either the Roman Catholic, the
! Puritan or the Anglican view of Sunday But the
/ MAINTENANCE OF what has been already defined as
/ "a weekly day OF rest, fenced about with definite,
well understood restrictions" is a policy which can
/ be defended if necessary without any resort TO
/ theological weapons. Tie enforced observance OF
/ sunday is great secular benefit aud can be fully
! JustlHeu on secular grounds. The report of the
committee speaks OF those who are apprehensive of
violation Of the sanctity of the day" The pres
et writer mas nothing to say about the sauctltY of
| the day, That is & pOin: upon which we all have
our convictions. This is not the place TO discuss
them, 1t suces for the present purpOsp to affirm not
! the sanchty but the value of the day, given In
| stitution exists. Is it, the whole, conducive to
the Interests of ciyilizatoni If so, let it be MAIN
! tanned. According to American political economy
me clvl government is theologIcsly coorless, not
! even christian, except in the broadast possible
| seuse OF the word Government processes no
! creed. Government is simply the guardian of or
| der, decency and fair dealing. But sunday is not
the only safeguard to material nrosperity which
| government mas seen fit, Notwithstanding this
! lapse Of the religious sanction, to continue, and
| why! These venerable Institutions hold their place
| because they have been found conducive to the
! general well-being Of the state The late S. T.
| 19ierldge was certainly no Sabbitarian, but even
when arguing in his table-talk in favor Of a relaxed
observance OF the Lords day he Is careful to guard
| against being misunderstood. 81 sincerely WISH
| ne says, TO preserve decent quiet on Sunday.
| would prohibit compulsory labor, and put down
operas theatres, etc. for this plain reason that If
allowed q will IN forced.
! or what comes to the same thing, will be induced
| to work l am not for Paris sunday" Lord
| MaGauey was never during his life time charged
| with allowing religious considerations to influence
very much his political course, but in his speech
me Ten hour bill he says; 1--WE are not poorer but
| rchef because we have through many ages rested
from our labor one day in seven. That day is not
| lost W lille industry Is suspended, and while the
| pillow lies in the furrOw, while the exchange is ST.
| lent while no smoke aseends from the factory,
process IS going on quite important to the wealth
| OF nations as any process which is per-
l i9 Oh machines, Is repairing and
winding up, so that he returns to his abors on the
Monday with clearer intellect, with ivelier spirits
WIN renewed corporal vigOr." Even the social
Isl IfOudhon, perhaps the foremost radical of the
century, was so struck with the wisdom of epforc
ing periodical day Of rest that ne was led to al
tribute the origin OF the Mosaic Sabbath to GER
tam spontaneous genius, a sort of magnetic vision
winch discovered primitive arts, developed lam
Euaise' invented writing, created systems of
lgion and philosophy"
With such testimony before him coed citizen
may be pardoned If out Of a sincere sOictude for
tle wen Delng of the community and especially of
the labOrng portion of it, ne offers what NAV an
pear to be excessive opposition to an experiment
winch, IN his Judgment, is one of very ''doubtfu
1t may be said that this is the language of an
aiarmist, that there is intention on the part of
the promoters of the change to overthrow a time
| hOnOred and valuable institution They merely
WISH to give portion of the citizens an opportuni
~ OF spending their day ofrest in a way that seems
| 70 them pleasant and profitable Besides, this is
| not precedent. The precedent was set long ago
| Wnen sunday evening concerts, Sunday harbor ex-
cursions. and special trains were first nprmitted
| We touch here the crisis of the argument This
| WILD precedent in very real and peculiar sense
me ElQatlOns of Sunday observance Just men.
| TONED have been tolerated by the government
thefe mas been no legal interference with them and
that Is the most that can be said We have before us
avery uihefent case case III which the government
ltsell taxes the initiative IN Offering the people en-
| tertalnment The proposed step Will if taken bs
| the hrSt instance in which New England munici-
patty has voluntarily md OF its own motion done
ahythmg oil the kind. Looked at in this light the
| question becomes one of real moment H. as we
are roma OF believing, the example of New England
| does, IN the long run, perceptibly influence the
moral standard OF the whole republic, it cannot be
| a matter OF small Importance how We using the
| 9eleSated authority OF the citizens of Worcester
ueclue thlS point tonight To those who feel sure
mat IN taking this action they are moving on the
lines OF progress, the fact that Worcester sets the
precedent Tor her sister cities will be ground only
| OF rejoicing. Those, on the other nand, who
gravey doubt the wisdom of the step, who reInem-
per tlat all motion is not progress, even though il
q
the same time those will prefer moi 70 bd Tho 6rst
that onrs Is NOT ~, must ne KEPT IN mlnd
no central controin@ viii ~ 10 mere Is
these mixed questions Of soca1 ethics inc i an tn
hnctiOn OF less or more Ours is y govarnrnopt oF
the people, by the people, and whenever privileges
are granted 10 one class compensatory privileges
| can be demanded by another. You declare by
your vote tonight that certain section of the cfi-
zens shall have kind OF entertain nent mt IN their
way which they haDpen to meter R,, u" - ',e
bic arrangements can Won meet That otbr
the citizens who next week or the yyaa aFt vi
year, or the year after NAV come forward offrminr
that afternoon at the theatre Is Their connt;g
of ths best way OF using day of rest and tbaf the
demand an open theatre as their rimhtS ~ no -
sble argument can Won meet thrn after yon hr"o
once set precedent in thor f1yor WI ~ ia Az,
government that Ii should presume to act the mari
OF moral Judge between the lovers of nays and The
lovers of books ia dlscr,minot in Fo,.a &c nv
and against the other? Wa oar fhes VI rIe oe
sons The standard drama nm onr shay Icy P Gt-
| Should we sreluse it to them ON Their boarde}
| Municipal example has an immense ,nfueOca IN
| these Things. 1t is sad that i'm Paris ubare tho
| public Offices are omen every dov of tho s-ooIy
more civil business is done on Snndag +ba " een,
| other time Every one knows fbot S,,i"i a. tJ
| favorite day TOR elections in France MAJ If NOT
presently be held to be grievance hara tSat NON
cannot pay their taxes slpn Their can+rlcts a,d
present their petitions tor sidewalks and sewers on
the Lords dayY II our own muncinoI -
| really anxious to establish a precedent NJ tbis
sort it can be done quite rs adv5nto VI 'is
| City Hall as here For the opening on sunday of
the office of the overseers of the moor VI
cOgent arguments might be advanced On tb9y iloie
both of necessity and morev than c3 ' he
in support of the action we are otaJ 70 " tI deeu
| night w S ''"o" " t"Ae To-
1t remains to consider. as the writar hos olrood,
promised to do a single other argnmon to d HneaoS
| by the committed in favor of 3 cb.,s'a - Gu
citing the cases ofsix libraries no,y " iter
of them on Sundays tne comrn,ttn o o uS ti
experience of all these instintions oe I ~
printed repOrfs and in iattS a. am; eiliToIieu IN
libraries is strongly favorable to tSo ny Uur
posed, which can no Ionopr ha Said 10 ~ ~
doubtful benefit" Is not This a somewhat ' ho,
concuslonY Are ,va 1uito y,ot T.; " t mitaU nasty
so confidently from enerence az tb si ~ ig hra
ries referred TO- only two the nnbic Iib a. Hi
cinnati and the nuRIic scbnoi b ~ ~ VI ~
are eircumstanced as onr i "a ~ ol o., Lonls,
only been omen ON sundays For a. 49, 80 ''J "
DOHt year ana half, In auy other fold If nh.
seINuuon Woulu 1t not be reckoned in the highest