New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-30

10Th Fan hir,py 70 ada my assurance OF the profound
esteem with which / am llustTious en- uHS your
Rome. Oct o. 1875.
john WELSH esq Chairman Of Centennial CominVee'
LET THE DOORS BE OPEN SUNDAYS
RACES REPRESENTED THAT WORSHIP on OTHER
DAYS or THE wEEK-NO STATE EEuCIoN-AB-
CLIFTON OF THE SABBATH By CHRIST.
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: While the people of this city have been
discussing the question OF closing the Centennial build
iDgs on Sunday" il Suddenly appears by letter from
tie President Of the Centennial Commission that the
Commission had decided as far back as Feb H. 1870
that the International Exhibition should be closed
against the public Sunday. Tie undersigned most re-
spectuly protest against such hasty and unwSe action,
aud for repeal Of the Resolution i1f the IohoWhg
The National Government, in lending lite councnance
and aid to give the Exhibition the character OF universal
ity has instructed cOnsus all over the world TO in
wife the people every nation TO and bring with
them for show and comparison, various specimens OF
their handwOIk, and thus help the OF progress,
peace, aud universal brotherhood. With wonderful
unanimy the nations have accepted the invitation, and
are TO he at Philadelphia next year in the persons OF
their representatives. We knew before the invita-
ton was given that the japanese, Chinese,
Turks, Arabians, Persiane, Egyptians, Hindoos,
and others were not Christians. but
held tenaciousy to their respective religions. They
Informed that they would be expected to con
form durag their stay the religious notions and forms
OF sabbatarians but were gwen to understand that
the Exhibition was lie purely secular affair, having
no concern whatever with any other world thar this OF
Sth any ones opinions practices on the subject OF
religion. Some of peope, who have derived their
notions OF the Sabbath from the English Puritan wish
to have the Exhibition grounds closed On Sunday IN
deferCDco TO their opinions; but If the question OF
religion il to enter into the matter and the Commission
u gtt1.l H.
vctions either Of folks of guests, we
can have no Exhibition For while of the Christians
observe Sunday Sabbath and wOald have tic gates
shut against the public on that day, the Creeans observe
Monday, the Pcrsiaus observe Tue eday, the AssyIin
observe Wednesday, tie Egyptians observe Thursday,
al the MOhammrd3n nations Ohserve Friday, and the
Jews and sevenh-Day Baptists observe Saturday How,
then ought tie Commissioners TO manage tic affair
a. TO give no ground Of Oaense TO anyi Obviously
BY regarding religion as private matter between
every mans conscience and his God When the
Centennial period opens and our invited guests arrive
pnd the days of the week pass, they cam ~ then own
time, repair 10 their lodgings, If there Is no church here
with which they can agree, end there cxtenpOli2o
place of worship for themselves The jew is not com
PEELED u visit the Exhibition Saturday which ID his
Sabbath, but quietly repair to his synagogue ond
there perform hs dcvOtiOIe. The MOhammoddn Is not
required 10 visit the Exhibition Friday, which is bis
sabbath, but can retire to his private room and there
IT
not bound loreake their churches and 40 to The TX
hbition On sunday but may enjoy the unboUndcd
liberty IN spending the whole time in public or private
exercises Of religious worship. But We are sorry 10 say
That while bei,vers all other religions satisfied
with this perfect Liberty OF worship, our eabbataran
Clergy and people not satisfied They arogate 10
themselves tire attribute of nfahbity in pretending 20
know the viii Of God ana they want the additional priv
Nece OF compelling all tie rest Of the world " conform
60 their opinions and practices. At tue Exhibition
grounds, whore the doctrine OF peace on earth
md good VIII TO men Is most emphaucaNy taught
e. all bcholcrs, they demand that tie gates shah be shut
against the OyerH heluns majority Of those whose
q n.oonces ave no scruplos whatever against visiting
the place on Sunday. Ii this cOuueousl Is tbis fari
VIII the American people WHO contributing funds
toward dc:ying The expenses of the Exhibition, justify
The Comns souors In offering such insult 10 the reh-
giOus dom Ul the human r. al o. the very cats where our
siand or the n@ats OF human nature, and where the
siIumcnt to secure these IIgGtsi The sabnatai an
clergy and people have then nights hat let hcln not
tier fcOW-tiizcus ana strangers nom OuiCI khds 10
their and unscliptu..il creed.
But u IS alleged Ivy some tlt ours ~ Christian gov
T Id nv rI'si ~ ne ci,arc,,s a. LoIv dav r'i,1
be Iciouely Cbscryc by the udcn, the states, aud
municipal tics Upon tbe,o assumptions tuey b ne their
demand that the Centennial grounds sLoad be closed Oh
sunday let us examine tils point Tic SahbaLlila us
will admit that under all tie cIcuusta OF the ease,
George Washington, who PRESIDED Over tne Convention
that framed the Cont tut1u Of tAe United states, and
heard every clause dcDatcd dunng The sixteen hong
months thcy held their ss0us understood as WClJs the
other trainers that WONDERFUL ms. ucut lts true III
tent and meaning They VIII also admit that Thomas
Joff rSun Understood the genius Of the Constitution
aud is PROVISIONS 70 cd1y out Practically Tue sell
evident principles Of the Declaration OF ihdepcuoeIce
Well after the Constitution Was adopted ana d"uhg ne
admins 90 WashpstOn, when jefferson MAS Stc
rotary ol state treaty WIS made with I1fo1, ono OF
the BIrbary powers, which ia rel g'O vas l"l'uniutI
Now II II he trur a alleged, that the oOrpOaat On hno~h
TIE " n.tcd Sc- OI America" was u moral pni-
son" and Christian niiu, thtu was the thih 10 make
the announcement 10 the Mold ior tao IIpOitd Gov
eminent suspicious, fou is acquaintance WIN
European history, that IN it ~ supuLtiois Win us
there might DO some s,'.miu1uon against the
Nohayhlie IAN religion. Iut mat did OHf hdloh,
speaking through its treaty. -mHhing O!ceis, u,o
President end senate OF toe United states, 20
IN the premscsi They declared IN 'hc eleventh article
of toe Treaty, Dc seen on page l50 OF
the Statutes at Large, that the "GONcrnment OF the
United btalos not any founded Oh tie Chlls-
Ian Religion, aud uIcIciOIe that disturbance OF Use
aiDcable relations ting between the two contracting
parties could ever arise cut OF rel aOus Questions.
bOIDS CT the uniersigned do regard tie Hebrew or
The Christian Scnpuics any more than The Koran on the
Zend Ayesa as an authoritative revelation from Heaven,
containing al in1aDle rule of faith and practice In
asking that peculiar favor shall be manifested by tie
ptiap's cnts TO any one of the worlds reiOps,
the case were tue Exhibitors gates ordered 10
be shut any day Of tho week they take their
the broad and cold priAcipc contained IN Section second