The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-08
4 SABBlTH IN CHICAGO.


Written for the lntelSencer
A Chicago Sabbath stands in remarka.
bic and vivid contrast to the quiet Sab
baths OF an interior Ohio town twelve
years ago. The one is all noise, excite
ment, hustle, hurrying to and fro on
the streets, the rush and roar of business
not differing very perceptibly from the
previous Saturday. Not 80 the Sabbath
Of our childhood. ltwas real intcrmis.
sion from labor, u genuine rest day, free
from care, anxiety and toll. The birds
and flowers even seemed to know when
the Sabbath came, the sweet praise Of the
one, and the beauty aud fragrance OF the
other combining to render attractive and
joyful the holicst day Of our sweet young
lives. A sense Of gratitude, Of quiet
trust, Of solemn restfulness pcrvaded all
its hours It was day in which the
elders might cleanse themselves from the
sordid thoughts OF the week, a day for
tho shedding away OF carthliness, u
day for the puriiication and elevation Of
our aspirations. The memory Of these
Sabbalhs remains u fragrant memory Of
the past, source Of strength in the pres
ent, Il bright prophecy Of the better future
toward which all our steps are tending
In Chicago many Of the retail stores are
open from morning until evening, the
streets are full OF people mot all of them
on their way to church,, the saloons and
beer gardens ,lo a thriving business, and
everybody seems to be in hurry and as
anxious as ever to keep an eye on the
main chance. Few Of the many faces into
which you look are free from the lines of
corroding care aud consuming anxiety.
The Puritan Sabbath may have been, and
doubtless was, too strict and rigorous for
our weak human nature. The Cont.
mental Sabbath is grossly sensual in its
cnjOymcnts, and savOrs Of Pagansm
rather than Of Christianity. The modern
American Sabbath, as seen at least in
Chicago, is equally far removed from
reason and religion. The American pcO.
pie have learned to work, but they
appear to be utterly Oblivious Of the
primal demand Of our nature for rest.
II you are in Chicago on Sabbath, and
wish to escape from the crowd and noise,
and hear a pure, brave, hCalthiul sermon,
take Clark street car and 60 over to the
West Side and hear Prof. David Swing.
Such was my recourse on recent Sab.
bath day in that city. Going over en-.
quired OF the street car conductor what
church was asked for most frequently on
the West Side. lie promptly replied:
"The ,hig h.toncd people ask for Prof.
Swings church" "What do you mean
by high.toncd people" "Why, sharp
looking people; people that read aud
think" III course asked 10 be directed
to the Professors church. II is II bcnuti.
ful temple Of worship, cxteriorly and in.
tcriorly, on the corner Of Superior and
Rush streets. Service begins promptly
at 1910 o'clock By Il voluntary from
wcll.trained and sweet.voiccd choir.
The church was filled with people at that
hour, and many camp stools were re-
quirch in the ni3lCs and along the sides Of
the church. An observing glance nt the
audience revealed the general correctness
OF the street tCar-cOnduCtOr'S remarks. The
congregation was evidently largely com.
posed Oi the intellectual elite Of Chicago.
The Invocation aud Introductory hymn
over Professor Swing offered II model
prayer It was not an oratOn to God,
delivered in stentorian tone Of voice;
it was not q Cringing adulatiOn Of M
abstract, soulless, heartlGss deity; ii was
free from defamation, OstGntatiOn, Phar-
isccism; ii was quiet, simple trustful,
child-Iikc prayer. The wants OF all Gods
| huunn ChilIrrn were trntlrrlv rrmnn,
bereh. The aged nllu lnirm, the sinful
and the fallen, the strong. and the weak,
the. victorious and the defeated, the rich
and the poor, all that needed the help
ana sympathy OF the DIVINE lleart, were
carried trnStlnIIy to Eod:. Tears filled
many eyes as the swect'vOlced preacher
concluded his prayer Our Father, may
we perpetualIy realize that we are in the
divine thought anu care. We know not
where or when our work shall end. We
know not whose tears shall bedew our
graves. We know not whose hands shall
plant ilowcrs there We leave all to
Thee. Quiet our iear', remove our
doubts, and bring lls all to the land OF
perfect vision, and JOY, and work."
The preacher read as Il text, "Now il
the accepted time" II Cor. o., IIe rave
the words their largest and deeuest rio.
niiicnnce. The Now is the accepted time
for all human lives. We are not 10 allow
the coming glory of the future 10 draw
away our hearts from the present. II
would be great gain to our store of
practical philosophy and religion II we
could learn to feel that the future does
not create or bring a progrcss-it onIy
receives H.. The future is onlv n store.
house into which the present rmntirs Il.
aeIf There /. nu honor. Or lcnrning, nr
salvation in il r1rrnt so far os Tho nrn.
sent ia MIsv ovrr ,hc learning ~ Gnrnr
or salvation. There are hoIirs in whicb
we nll nct likr so many iitllc rL;ijron
and know nn Inw but Nature Gmnng |
these hoIrs ore those Of hone. ot fonJ nm.
iicipatinn To.morrow ia IooJcd dawn
with The things We intend to do there nnJ
then. There ia mn faculty. of tLn SouI an
oyerwotkri as ia faculty of anticinntion,
II all that ont fancy minis sholl l."
rcoliled in tho future. wn sLoll hovc
n maryclons worli bcfore ionv, Tbc i"mo
and iocls of tbcsc tlays wii1 ANN Sivo
nloco ia the Islands Of milk ard hnnev
md lo thc noiorcs nt Aladdin.
Tbis LnhEi of making Tho vlnw;r, fu,u.o
do thc work ni tho eyenlf,il nrnsnSi il IN.
Iinv thc rLirf hone oi nhiinn,htnnv " AMI
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