The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-19
American and european sundays.

New York Post.
There has been going OH in this country
for many years a relaxation Of the rigid
rules which once prevailed in respect to
the observance ofth first dayof the week.
This is to be seen among proiessedly re-
ligious persons, even among members Of
so-called orthodox churches. The stern
self.repression which marked the old Pur-
itan Sabbath has given place to a more
genial and joyous spirit. Three sermons
a day, each three times as long as 1t ought
to be, are not regarded as o final test OF the
deyoutness OF the listener. Social inter-
course is not Denounced as nm unpardona-
Lle sin. Itisnot now crime punishable
with fine and imprisonment to kiss ones
wife on Sunday; or, II we must reject that
familiar example OF the questionable Blue
Laws ofjConnecticut, one is not now re-
ouired to restrain all human impulses with
the cast.iron conformity OF sanctimoni-
ousness which often must have been as
insincere as II was irksome.
OF course this liberal movement has been
accompanied with extreme tendencies.
There Is class OF persons, class which
seems to be growing in numbers, who
would abolish all distinctions between the
first day OF the week and the six other days
mot only the private and individual dis
tinction, which, under the system OF reli-
gious liberty, every man has right TO ac-
cept or reject in his own mind and in his
own house, but also the public distinction
which is established by custom and law.
It Is the habit Of some persons OF this class
to meet all arguments in support OF reas-
enable Sunday regulations, such as the
closing OF liquor shops, and prohibition OF
secular parades in the streets, and the stls-
pension OF theatrical performances,w iththe
the broad assertion that the Puritan Sab
bath is not suited TO our time and that
Puritanical manners are out OF fashion.
Under thistsweeping treatment men WHO
make no particular religious profession
for It is well known that there are such
men who favor an outward and formal
distinction Of Sunday from other days on
purely moral and social grounds-even
these men absurdly compelled to bear
theimputation OF a narrow Puritanism.
An answer TO sweeping assertions OF
this sort is suggested by some recently re-
ported remarks OF one who will not be
mistaken for q Puritan. 1t seems that in
Cincinnati the Sunday question has been
the subject OF lively discussion OF late.
The lawsdiscourag secular entertainments
on that day, but the laws are disregarded.
The Mayor OF the city, according to the
Gd.die, doubts his authority to interfere In
the matter, and he Is not inclined to use
the authority even II he has 1t. Ifany-
body is responsible for the enforcement OF
the laws, nobody is held to such a RESPONSE
bility; and the result is that Cincinnati,
like some other cities, is beginning to fur
nish those illustrations OF secular Sum
day which in this country used 70 be
found only In New Orleans. The Gdseitt
reports timely and suggestive converse.
ton on this subject with the Roman Catho-
lie Archbishop Purcell:
0IIe said that in Europe Sunday amnsc-
ments OF an innocent kind, theatrical and mu.
steal, are not opposed by the clergy, but the
conditions are different. Here, where there
Is less parental restraint, he could not believe
that ainusOmCnts ~ even the more respectable
houses, bykeeping young people ofbotli sexes
or even OF either. sex, together until late
hour. IL calculated to encourage good morals.
He was decidedly of the opinion that morals,
not only In Cincinnati but everywhere else IN
tic country, arc going from, bad to worse. lie
condemned tho influence of the ballet, ateven
tic legitimate theatres, ny denoralixlng. The
promisou0us meeting III the sexes In beer
halls, or concert halls or theatres Is not at all
favorable to the cultivation Of moral senti-
mcnt, and the restraint is probably less on
Sunday than on other evenings. He believed
the cause OF the growth Of Sunday amuscmcnts
was altogpthpr owing 10 tho growing tendency
toward immonlity and irrcligion, Tho moral
sentiment OF the people ought 10 be turned
ought to suppress them. He was opposed to
having either the high or low places OF amusc-
ment kept open on Sunday. lie would have
tlolu suppressed by law. And he would have
public drinking places closed during church
hours on Sunday morning and closed ut an
carly hour on Sunday evening" as Is the case
In Ireland"