The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-17
OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY.
Views of Prominent indianapolis
ClerSymen on the Subject.
How 1t Should BE Spent by all CIasses-Is
the Religious Character of the Day
Declining?

The Indianapolis correspondent of the Jewish
Tribune, OF st. Louis, furnishes that paper of
the date Of July l with the following views on
the question Of observance of Sunday. The cor
respondent in presenting them, notes that the
religious character of the day is declining is even
apparent to the orthodox Christian ministers,
and some of them are even now concedng the
fact that Sunday is day of rest, and that there
the question should rest" To get an expression
of the views of some of the clergy of Indiauapo-
lis be addressed several of them, and their re-
plies are herewith appended:
Rev. Myron W. Reed, Presbyterian.
"My view of the Sunday question is this-I
DeneVe III the utter sepaS IiOn of church and
state-I am therefore OpNsed to any statute
making any day a religious day, l am in favor
OF statute making Sunday day of rest from
labor, and this for secular reasons. man must
not De compelled TO go TO church. On the other
naho ne ought to have permission to 60, and
opportunity. How shall observe the day Is
matter to be settled by the private conscience
subject to the condition that one mans liberty
ENDS where his neighbours begins No
ought to be disturbed in a quiet and orderly OBJ
servance OF the day, whatever the observance
may De. All men OF all sorts it seems to me
must unite to protect themselves from the
slavery OF seven days work in a week. The
Sabbath was made tor man. The mfdel the
hebrew ana the Christian can unite on that say
ing"
Rev. oscar c. McCulloch, Plymouth Congrega-
tional Church:
"The question of the religious observance OF
sunday must be left entirely to the individual
conscience. There should be no legal nor moral
attempt TO force the sO-called Puritan Sabbath
upon SO mixed people as now form our pOpula-
uon' rms would violate the religious ideas of
those who come from other countries, and would
violate the principles of civil liberty. But when
this question Of the religious observance of Sum
day Is LETT out, there will come forward higher
one, the right of having day of rest. The en-
eroachments upon this are not from those who
Drlng what are called Continental ideas, but
from the spirit of trade, the railroads, the fac
tories. These demand part or all OF the time
reserved for physical rest. 1t is this line
the battle must be tonight for a secular Sab
Dath The Observance of the day may then
be left to the people. Among Germans, it
will be home day. some will find
~ DAY Ior worship, others for recreation But
the quiet and hush of it will be peculiarly help
full to the wearled mind and struggling spirit
In time, It's higher influences will be felt by ALL
The spirit of fairness, the recognition of the
rights of others, will protect those who seek
either home quiet or church worship. Most Of
us can ind In our own homes. among books
children and friends, a sufficient enjoyment.
Others are debarred these. am in favor of
opening all libraries, art galleries, museums
upon this day. have seen with pleasure the
establishing of Sunday lecture courses IN some of
the larger cities. Cincinnati has had most sue
eessful course, giving the people an opportunity
OF hearing the best lecturers at 10
to the woods and fields is easy There
is power In nature to quiet the restless pulse
They who have beard only the hum OF wheels
turning in the factories, or the dust of the
streets, may well go to the first temples And
so far as IL will facilitate this the railroad and
street-cars should run. AS the priests serve in
the temple and are blameless, so these railroad
men and street-car drivers may be serving as
priests in the temple, even though unconscious
of it. But the using of Sunday as one more day
to make money in, the driving of freight trains,
the inSlstance upon men working one day more,
TO the exclusion of all physical rest and all OPP
portunity for enjoyment, is the tendency against
which all who love men should unite"
Rev, Ross c. Houghton, Roberts Park NJ. E.
Church,
"While deprecate the lax views of infidelity
touching the sanctity of the Sabbath, am, on
the other hand. no friend to strict Puritanical
observance OF that day. | think we find the
golden mean in the teachings and example of
Christ. Hence 1 would have no man forced into
conformity would have the law project all
Christ ian people from being disturbed in their
conscientious worship, both in public and pri-
vate, by any public traffic professions or pleas
ure-seeking. or unnecessary travel the Lords
day. 1 would then look alone to the gospel as
the power to win men from sin to holiness, not
only in the religious observance of the Sabbath,
but in building up characters such become
good and patriotic citizens"
Rev. E. A. Bradley, Christ Episcopal Church:
SUNDAY is Christ's day He is Lord of the
Sabbath He ordered the seventh day to be
kept holy. by His resurrection from the dead
He ordered the change to the first day of the
week. The Apostolic Church has kept Sunday
ever since as the Lords day 1t is not to be
desecrated by unnecessary work. God forbds
us to do this indirectly even, through servants,
strang gers, horses, mules or railroad companies.
The moral force of the commandment is eternal.
God rested from his work OF creation and re-
demption, and 'all the angels of His wOrshipped
Him. We are mot to forsake the assembling of
ourselves together In His holy temples we
to offer to Him the sacrifices of praise and
prayer, with substance. The fashion OF
going merely to hear some man pray and
preach, and paid choir sing, is keeping people
away from the churches The day is for the
worship of God, and the teaching of His law
and His gospel Works of mercy are not for
hidden; but we have right to take the day
from Christ for ourselves and spend it in idleness
pleasure. This nation must obey God if He is
to bless America Physically and mentally we
must have this rest day, and be lifted up with
the angels to the feet of God, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Foreigners must become
Americans. and respect one holy day. Christ
gave it to man to be "a help aud benediction
to all"
The correspondent adds:
"As people, the Jews are law-abding, and
while they are very jealous of every right guar
anted to every citizen of this country, we con-
clude that they are In favor Of a proper observ-
ance OF the sunday interpreted by liberal
minded men, and such laws that will subdue the
vicious element of society"