, 1876-10-28
G"ncrnI Newton and the sab
b1tariIn~.

lnNtANt occasions, III the lAlC~t case II
las been attended with very curious cir
cpmstanccs. First there was the agita-
tion about the opening of the Centennial
Exhibition on Sunday. This WAS settled
by the Commissioners adversely to the de.
mand therefor. The decision was right
enough perhaps, considering the cXten-
siyc American prejudice against Sunday
shows. The unreasonable element in the
controversy. however, to the historically
disposed mind, was the persistent wrong
hcadcGnrSs with which the Sabbatarians
Christians as they arc--aIways seem to
cling to Judaism in this matter, Old
Testament and New appear to he all the
same to them in discussing the subject.
Though the names "Lord's Day and
Sunday" came in with Christianity,
they are still treated ns outlandish by the
Sabbatarlans in comparison with that Of
Sabbath" which, if it did not go out
with Judaism, belongs properly to it and
and describes the seventh day OF the
week, still kept by the Jews, and not the
first day, kept by nincty-nne Christians
in n hundred.
The latest and most curious case, how
ever, of this illogical persistence in mis-
taken religious nomenclature and Of illib-
cral persistence in imposing IN Old Tes-
lament observance of the Jewish Sabbath
on mistaken day, upon quiet Christ
ians, who have necessary work to do or
nccdful recreation to take. has been the
protest against General Ncwtons blow
ing up IIallctt's Point Reef on Sunday.
The day was certainly made for man,
and not man for 1t, quite as much as the
Jewish Sabbath was declared to he. The
work of which this blast, so successfully
accomplished, has been the elimination,
had grown to be one not only of world
wide interest to scientific engineers, but
of practical interest that might be
called national, and hardly second, for
the time being, to that attending the
Great Exhibition itself. The severe la
bor, patience and cautious daring ofyears
was nearing its reward in completion,
upon week day, when no molal disturb
ance would have been added to the phys
ical one. But contractors have way OF
unpunctuality with them. The last nee
esSary explosives were not forthcoming
promptly. The delay forced General
Newton from his chosen day fexploslOn
Sunday was the first day thereafter that
would give him the requisite time to
charge, prime and flood his gigantic
mine, which was to yield one ofthe great
est Of the victories of peace. The neces'
sary high tide by daylight, for the safe
ignition Of his twenty-five tons of dynam-
itc, that was to open new way to the
commerce OF the country, did not serve
until Sunday. What was he to do
Was he to keep two or three cities, and,
to degree, the whole country, in a sort
of absurd suspense for another twenty
four hours, instead Of having an end to
the matter with spark which was ready
and willing in an instant to complete the
work Of long and anxious months! Was
he to endure, himself, another day OF
needless care, with the chances of light |
ming or some other exploding cause,
added. Some excellent, no doubt but
narrow-minded Christians said he must.
The way in which the New York Sab
bath Committee, as il styles itself, endeav-
ored to stay General Newton's hand as it
was about to touch the small key which
was to do so little harm and such vast des.
t?uctive benefit was as curous as this
collision itself between scientific and in
dustrial progress and the ideas OF dis
pensation nearly two thousand years past.
The gentlemen Of the committee confess
themselves aware of the Importance of
having no delay in this matter" and yet
they urge" that some other day be
chosen because of the great crowds of
persons that will be attracted, and be-
cause of the noisy holiday" into which
the day will be turned This would have
been rather more pertinent had General
Newton been keeper of the public morals
instead of the engineer OF the great and
critical work. 1t would have been more
wise and courteous il the crowds of per.