The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-05
SUNDAY MUSINGS.
BY O. P. MASON.
SUNDAY A DAY OF REST.

Sunday being name given to the first
day of the week, and Sabbath being de-
rived from the Hebrew word Shabbath,
which signifies day of rest, or, rather,
"rest from, labor-n The Hebrew deca-
logue enjoined upon the Jews the OBJ
.servance of the seventh day of the
week, from the historical account Of the
creation, wherein it said, "God rested |
on the seventh dayn The same OBJ
servance has been continued by the |
Christian churches with a transferance
of the day observed from the last to the
first day of the week, on account of a
desire with the early Christians to COM
memorate the resurrection, which hap-I
pened, according to the accounts, on
that day. Modern Christians, particu-I
larly those of New England, persist in
calling the first day of the week ''Sab-
bath" and ''the Lords day." for the
purpose of marking this day as holy
day above all others; but, strictly
speaking, Sabbath denotes an institu-
tion, and Sunday is the name given to
the first day of the week. . v.,.f i
The Jewish institution of Sabbath
was day devoted to laudable pleasure
or amusement, not prescribed By, any
particular formula, day on,yhich all
persons refrain from general labor and
business; hence it was intended as day
of rest and recreation. 1t is right
that it should be, 80, for experience
| teaches us that after a rest notonly our
physical nature, but our, mental facul-
ties come to the. task with renewed en-
ergy, and man can accomplish far more
by taking certain and regular inter-
walls of rest than he can by continual
tread-mill course, which in q short time
completely wears him out. But the
question arises, how shall that period of
rest be employed? Considering the
great versatility of the minds of men,
the differences in nature, in education,
in early Impressions, in wants. de-
sires and interests of man, as well as
religious training, I would unhesitat-
ingly answer, all persons have an, un-
doubted right to employ that period in
any manner which will be instructive
and amusing, provided, of course, that
it is laudable and elevating in its ten
denotes, and does not interfere with the
) rights of others. ..s ..r-.i- r... ,,.,.a
This day of rest is spent in Portland
in variety of ways, Some attend
church at one of the various churches OF
our beautiful, city; one because his early
teachings have impressed it upon him
as religious duty, another because he
or she may love to hear the ''sweet
} words of salvation" repeated over and
over again by the pastor, another be-
cause the chants from the choir and the
/ soUl-stirring music causes him to forget
for time the trials and troubles Of
: business and everyday life, and he re-
| turns from the place Of worship with
r renewed vigor and fuller determine.
: tion to. live a better life. Others, and
perhaps not few, go there for-well, il
e were better to say recreatiOn; and many
there are who care not to go to church
, at all, owing to the fact that they dc
I not believe as the minister does, anC
: from the fact of being compelled, /
e they attend church, to listen. to doc
r trlnes that they care but little for, t.
i say the least, and witness forms that t
: them have no more significance o
! meaning than the mummeries ant
< antics gone through with in Chimes
a Josh-house, they choose to stay ava!
and spend their Sunday evenings fire
I. quently in places that might be demon
: mated the schools of vice and the fonn
o tains of corruption. There is a larg
b class Of persons in our midst who seldom
t if ever attend any church, who know
r but little of and care less for the princi
. pies of religion. They are, to the Chris
J. tian minister, unapproachable; there j
IS no opportunity to lay before them an.
e other or higher emotions or impression
J. than they gather from everyday inter
course with their feIlow-man, and sucl
r reading as they may take fancy to
= But mankind, aud even animals, Low
o. H ID =
: music; sweet, delicious, strains of soul
}. stirring music, whether vocal or instru
n mental, will always arrest the attentio
1t and divert it from other objects. Solo
y mon taught the Hebrews the highes
e and purest religion in his sweet song
e The first impression made upon the in
faut mind asithe fond mother rocks it
es sIeep in its cradle-bed is.the sweet lu
IS laby,s9T The daring soldierEisdnspired b
IS martial musIe2as he charges the hostil
e, foe, or storms the ifrowning fortress
ID glittering with steel. and belehingifort
l. its red-hot hail of shot and ishell.e Th
to dying veterans eye! flashes new fir
to and the animated blood flows aires
Or from his wounds, when he hears the il
ri spitfng music, OF the fife and. drum
! which had led him to the conflict. !
" fact, it is impossible for Us to. fully, rea
lr ize to what extent we are, all inpresse
r. with good music. There is nothin
We that SO completely diyerts our minC
- from the busy cares of life and affort
y Us so complete a sabbath" as an ever
1g ing spent. in listening to its sRe
n strains. We GO home, feeling better al
o. pleasanter, and lie down to rest an
u sweetly dream. The success Of Mood
ia as a fevivaIist. is more attributable
eg the sweet melody OF Sankey than to
th eloqhence or the power of his sermon