The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-05-29
WHOLE NO. 1858.
From the Journal and Messenger.J
Iron Furnaces and the Sabbath, Again

A few weeks since we published an arti-
Gle on this subject, called forth by dis
cussion in some of the religious Journals
on the supposed necessity of prosecuting
the iron manufacture on the Lords day.
We gave wellauthenticated facts of some
of the largest blast furnaces in Ohio and
other States in the West, showing that
there is no necessity for this, but that
such works may cease on that day with
out detriment. We requested persons
to send US facts in their possession bear
ing upon the case;- for it is by actual
trial and experiment that such a ques-
ton must be satisfactorily settled.
We publish below an extract from a
letter sent US, which presents further
cases illustrating the praeticability of
ceasing labor on the Lords day in this
branch of industry. From ali the in
formation we have been able to gain, we
are firm in the conviction that all blast
furnaces where either charcoal or the
ordinary bituminous or "stone coal" is
used, may cease work on the Lords day,
without damage. There are too many
well-established cases to admit of doubt
We rejoice in this for two reasons. There
are many religious men concerned in
this work, whose capital is now employed
on the Sabbath without cessation. Some
OF them think this unavoidable Some
among them-and we would fain hope it
of all-would be willing to change their
course If they were persuaded they could
do so without loss. We rejoice further
more, in every movement which tends
to rescue the Sabbath from desecration.
The prosecution of iron-making ON that
day gives countenance to other infrac-
tions of the fourth commandment It's
abandonment will promote Sabbath re-
form in other directions. To maintain
% To e dow LOFT IO <J,,4,r
which rests upon every follower of
Christ. The command reaches his per-
son, his capital, his beasts of burden, and
all in his employment. The letter to
which we refer speaks as follows
"In your issue of March 27, 1873, in an
article in reference to Iron Furnaces and
the Sabbath, you ask for information
and news on the subject. I can state,
from personal knowledge, that the effer-
son Furnace Co, Jackson county, Ohio
(charcoaD, built their furnace in 1854,
and it has been in operation every year
since, and has never run on the Sabbath
and venture that they have been as sue
cessful, financially, as any furnace in the
State, of the same capacity
The present Company have operated
the Buckeye Furnace for FIVE years past,
and we have stopped every Sabbath, al
though the former owners ran on that
day. 1t is the opinion of Lot Davis, our
who is practical fur
mace man, that, on an average, more is
gained than lost by stopping.
Several charcoal furnaces in this dis
trict besides the aforementioned, do
not operate on the Sabbath
Parties are now building a stone-eoal
furnace in jackson, and they propose to
make stopping on the Sabbath success,
and have so much faith in their ability
to do SO that they have named their new
furnace the "Triumph;" and hope they
will succeed and triumph over all difficult
ties. | remain yours truly,
THOMAS J. WILLIAMS,
Berlin x Roads P o.,
jackson county, Q.