Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-25
nur,urn1cAN sARBATH.

81 The very general agitation OF the sub
iect of sabbath laws and obseryances, IN
many localities over the country, indl-
Gates that we are approaching crisis IN
this controversy which viii result either
in giving greater license to those who
have the Continental ideas Of Sabbath,
or greater strength to the advocates oil
what we may term the American Sab
bath.
There is evidently much feeling grow
ing I'D on both sides, an a consequent
danger of running to extremes, as has
been the result in some hcalities. IL Is
a subject about which god men differ,
and in regard TO which n hard and fast
line can be drawn.
We have heretofore maintained, and
still believe, that the grea, need OF the
time is more light upon the character oil
the Observance which mDral and civil
law may exact on the one hand, or
claim on the other from the enlightened
conscience Of the age. II other words,
We need a fair and candid discussion Of
the notifications in the Puritanic Sab
bath which modern life has made neees-
sary.
Every American admits that the Sab
hath must be observed. No one really
alive to the value and nature OF the Co
berence of American institutions wants
10 introduce the Continental Sabbath,
or even to modify the prevailing reyer-
ence in which the day has been held IN
this country since the foundation OF the
Government
In the attempt to find the right way
10 keep the day under the stress OF
modern civilization, no man who has
given the subject consideration fails
20 appreciate the difficulties. How
lar are the seryile OF business oPer-
atoms Of the week made necessary, and
in what degree shall they receive the
public Gcense2 Shall the horse-car
make-church going easier? Shall the
morning supply Of necessary articles oil
food add TO the sunday comfort Of city
homes? Shall the open library and
museum be offered a. a diversion 10
those who eschew the church and have
no home society? Upon questions ike
these good men differ.
The attempts in Newark, y. j., and
in Syracuse, Y. Y, Of late, 70 stop ali
Sunday traffic in the delivery Of milk
and bread and the like, seemed to dem
onstrate 20 many lovers Of the Sabbath,
that the feeding Of a great city could
not be suspended one day in seven.
There are trades which it seems almost
a necessity that they should be contin-
ued in part through the Sab
bath. The whole warp and
wool Of modern life is full OF
threads which cannot be broken at reg
ular intervals. Either our social fabric
is wrongly put together, or the Puri-
tanic ideas of Sabbath observance must
be modified.
To establish a model Sabbath-such
as We have in theory and desire to have
in PRACTICES not an easy task, even IL
all men were willing. Il is easy enough
10 10 attack the style Of Sabbath observ-
ance, but it is a complex problem to
cure all its defects 81 that the necessi-
ties as well as the habits Of society shall
harmonic. II is the Sabbath-keepers
the advocates Of strict obSery-
vance Of the day-Who need euhgten-
mSnt. Here is day which, speaking
in a sober, sensible, secular way, rs OF
inestimable advantage to the home lie
of every community. Between week
and week it lays down is solid block Of
home rest. For every household II Is a
day Of home-liie. Its rest, its quiet its
religious observance are among the very
foundation stones Of peace and good or
der Every man wants il. Every man
needs it. Il is hard that a single indl-
vidual among all the tOiling millions
shOuldnot haveit. Itshould be protected
by law. II should no, be allowed to
suffer reckless invasion from any source.
III men don't reverence il, they should |
be compelled 10 rSs2pi che rights Of |
others who do. Law Is always on the |
side of good morals. Both law and pub |
lie sentiment are on the side Of the
American Sabbath. But how to pre-
vent that pubic sentinent from being
weaned away-hOw 70 throw such re-
strictions around the day as shall leave
the individual free 70 exercise an honest
judgment in the mode Of observance,
and yet not give undue hcense-how to
limit business operations to the actual
necessities Of society--these and many
like questions demand the serious at
tentiOn Of the moral philosopher and the
statesman.