Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-31

| profoundly affects the public veal. 1t
does and must take notice of illiteracy,
gambling, polygamy; for just the same
reasons 1t cannot be blind TO the des-
| truction of the Sabbath.
Says Blackstone in his commentary
on the English law: s.The keeping Of
one dayIn seven holy is of admirable SER
vice to state, considered merely as
a civil institution
| President Wcolsey, our honored and
impartial publioist, says. in very in
teresting discussion of this subject:
"The benefits of the 6ay for man ara
/ the comprehensive reason why the dav
should be protected by legislation. (here
follows other quotations from Supreme
Court Of Illinois, and Century MaGa-
zine on this point.)
All we have the right to demand from
others is that they refrain from nlolest-
ing the day of rest by their business or
| other pleasures. But for ourselves. for
us, we who look at the question as
! Christians or as sincere friends of the
Christian church and believers in its
mission this day has much higher claims
on us. How shall we observe il RIGHTLY ,
Here the speaker glanced briefly over
the continental and Puritan methods as
belng the extremes and thought the
latter sometimes elevated Sabbath keen
ing into undue Importance relatively
| quoting at the end from Beecher; :
Norwood the description of a New
England Sabbath. Continuing the
| speaker said:
| We know that by no people on the
globe, and at no period, was the Sab
bath ever more strictly, or, on the
whole, criticise as we may, more RAJ
tionally kept, than by the people of
New England half century ago. And
among no people were the blessings of
free government, and of all institu-
tons which free governments insure,
ever so conspicuous. Nowhere were
crimes ever less common: nowhere were
| property and life ever safer. The cul-
ture OF the people was BY no means
hlgh; their tastes were not refined.
Oheir manners were rude:) but they
were honest; they were lovers of Justice
ana always law-abiding. Their gov
eminent was not perfect; themselves
were not faultless; and yet we are iusti-
he'd IN affirming that nowhere else on
this earth was there ever presented a
nearer approach to ideal free govern
ment-a government free in the origin
OF its powers and administration. and
securing personal freedom and equal
rights to all the governed, than in the
New England township as it existed (be-
fore the influx of foreigners and of for
elgn ideas and practices But for all
this New England was indebted, more
than all else, to her unyielding regard
Tor the Sabbath, and to the sound teach
ing which her respect for the Sabbath
led her to listen to from her pulpits.
To her Sabbath and her use of it, above
all else, has New England been indebt-
ed for all that has justly distinguished
her in the annals of our common
country.
1t Is not my province TO lay down
minute rules. Everyone has and is
responsible for the use of his own Chris
tlan liberty. | am called upon to Law
the facts before you and suggest prin-
ciples. | have tried to present facts.
now for a principle By exaltino the
two great uses of the day; by conse-
Grating it to rest and spiritual good we
shall best keep the day and honor God
the giver. We should rest from the
cares and occupations of the week and
exclude all business. whether an hour
or two in the office looking over our
correspondence, revolving business
schemes, or society engagements. The
world shall not inundate with It's turbid
waters the green pastures of this day
let that he our determination.
The Sunday papers, are they not an
indefensible intrusion on the sabbath?
| believe the publishing and distrib but
ing of them to be a violation of our
Sunday statute; but, as for the reading
of them, is it wise to start the day with
all the interests, the worldliness. the
hustle, the sin of the week thrust upon
us to pre-occupy our mind? Are not
the few columns of religious gossip a
scanty bait to cover the hook Of world
~ concerns? Are not their many col
ums of advertisements as real an OPEN
ing Of business on Sunday as taking
down shop shutter? Do we need
these Sunday papers? VIII not our
Sunday principles, both lower and high
er, lead us to do with out them? This
principle also applies to public gather
ings and social engagements. All
honor to President Arthur, who, though
no Puritan, when, not long ago, the
General of our army gave a dinner to
the Marquis OF Lorne on Sunday, sent a
quiet refusal to be present, almost in
violation of diplomatic courtesy, saw
ing, II do not attend receptions on
Sunday"
L am sure we are watchful also that
those in our employ share the blessings
of lest, that they have opportunities
for church going, and that they are ac-
corded hours when they can be free
from their ordinary cares. We should
do all we can to secure rest for public
servants. Mere sleep and eating, physi-
cal recuperation like the anaconda's
somnolence after gorging his prey,
the business mans lethargy after the
strain of six days excessive activity.
this is the lowest possible form of the
days use, and cannot come up to the
measure of its privileges or response
bilities. DR.. Richard Edwards SAYS,
ave need most of all to rest for selfish
ness, which amusement will not accom-
plish.a Father Seward says if man
is going to keep Sunday rightly he
must take whole week to it, begin
ming Monday, before daylight.
Sunday is not day of strolling from
home, but day of gathering at home
A day in which heaven and earth shall
draw near together. A day of spirit
ual uplifts. of self conquests, not self
indulgences. A day beautiful and
sacred, glad and holy, made for the
sake of our children, to whom the men,
DRY of glad, peaceful, earnest Sunday
will be precious heritage, balm in
lfe's wounds and rest amid life's tolls.
For the sake of our example will it not
pay to be careful of that, if so we may
encourage others to save the day for
spiritual growth of life. For the sake
OF our country, whose early virtues were
nourished by Sabbath keeping.
In the words of President Woolsev,
Nations which have been strict with
out narrowness in the observance of
Sunday have had the purest morals
and have chung to their faith in times
of religious decay" Many of the signs
of the times fill us with apprehension.
Many have cast off the connsels of the
fathers, and have chosen self indulgent
and golden paths Many are tramp
ling with scorn upon the laws of our
land. Vice and disorder are rampant
in our cities Shall wenot all the more
eagerly and earnestly love and rever-
o.,oo tI,a Sabbath xuhinb Cnd roaHa frr