The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-12-17
THE SABBATH QUESTION.
Mr.. Beecher's Ideas of Sunday and
Hts Observance.

Mr.. Beecher's Ideas OrSunday and
Hts Observance.
From the n. Y. Sun, Nov. 80
A great congregation almost noiselessly
filled Plymouth church last evening, and
Mr., Beecher looked thoughtful as he
scanned the multitude of heads from the
edge of the platform to the top gallery
After the music and prayer, Mr. Beecher
read his text. 1t had been whispered
about the city in the afternoon that he was
to preach on the topic of Sunday amuse-
ments, and there was more than the usual
respectful attention in the audience
The verses were the thirteenth and four
teenth of the ffty-eighth chapter of Isa-
iah
eff thou turn away thy foot from the
Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my
holy day and call the Sabbath delight,
the holy of the Lord honorable; and shalt
honor him, not doing thy own ways, nor
finding thine own pleasures, nor light thy
self in the Lord and [ viii cause thee
to ride upon the high places of the earth,
and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob
thy father for the mouth of the Lord
hath spoken it"
Mr.. Beecher said this was a command
of the prophet to his countrymen to make
the observance of the day such as must
ennoble them and to inure to their man.
hood. Not to be day of bondage, but
delight. The promise was made to the
Jews, that if they would observe it, it
would be TO their prosperity. If there be
anything that Paul teaches, it is that
man is free to keep day or not keep it,
whether it be feast day, fast day, or Sab
bath day. The question of truth, or of
a custom, stands differently. A truth or
principle does not depend for its exis-
tence on legislation or common consent
but custom does. Justice, humanity,
faith, trust, derive no part of their virtue
from the Church, but customs springiDg
from these may be determined by
churches for themselves, and by commu-
mites for themselves. Any given church
may determine its reverence for a day
for itself or a community for itself. AS
regards
THE LORDS DAY,
the existence of, or authority for, such
day may be left to divines for discussion,
but what people may do on this day must
be left to the people themselves. The com
mon people must observe the day according
to their Judgment. 1t must be delight to
them, it must be made honorable in their
sight, or they will override it. The Sunday
question ought to be argued wisely, so as
to receive the sympathy of our fellow
citizens. 1t ought not to be question
between the Church folks and the world
folks. The Sabbath is a national day in
its Jewish organ. |: is now taken by law
out CT the category of secular days, and If
it was in the power of legislation to take
it out of secular days, it is also in its
power to put it back. If those who are
prosperous therefore make Sunday day
of rigor, and if the less favored people
find it not day of easement, and day
when the belt is buckled up two or three
holes more instead of relaxed, it will end
in revolt and an abolition of it. You
must make it approve itself by its human
ity, and make it day of delight, not of
law, sensuous delight, but of pleasant
rest. Many Of those who come to our
s1----~>- -I.-.--e-b n-tanght to observe Sun
day in one way, and we must settle the
question without repugnances and disturb
ances. All social or economic qestions will |
be settled by the wants of the people.
Consider
THE HISTORY OF FACT
When New England was first settled, |
our forefathers thought that the Church |
and the magistrates should control every |
thing on that day. That passed away as
that could not bear the light |
of liberty. Mr.. Beecher then detailed the |
different epochs when questions as to
travel, the running of stages, the cooking,
the trading, and so forth, on Sunday was
held in dispute, and in the province of
the law to regulate and how they had
occupied the public mind and passed away. |
Stages run now on Sunday if it pays, and I
don't run if it does not pay. Now in all
these things men see only a relaxation
of conscience. II see, said Mr.. Beecher,
60 growing humanity that the common
people believe that the Sabbath was made .
for man, and not man for the Sabbath. /
Common sense is regulating things.
Those things that play on the animal pas
sions should not be tolerated Sunday, and
will not be, and, On the other hand, those
shall be tolerated. The authority for Il
it is public good, that it benefits the
This should be the teaching.
| do not pretend that it is not difficult to
regulate the observance Of Sunday but
these questions will be settled empirically,
not philosophicaly. We have to avoid
extreme views. On the side Of the
Church, Of arbitrary custom and mischie-
vous ordinances. 1t should be for the
Church to take care of its own members
to seek to make the Lords day delight
full and honorable. | know it is part of
the doctrine of human depravity that the
Lords day cannot be made pleasant, and
the dry doctrines and juiceIess sermons
are justified in this way We go to
church under this doctrine largely because
it is conventional. They 60 because must,
and the church drones, drones and drones,
and it is demoralizing. 1t is the duty of !
every family to make the Lords day the !
most delightful of the week
1t is for the secular reasons that the |
Legislature NEEDLES with religion. 1t !
defends the Sunday, and does not ordain
it. We may call upon the Legislature to !
defend the day, but beyond that it
can't 60.
ONE OF MR.. BEECHER's STORIES.
Some men think tend too much to lib
eralism. | am not monk. l am not a
mediavalist. To me Christianity is
sweetness, hope, good news. Oh, good
news! Religion is love of God-love with |
head up and heart open, love with the