Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-10
THE poor MAN'S SABBATH.

THE POOR MAN'S 6ABBA1H.
And he said unto them, the Sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
MARK 1877.
Now that the summer is approaching
there is a general inquiry as to how the
warm days and evenings are to be passed;
how the greatest pleasure can be obtained
consistent with the circumstances of the
citizen and conducive to health and COM
fort. To the rich there is little anxiety
on this score. If they desire they can 60
to the seaside or remove to their cottages
by some pleasant inland lake; or seek
surcease of care and freedom from the
noise, dust and efauvia Of the city at a
thousand and one resorts furnished with
But to the poor it is an entirely different
matter. They must remain at work, for
upon their daily wages they depend for
food and raiment for themselves and
their families. They have only their
evenings and Sundays for rest
and recreation, and must secure
whatever relaxation may be necessary
during these brief cessations from labor
The question therefore arises, how canthey
best utilize their leisure moments so as to
derive the greatest possible mental and
physical benefit.
Church people will insist that the only
proper way of spending the Sabbath is by
attending divine services. There are, how
ever, few obstacles in the way of poor
people attending church. In the first
place there are few churches that extend
welcome to the poor. They are, for the
most part, designed only for those who
are well-to-do in the world, and can af-
ford to dress themselves and their fami-
lies in fashionable apparel. Every time
they attend church they are hui
inflated by the scornful chances
or the lofty neglect of those
who are better dressed than themselves,
and in a score of ways are made to feel
their inferiority in social position. Again,
but few laboring men can afford to con-
tribute more than trife for the support
Of the church where they are made to
feel wholly out of place, and most of
them are too proud to accept the seats
reserved for the poor. 1t is not always,
either, that they can have the rest they
need in the churches, and it is quite as
essential that they should attend to their
physical as to their spiritual wants.
AS the mass of the people will not 90
to the churches it Is necessary for the
churches to 60 to them. In the vicinity
Of every city there are resorts to which
the poor people betake themselves for
purposes of recreation on the Sabbath
The parks are crowded on every fine day,
and these should be made IS attractive as
possible. The churches should see to it
that no impure influences are allowed to
surround them, and that nothing that can
debase is permitted to infect these breath
ing places. 1t would not be out Of place
to furnish those who recline beneath the
shade of the trees with music of some
sort, sacred in its character, and an oc-
caslonal exkortation would not be out of
place.
During the GUNNER, too, there will be
regular Sunday excursions to the lakes in
the vicinity of st. Paul. Elmo. White
Bear, Prior, Forest and other lakes will
have thousands of visitors, mostly of the
working class, in search Of fresh air and
quiet days rest. The railroad fares are
low, so that all will be able to afford such
an excursion at least once fortnight.
They will take their families along with
them, and enjoy midday repast in some
sheltered wood washed by the pure waters
of the lake. If they are tempted to take
an invigorating bath, they should not be
interfered with, for cleanliness is next to
goodness. At these lakes, and the re-
sorts along the river to which the pleas
nre steamers ply, there will be a fine
field for missionary work. People will
listen to the preaching of the word in
grove, where they are free from the re-
straints that the churches impose, and if
properly approached many an errlng soul
may be redeemed.
The churches make mistake in indis.