, 1879-05-25
THE HEPROTESTANT SABBATH.
4 VIEW OF THE QUESTION FROM 4 CATHOLIC
STANDPOINT.

A VIEW OF THE QUESTION FKoA eAAnoAA~
STANDPOINT.
Catholic Tflecraph-
No matter how much Protestant sects NAV
d;ffer.among themselves, they generally upite
nm ona absurdity, fanciful reverence for Sun
dav. which in their cant they love to call "the
sahhatb.n We are at 3 loss to understand "hat
ora the grounds for. this superstition. Ihey pro-
fess to DENY the authority Of tradition ano TO
found their religious opinions on the Bible alone
v.t as we had occasion to say lately, ana as ai1
the world that is not blinded by prejudice &C
rnow,edges. the Bible forbids the use OF pork
and all similar sorts Of food, as distinctly as II
commands the observance OF the Sabbath. AND
the sabbath of tile Bible is beyond all doubt the
Jewish Sabbath Saturday, the seventh day OF
tha wecr. on which the Lord rested from His
}abors. -: NIL,
Many Of the States, especially OF the North
and East. still bear in their statutes the marks
# ,he p]oomv Puritanism that once held an iron
ayrav over the English parts OF America. Even
Virginia was not entirely free from its influence.
Rut these laws, except among the rust1cs, nave
IN most places become dead-letter; and It Is
we'll that such is the case.
Sad qroans are heard from the religious may
gatherings it what they are pleased to call tne
desecration OF the Lords day we are 1af
from sympathizing with the irrelig1ous moo
who make light Of religion and of all that saYoss
of Christianity. But We cannot refrain 1rom
telling our unreasonable, though well-meanlng5:
avaneelica1 friends, that the falling away OF so
manv thousands from any belief IN Cntlstlan'ty
s HE result not OF "neglect OF the saDoatn''
as is constantly repeated, but OF neeiecs FL .a o.
| the teachings OF the Chufcn, WHICH "' n0'o
been commanded to hear.
| The Sabbath question Is taking on ne"
phase. In old times Puritanism, initiating 1 tiie
| Church OF the Middle Ages could threaten eFll-
| doers With the law on one sde and "ltu IAeoln ~
| 1nnnication on the other. It was outsDoken n
! its demands and severe in its puntshments. u
rondcgcended to parley with no one. NOV lts
descendant appears willing to indulge IN lille
| coouetry. In Chicago the churches urging tne
enforcement: OF the Sunday laws think it better
| ~ remain In the background, and, while giving
| tha;r 8. moral support, ,''-whatcVer that may
/ hc-leaye it to the ~ businessmen" to carry
the matter through This looks suspictously
like what some Protcstapts i nave Deen aceuS'
toned to set down as " "Jesultry
The CHURCH OF her own authority made son,
dav a i}ay OF particular devotion, IN memory o.
the resurrection Of Christ and OF tue descent o'
the holy Ghost upon the earliest OF neF eongre,
cations. But the Church has set aside othel
DAYS besides Sunday for marked religious %
eeTvances: such IS Christmas, the feast OF tn
Circumcision, Annunuation~Day, Ascension
Dav. Assumption, All-Saints, and other 1easts
and the triumphs of her saints. The moderr
Pnritans have taken their ideas OF Sunday Oh
servancc from the Church. h.-though they nay M
distorted their teachings on the SUBJECT. n
slight references In the New Testament 70 In
assembiing of the disciples on the first day Q
the week are of themselves insufficient eyidenet
,,n1cas s,nnorted BY the tradition OF the Church
WHY then do not these people include all III
Ch1rct's festivals in the laws with which the
are attempting to annoy an already TOO muc