The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-10
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
Why Christians Observe Sunday
Instead OF Saturday.

Why Christians Observe Sunday
Instead OF Saturday.
To the Editor of the Chicago Tribune:
The Sabbath question may be either
very easy or very difficult Of solution, de-
pending wholly on the preConceptions,
preiudices, habits Of thought, and a mui-
titude of other mental conditions Of the
person addressed. II he has from early
youth imbibed the prevailing orthodox
and popular conceits on the subject, and
if they are grown with his growth and
strengthened with his strength, as is
usually the case, it would be sheer
waste Of time and effort TO seek TO give
him any information. The minds OF most
men, even men Of more than average in
teIIigcnce in other respects, are so sat-
urated with the current teaching and be-
lief in regard to the Sabbath that it is
almost impossible to get them out OF the
fog and haze in which they have dwelt so
long.
The burden Of "Layman's' inquiry at
present seems to be substantially this:
When and by what authority was the
change made from the seventh TO the
first day Of the week. II "Layman" and
could agree on few prcliminarics es-
sential to q right understanding OF the
subject, have no doubt could give him
satisfactory answer TO his inquiries.
Men can never reach like conclusions
till they can agree on the premises. But
as "Layman" cannot be supposed to give
or withhold assent TO prcliminaries till
they are stated, must state them, and
take for granted that he agrees to their
truth. Let me say here that ! am not at
present going to enter into any argument
or laborcd defence OF the statements J.
may make. That would not be in order
here. But il assailed, | feel quite conf
dent could make passab!y good argu-
mentative fight in their favor.
Nv first statement is this: That the
Mosaic or Jewish Sabbath was given to
the Jews, and only to them, and was not
obligatory on any other people, and was
not observed or regarded by any Gentle
nation. So far as it was blessing. and
to what extent, or in what sense that was
true, will not now inquire; it was the
property OF the Jews. In 30 far MS it was
4 yoke on his neck, irksome and burden.
some, he and he alone was compelled by
tho law to bear it. 1t had no direct rela-
ton or application in a legal sense to any
human being outside Of the seed of Abra-
ham, except to the Gentle who by ndop-
ton became Jew. am aware here that
"Lavman" or some one clsG will be quick
IN meet this statement with the dcclara-
ton Of Christ that "the Sabbath was made
for man." thus proving my assertion false,
and making the Sabbath IN institution
applicable to the entire race. The answer
to this is very easy, but will not deviatc
from my purpose not to enter into argu.
ment or exposition here. II "Layman"
can give his assent to the statement
made, that the Mosaic Sabbath was bind
ing on the Jew exclusively, and had
no legal or obligatory application what
ever 10 any Gentle individual, family or
nation, he has progressed half way to.
ward a correct understanding oithat part
of the Sabbath question involved in his
inquiry, viz: When and by what author.
ity was thcChange made from the seventh
to the first day OF the week!
Let us now turn our attention TO TACT
Of Christianity and glance at its relation
TO the Christian system, and the prOmi-
ncncc # held both in the system and in
the estimation OF the first Christians-l
| refer to the resurrection. 1t was re-
Clrdcd in the first days Of the Church and
has been so regarded ever since by Christ
inns, as Il fact Of tranSCendant interest
and importance. However skcptics and
doubling scientists may think Of it, how
ever mythical they may esteem it, the
Christian glorics in the resurrection. ]
think their glorying is not in vain; but
my business at present is not TO
express any personal convictions, but
to loOk.at the matter in reference to its
Influence on the Sabbath. II is instructive
| in human nature to commemorate great
events by celebrating in some appropri-
ate manner the day Of their occurrence.
This the Christians did by meeting on
the first day OF the week for worship,
sacramcntal communion ami Christian
fellowship. The wonder is not that they
thus observed the day, but the wonder
would be had they not done it, consider
ing the estimation in which the rcsurrec.
tion was held by them. As the Gospel
spread, the Observance Of the Lords Day,
as they properly termed it, kept pace
with the progress Of the Church. In
short, the Observance Of the first day OF
the week as Il day Of worship and Chris
tian rejoicing became Christian insti.
tuition. Docs "Layman," or any one who
has any Just appreciation even in gen.
cral way Of Christianity, object TO 1t?
Surely not; for (prcsumIng Christianity
to he truc) it celebrates or c0mmcmo'
rates the grandcst event in the worlds
history.
Dropping this part Of the subject here,
let Us consider the elements that Consti-
tulcd the early or first churches. They
were Jews and Gcntics. The latter in
embracing Christianity TcnOunCcd his
Pagan Worship, his gods and religious
ceremonies. The jew, Of course, did not
renounCe his God, for hcwa- the same as
the God Of the Christinn On the con
trarv, he took with him into the church,
and sought to force their Observance on
the Gentle, many Of the legal duties aud
obligations Of Judaism, ,--cspGclalIy cit
cumciaion and the Sabbath. But Paul
and other Apostles opposed this tcndcn'
cy 20 firmly and pcrsistcntly that, though
ii caused aonc anxiety and no little CON
tcntion, the Jews never succeeded to any
extent in migrating either OF these Cere
monials on the new order Of things. After
the destruction Of Jerusalem and the dis
pcr4ion Of the jews, ,bu, few acquisitions
were made from their ranks to the Chris
tiaI Church, and the Jews ceased to exert
any marked influence or to be disturb
ing element. The Sabbath they sought
An pcr.istcntIy to introduce dropped into
oh.curity, and ceased to bc any longer the