The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-03-14
Entered at the Post Office at Richmond, Va. as
second-class matter.
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Sabbath in Congress.

Both Houses of the United States Con-
gress were in session from midnight on
Saturday, the Sd day of March, to IL M.
on Sunday the 4th day of March, 1883,
with few hours of recess on the morning
of the Sa6bathII at midday on Sun
day, the presiding officers, under the Con-
stitution, adjourned the forty-seventh
Congress sine die. By Legislative fc-
ton, the Journals and the Acts passed,
and approved by the President, Ito give
them the force of law.) bear date on the
Sd of March; and the record on the
statute book tells the untruth as to the
date of laws. The chaplains were not
present on the 4th, as on previous days,
to ask Gods blessing on the deliberations
of the representatives Of the people.
However appropriate prayer might have
been, would it not have been something
wonderful in the midst of the scenes OF
that ever-memorable day?
Among the representatives OF the peo-
pie in Congress are men whose piety and
patriotism none question. They enjoy
the merited confidence of constituents,
who will again place high trusts in their
hands. 1t is taken for granted that the
protesting Christians among Congressman
(and there are many whose consistent
and active Christian life is Justly COM
mended) participated in these Sabbath
public transactions conscientiouSly and
from a thoughtful sense of duty and re-
sponsibility. We sit NJ in judgment On
them, their motives, or acts. Let each
for himself "stand or fall before his God.
But these were public acts; and silence
and acquiescence, on the part of constit-
uents, in reference to this Sabbath desc
Grafton, will be culpable. An intense
responsibility rests on us, the people.
We cannot escape it Never was pluck
and moral courage more needed than in
the year 1888. An irrepressible conflict
ever goes on between truth and error
The preservation and protection of the
Sabbath is one of the battle-felds in this
conflict. Congressman may rest assured
that by their acts of Sunday the 4th day
of March, 1888, they have given material
aid and comfort" to the growing num-
bers of the enemies of Gods holy day
To put it in the mildest form, their ex-
ample on this memorable occasion, is
most unfortunate.
Was this session of Congress on the
Sabbath, national sin2 If 80, God will
not hold us guiltless who silently acqui-
esce in it.
From the time whereof the memory Of
man runneth not to the contrary, the
laws Of nearly every Christian State for
bid secular work on Sunday. A decent
respect for the opinion Of mankind recog-
nizes this as day when ordinary labors
must cease. Remedial justice stands still
Public offices are closed
But it is said that there was "neces-
sity for this Sunday session. And that
NECESSITY" compelled the attendance and
octive participation by well.known Chris
tian gentlemen in the public transactions
of that day Who made the necessity ?
To be sure two hundred and ninety-two
members in one House and seventy-six in
the other can easily consume ninety days
in speaking. Why was not a greater
number of hours on preceding secular
days employed in work, and thus finish
up legislation on Saturday? Ordinarily,
case on the docket Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States cannot be reached
in one or two years. Would the Court
be justified in public or IN (oro conScie1atjoe