New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-20
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY TWELVE PAGES

between the Old Testament and the New come
out The former-especially in its Mosaic poi'on-
was book of rubrics the latter Is one OF princ'
pies The former went into details anu Sa''
ninuts prescriptiuus as to what thugs might bt
done and what things ought to be aVoiheu 'h'
latter gives the general law aud leaves the forms IL
which IL ia TO bs OF served to the dictates of the
individual conscience. The former dealt in sane
tions of civil penalty; the latter makes the mar
responsible to God alone. The result is that whilt
Christians generally agree in holding the Sabbath
as day of rest they moi TO judge each other al
to the mode in which they observe It, III they nave
respect to the authority and supremacy OF Chrls1
they will regard the day rs different from othei
days. and after the example of the nrst Christians
will come together on 1t for purposes OF Worship
and mutual OBLIGATION. but, for the rest. they are
not to Judge each other anathrmatiZe each
other because of differences as to the manner OF
its obsel vance. In general. however 1t may be sad
that the higher the spiritual lite is the better Will
the observance Of this Easter day in every week
become.
Now if among those who recognize the Lordship
and supremacy of Jesus, there is to be this liberty
of individual conscience this absence of Judgment
and anathems, this abrogation of civil penalty IL
will follow [ think a foriOri. that we should not
seek to secure its observance religious day by
civil enactment among those who repudlate or DO
not acknowledge HIS authority. II Is not within
the province of an earthly government to compel
any man by pains and penalties to observe purely
religious institution: but Christians have right
to he protected In their observe of the sabbath
and may seek by law to secure that nothing OF
which the civil government can take account shall
be be allowed to disturb their worship. IN my
! Judgment. however t'would be unwise especially
considering theI01cd character of our population,
to base any Legislation concerning the Sabbath on
the ground of its religious character. Bnt looking
to the necessity for periodic rest, as indicated not
in Scripture alone, but also in all history and ex-
perience. the civil law ought to enact that one day
in the week should be reserved for cessation from
work. and. as on other grounds, Christians do rest
on the first day of the week. the natural thing to
| do in such circumstances is that the Legislature
| should enact that Sunday shall be the day for
rest and that all Government Offices and public de-
partments shall lie closed thereon. Not long aEo
the English Legislature appointed four DAYS III
every year for business rest making them dies non,
without in ustce to any party. and there is yio-
lation of personal liberty in such law for the Sab
bath, any than there is IN those which APP
point our legal holidays. There. as it SENS to me,
legislation should STOP and the use which each
man makes CT his rest should be left to himself,
|
from disturbing the rest OF his neighbours
| The bearing Of these principles on amusements
is apparent at once for The amusement of some in-
wolves the labor Of others and 1t cannot be sys-
| tematically furnished without infringing on the
rights oil others The is true of traffic
| ally especially OF the liquor traffic, which is
so much of disturbance on common days, and
which is most Of all dangerous TO the community
on the day Of rest. There are exceptions Of c0urse
to Gil this the Of necessity and mercy; but
these reveal themse yes at once to a wise common
sense, and need not be further partcul arized.
TO what then. do We look for :he improv ement
of the present state OF things among usi Not to
civil northumberland nothing seems to me moro
injudicous than the "spurts" of short sighted
enthusiasm which ever and anon impel well-nlean-
ing men among us to bring paltry offenders before
tho Judge on the ground of Sabbath desecration
That will only provoke reaction and retaliation
and make tho Sabbath more hated by those who
have no love for II already. The true remedy lies
in the evaugelization of the people a whole and
the better observance of the sabbath by those who
profess TO be Christians among us. If the people
to value the Lords Day. they must first be
brought to love and yenerate ana obey the Lord OF
tho Day. Therefore, If wish better SUNDAY
we must become more earnest more active and
moro liberal in homo missionary efforts. We
live not under theocracy. but under kingdom
OF which ii Is written chat 1t is not III word but IN
power not in demonstratlve 10 bere or 10!
there" bnt in that which is within man and
therefore only in the proportion in which We can
make the people Christians can make them
Sabbath keeping.
But in addition to thai. the standard Of Sabbath
keeping must be elevated among Christians them
selves. II the choice of tue Loids Day. the day
Of periodic rest, to be founded ON the tact that
Christians already observe that day for other Tea-
sons then il 10 manifest that they must make tho
most of it asa day of holy gladness and devOut
worship In their homes and in their churches. so
sOon they become careless aud Indifferent about
10 tho general Observance of IL will disappear On
them therefore. the main stress of responsible
lty rests. hoy must settle whether We to
have IA Sabbath or not and they must settle il not
much, II at all, by weapons OF legislation as by
their earnest and holy Sabbath keeping
Their conduct hero will do more than anything else.
Let them make the day the happest OF the week
ia their homes. Let them prize it Tor it's intellect
ual and spiritual stimulus in the house of God as
welt as for It's physical rest. Let them avoid all
travelling Tor business. and all patronage OF amuse
ment on Its weekly recurrence. Let them regard
il and bo and known to regard II not as n re-
strant to Ice chaied under, but precious bless
ing JOyfuly prIed aud with all TINS let them null
tIply manifold their eXertlOns for the ChristanZa-
ton OF their fellow citizens Irhcsr are tho means
on which we nust rely Would that the Christian
people we're more alive to the Importance of using
them. Legislation seems short aud easy method
ami mnltitudes are tempted to lly 90 that. only.
fear to save themselves from this greater RESPONSE
bity. but il ought to be iterated and reiterated
that the sabbath among Us Is To- be conserved not
by legal enactment. but by the character example
influence and eyangclistic activity of the church |
mem bers i'll the land.
Az said before, the subject is both difficult and |
delicate. and deserves more thorough treatment but
my desire has been to indicate principles rather
than TO go into details. WILLIAM NJ. TAYLOR
Ner- ! Ork, May II. 1888
a 4