Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-07
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Fine Demonstration at the Opera House
Last Evening Addresses by DR.. Alter
bury and Rev. Mr.. Smith.

Fine Demonstration at the Opera House
Last Evening Addresses by DR.. Alter
bury and Rev. Mr.. Smith.
1t is very seldom that the Opera House Is
filled with larger or more intelligent and re-
spectable audience than that which assembled
last evening, upon the occasion of the union
meeting, to listen 20 the address of the Rev.
DIR. Atterbury of New York, secretary OF the
committee for the better observance of the
Sabbath. Every seat in the spacious auditori-
um was occupied, and the platform was filled
with leading members of most of the Protest
ant churches of the city.
d. W. Iugersoll, Esq, presided, and shortly
after o'clock the exercises were opened with
hymn. my Soul Look Up to Thee, sung by
the audience, after which the Rev. DR.. Dana
offered an eloquent prayer, closing with the
Lords prayer, in which many of the large au-
dience joined.
Mr.. Ingersoll then briefly alluded to the OBJ
ject of the meeting, and said he was glad to
see so many present, as it showed that deep
interest was felt in the subject which would
engage their attention. He then introduced the
Rev. DR.. Atterbury.
DR.. Atterbury commenced his address by
drawing a comparison between the observance
of the Sabbath in this country and Europe,
and stated that it was question that interested
all, whether high oil low, rich or poor, regard
less of their religious views. The Sabbath is
q marked characteristic of America. The hrst
act of Columbus in landing upon American
soil was to give praise to God. The Pilgrim
Fathers landed on Saturday, and they observed
the next day, (Sunday,) as a day of thanks
giving, praise and rest. At some length he
proceeded to show that the first settlers OF
America were driven here by religious persecu-
- II i j Il NIOw
therefore, that from the first establishment OF
government in this new world that all legista-
tive enactments have appropriately recognized
the Sabbath not only as day for religious OBJ
seIvances, but also as a day of rest from all
secular employment. Every emigrant from
the desposic powers of Europe come here with
certain ideas of liberty, but, as general rule,
they have crude ideas of what liberty means.
They left the old world to escape certain
restraints, and much tO.their establishment find
what they had perfect liberty to do in the old
world, was restricted here 1t took time fol
them to conform themselves to this new order
of things. They look upon our Sundy law as
an infringement upon their personal liberty.
The learned and eloquent speaker then proceed
ed at some length to show that the Sunday laws
did not interfere with the personal liberty OF
the citizens. They do not enforce any partic-
ular religious observance of the day, and there
fore do not interfere with the personal liberty OF
the individual. livery man has a right tC
worship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, but he has no right &c
interfere with his neighbor. He then turned his
attention SO the great natural law of rest and
referred to the greed of gain which characters
ICES the present age, and argued that no more
could be made by working seven days In the
week than could be made IN six. 1t is the duty
of the State to protect each and every one of it,
citizens in his right ofIworships, unmolested BY
any one, and matter what peculiar views, thou
who sought this country home might hold
it was their duty to pay outward respect at least
to the public institutions of the same. He drew
graphic picture of the difference between the
condition of things is this country and Russia
and attributed the difference to the intelligence
of the people. lie closed by stating that the
religious observance of the day was the only
hope for the workiDgmen and women of the
land. The true use of the Sabbath, or rest day
cannot be enforced by civil law. 1t must rest
in the hearts of tho people, and their only safe
ty is in obeying the divine command. "Remem
Der the Sabbath Day to keep it holy"
The eloquent speaker was frequently inter
rupted by applause during his address, which
lasted nearly an hour. The audience then sang
"All hail the power of Jesus Name" after
which the Rev. Mr.. Smith of the First M. E
church was introduced. He commenced by
congratulating the audience upon the condition
of public sentiment in St. Paul upon the Sun.
day question. The Sundays in st. Paul were
quiet and orderly There were some infractions o!
the law, but the people generally observe the
day. The hearts of the people are right upon
the question and when the people are right the
politicians are right also. This country is tn,
most moral and temperate in the world.
Freedom and purity go together, aud we will
hold these two fast. He was a foreigner him
self, but he had Yankee heart, and all who
seek the shores should be Americans We well
come Irishmen, but we do not want Ireland
we welcome Germans bat we do not want Ger
many with its tyranical Bismarck's. There il
a young Ireland, and a young Germany spring
ing up in this favored land, that cannot be lee
by any leader in church or in State, He closed
by saying that when we ask for an observance
of Sunday we are talking in the interest of the
laboring class.
Mr.. Smith is not only eloquent but ar
impassioned speaker, and he was loudly ap
plauded.
At the close of the Rev. Mr.. Smith remarks
the audience joined in singing the doxology,
add the meeting was closed with benediction
from Rev. Mr.. Barnes of the First Baptist
church.