Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-13
sABBArH DESIGNATION.

xx:6-I0.
The Christian people of st. Paul have of
late been holding series of Sunday evening
meetings for the purpose of encouraging the
better observance of the Sabbath as day of
worship. These meetings have been largely
attended, and a variety of suggestions have
been made, some eminently sensible and
practical, others simply nonsensical and al
most idiotic.
There is, unquestionably, too much Sab
bath desecration in this as we'll as in other
cities. The churches are almost deserted,
" nile the parks and beer gardens are crowd
ed. large majority of the people regard
S unday as day of rest and recreation, and
40 it should be to certain extent. But Sun
day recreations are too apt to become desc
crations that offend the religious sense of
every Christian community.
In speaking of this subject. 1T should be
borne in mind that nowhere in the scripture
is it commanded that one day in seven
should be reserved for purposes Of worship.
Custom has made the Sabbath what it is. 1t
was found more convenient to assemble to-
gether on that day than any other, and
hence it has come to be law of the church
that the first day of the week shall be OBJ
served as day of worship. Others who do
not recognize the authority of the church,
simply regard it as day of rest from toll
day in which they can seek their own plea
sure in their own way, embarrassed by care,
untroubled by the necessity of labor, or
thought of business. The obligation to
worship God is as binding upon Christians
on any other day as on Sunday.
If all would pursue their own pleasure
quietly, and take care that they did not mo-
lest or offend others, objection to their mode
of passing the day would not hold. 1t is
those whose pleasures interfere with the re-
ligious convictions of others that are most
to blame. It surely cannot be desecration
of the holy day for tired mechanic to seek
some cool retreat in the country, and there,
with his family and friends, worship God in
his works, There is far more refreshment
in such Sabbath than in one spent in listen
ing to the humdrum platitudes of preacher
hired toll repeat his old ideas or the ideas OF
others at SO much q year.
At the meetings mentioned great objection
has been made to the Sunday excursions to
the lakes surrounding st. Paul as being an
abomination in the sight of the Lord. While
there are some features about these excur-
sions that cannot be wholly approved. they
are of great benefit to thou
sands of aaboring people, who, without
them would not get a breath
of fresh air during all the long summer
months. They are cheap; the resorts to
which they go are attractive and respect
able; they furnish an opportunity for neigh
bors to meet nei ghbors and enjoy social in
tercourse that they otherwise could not en-
joy; they start and return at reasonable
hours, and are generally free from all dis
sipation. They are the poor mans pleasures
The rich man can take his carriage and ride
where he wishes, either on Sunday or any
other day in the week. The poor man, OBJ
iged to work for living, has but one day
out of seven in which to recu perate his ply
steal energies for the labors of the next
week. To deny him the privilege of out
door recreation on that day is to deny him a
necessity of life.
The churches, however, object to any and
all diversions on the Sabbath save those con-
1 ofo1r nh az fou OT 4ho
members practice themselves what they
preach for others. Clergymen thunder
from the pulpit, "This is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God: in it thou shalt do no work;
thou, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid
servant" Yet his man servant is at the
door of the sanctuary with his horses and
carriage to convey him home, while his maid
servant is at home sweltering over the kitch-
en- stove preparing the extra dinner which
his appetite Graves on the Sabbath. What is
true of the minister is true of his flock
They all preach for others, but practice fol
themselves. They do not hesitate to take
drive in the suburbs on Sunday evening, o,
to take walk down some shady street, but
hold up their hands in holy horror at those
who seek rural sights by patronizing The
Sunday excursions.
If the protesting Christians want to pre-
vent the Sabbath desecration they complain
of. let them make the church more attractive
If need be let them take charge of the Sun
day excursions q few car loads Of
weary people to Elmo or White Bear, or any
of the other lakes that surround the city
hold religious services in the groves-"God's
first temples" see that all the surround
ings are sach as to lead none into tempta.
ton. The result would surprise them They
would fnd hundreds and thousands gathered
into the fold of the church in an incredibly
short space of time. They should recognize
the fact that men need recreation, and il
they cannot have it during the week they
will have it on the Sabbath. It is only 6
! question as to whether the church will seize
the opportunities presented or cling to the
old superstition that dingy church is the
only place in which the creator can be
properly adored.