New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
AN ARGUMENT BY MR. BEECHER.

plvmouth Church was crowded last evening,
- the sermon delivered by Mr. Beecher tho more
nortaut oae OF day. treating OF the Sunday ques
80, an which he declared himself IN fOrcble language,
.ns vas even more than usually humorous. The text
,staken from Isaiah lyih 1914: II thou turn away
,nv foot from the Sabbath. from doing thy pleasure
nv holy day. and call the sabbath delight the holy Of
rbe Lord. honorable and shalt honor him not dong
7biue own ways. finding thine own pleasure nor
e,eaking thine words Then shalt thou delight
,byself N the Lord and viii thee TO ride upon
The high places Of the earth and feed thoe with the
heritage OF Jacob. thy father for the mouth of the
Lord hath spoken IT,"
The sGsday question ought to be argued wisely,
and 20 as 10 secure the convictions and the corCla
sympathy Of feowcitizens large. OF every de-
nom patton In religion, OF every side in politics, every
shaoe ot opinion respect great questions
q ought therefore. 10 be question between Church
folks and the worlds folks, that there shall De par
asau line drawn; for although the Church has pro-
found IN IT, although the Church should instruct
rs own members this matter II has authority
The whole community Of such Kind 10 justify IL in
taking the ars Of authority. The Sabbath has been
taken by law Of the category of secular days, and it
sIsds apart by legislation from all others II it was in
tie power Of Legislature to give it this speciality
and separatveness s in the power Of the Legislature
Vutt back again into the secular catalogue OF days
Il It proper for the people to
make laws for the observance OF the Sabbath it
observance. II is not enough for men 10 say the
Church TEACHES! the Cuurch teachesP This ques-
when hrt or last must come 10 the adjudication OF
tle ctz. OF the Commonwealth. l. therefore those
w-o are prosperous a1d living at their ease make sun
ty caF OF cor for the less favored citizens OF the
commonwealth, nake It not day Of easement aud
atlg0. out day when the Bet is buckled up
maav holes tgnter, on which they are less masters Of
themselves, an the poor are oppressed thereby II Will
E,ra abolition. IL would be wise thing for minis
tss, Christian men, and churches take into cOnsd-
eIaOa that only as sunday ls made day OF delight
rot any low. seDsuous, Darrow sense-Out only il
fha 1ur rfra-rl arrafr
20 Tie social feeling and the humanity Of
tie common peopl--vill they take any interest in IT,
Tie temper Of the times viii long tolerate bondage
any direction; and are 20 take into consideration
another uater-that this subject Is not TO be discussed
alone xtual question, and not alone ecclesi
-r question; but 20 be discussed statesmen would
discus. auy policy. Many of our popu.aon who come
90 Us been taught observe Sunday in way,
aul We IN another II would be exceedingly unfOrIu-
gae u tue adjustment OF things should lead TO violent
p-eiIdce- ana national LIKES and diske and revOlu
tons. We propose discuss this question, not from
liz theological or ecccslastical side at All We propose
% c-ss from economic aud social SIDE.
Go not pretend that there III cult questions
-ss rise vnIch VIII conflcf win any Yril-
syie. Tie power u meet ana ADJUST every case
pinc cool on one SIDE ana the lnde pendence of the
-b-s-I citizen on the other slde-I say there are
Know low to settle Iney are 10 oe setted euprlcaiiy
ty Wy views on The side Of the Church. which
tai - ut De- ID -" aeA eDu 10 aroary OBSERVATIONS.
Che o. TIE mlyhirfs this that distinction Is made
betHVtu artificial customs or laws ana rea customs or
os members II sEoud De ior The Church TO seek 10
a i "a
s-I that the deprayliy VI man IS such that
Jo- c.-'. make Religion aud tie Church seem 10 Am
euac, doctrines preached to him and then
t-s to .seep over them, hat IS total
aa4 s.pes a8d wonders when the preacher VIII be
f-.. You can't expect any Other yer1lct II yOu go
b.. H. und a naL. gets up IN tie pulpit and huns
"a - - vor sTa dsnr9ved ff''oIc-trr
Az shea Church Jus,lnes itself for al. manner o!
.. a. - - .,s can ie expectedl Men say peo.
.. H44ru ls@T
aJ.-, t.lss sometimes that they don't want
80 20 10 church. WAen they make believe
to Lac IL, when things are read that
;Icv aoLt Gre alytLiIc about, sald 10 a way that
oo- auy influence on them, they come from con-
,cil: and lie Churcn drones ana drones and drones
llIt denC.az4. - the TASTE and to the conscience
q tIe community. l mold that u every household and
re 1 Ig tSe I5r B5y o one feps t 5a nn be-
tirciv- one that SHAH adureSs the best reason and
ts Oos nora feelings, tAe higher life OF every ma1.
tnn 10 be stimulated in their higher i e.
C..u- I'D legislation make sunday religions day Is
vlou-. TIE L-g>.sture has no night to med1le with
u. ana .Aey don't generally. the individual mon-
Sabbath simply uar day. II defends IL, don't
cr- L That 81 10 de!e91 t-e c-zeus 10 tLeir use OF
10 .i when q eu say i3e legislature .s TO more night
t.-e.leI- Win sunday tAan win doctrines say 20
co.. Bat has the rght to say tlat people assemble
tyg r-lEou, Woisllp iLey sinai not be disturbed
Itt.&d.ug.rous tniAg1O nave the legislature legis-
l,, o. r- g.Ous -IoLIds, as such AL the legislation
~ need must nc ID TIE pubic sentiment Of the common
people. uud they mast Oe instructed. They must be
tn-t Il l. Their day, ana their ~ crest their
ai-r crest lcir shop, JLeIr store their business.
t-4 t.r L,rC Day the common folks day. and 1t
t..lu. aoI FOR lAecuurcnes to il that the
great la.l OF tie people shall 4eel neglected or de-
l-4lItI. 10 dlsLonOr L. II Is broken in
ls very 1utent and spirit. We may call
upon tie legislature tAeh' 10 prevent any inter
r. aol q. wHO wish 70 worship; 10 legisaie
slcI tuiucs A. will ten1 TO public morality and to tae
We..re eUt The state ltsel out not for tie spiritual
ie, o tAe Iud VI iaa II has the right to defend It's
owl ,zsrucc and u can be shown by far reasoning
o.. existence u tie COuuOBV eatu depends upon
- Intelligence " TIE common people the STATE has the
2. schools II il can be SHOWN that the
u..-,a.nce 70 seventh part OF time in this way
Iec-...rs for 1esltn ana the morality Of the common
people .nou tAt has an interest IN IL. and II may
Al t.r benefits u sunday then should be secured TO
z-u-. and they should be made 20 feel that II Is
ret from l4D There not single word IN the whole
day. II was merely ordained that should work
ol sunday Il SAID that they should not laugh
NV COZ der now great the need Of Is among men.
ere comes day when man has no master but God.
tla' dey SHINES for BIN; 10 dungeon. 10 col
.ery factory iu OF dust and noise We are likely TO
cli 10 use sunday 80 as 10 Oppress inc poor. 5uch,
wien the question comes NJ, shall the horse-cars be
Allowed t. raa Sunday No, they say. Why! break
T of ISe I'vinS io the harrow sqaaiid street.
has my poor wIte, children, and NAV
We 20 OUT 10 the parkf' Whatl and break
tie sabbath! Great fat saints tnat stand out
with fstuess plasny inside and outside and soft all
round except tAer heart-thst is hard-what do they
Tor tie FOoi Bessed be they that shall lift man
ou. Of the Of the LORDS Day, that shall INT
Al pureE ana better associations, 70 some idea
OF taste aud bearrv something more OF manhood Could
be not get it ihe Church suppose he won't ge TO
c4uIch What chance has be in those churches where
iley Ouy respectable peOpiei What chance has
De fo 10 churches mace Tor sants and be ennenty
asuuerl Now there are times when the Pharisees
have ught 70 II sunday only for the prosper
o., blt the Lord damned thai sunday rather Lhat
administration OF T..
Aext rest Of body social education one day OF the
NctA or social development. Now social development
e one OF the best things IN going 10 church, n only
Ale" a.. Now you sometimes InDk that tend relax
lA.ics too much. No not q monk, l not q