New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-20
New- York, May Is, 1888.
REST AND QUIA7-NOT COMPASSION.
BY THE REV. DIR. HOWARD CROsBY-PREsBY-
TERRAIN.

BY THE REV. DIR. HOWARD CROsBY-PREsBY-
TERRAIN.
70 the EdftOr OF the Tri6une.
SIR Sunday as a day of rest has three aspects
First there is the Religious Sunday. a day oh
served by devout hearts for purely religions pur-
poses the study of divine things the preparation of
the heart before God and the worship appertaInng
to these. This Sunday is entirely an individual
matter, belonging TO the individual conscience and
to be treated by the individual judgment.
Second, there is the Civil Sunday. This is simply
a day of rest from labor made necessary by the con-
stutiOn of man. All scientists agree that such a
periodical rest Is necessary for the preservation of
life and working ability Some say that
such rest should take place every seventh day,
others every tenth day. All agree that whatever
may be The amount oftlme thus set aparG for rest
from labor it should be regular in its return. 1t is
also clear that III order to have general rest from
labor all labor, must he forbidden by law with pen
atty for trangression. otherwise the greedy will
work TO gain a temporary advantage over the
resting.
Third there is the Religious Sunday
if we may com term TO bring the two
adjectives together This is a Sunday which
is civil in its foundation in the law, hut
which regards the prevailing religion
of the land in tsehoice of the specific time for the
day of rest and in lis arrangements for general
qu!etness. This third Sunday is the Sunday of the
United States. From the civil standpoint
it insists upon the cessation of labor
III all departments of work. with the
only exceptions Of necessity. The general good of
the community demands this. and the la should
make the exceptions very carefully and conserva-
lively. Every additional exception granted helps
to destroy the fundamental law and its good
L. L -
prevails IN the United States, and which
recognizes Sunday a holy day, the specific day
selected for rest is Sunday If the population of the
United 5 ates Mahometan the day would be
Friday. If population were jewish the day would
be Saturday. BY very general consent every
seventh day is preferred to every tenth day.
In consideration of the prevailing Christianity.
Sunday has always been recognized in our country
the resi-day. Furthermore, for this same reason
as Christians hold public worship very generally on
that day and in all parts of the day. the day TO be
quiet one III the streets, so that the religious
ship of the majority be not interfered with.
Such regard TO be the fundamental principles Of
the sunday rest as established by law. The Jaw
does not aim to make men religious. but to mako
them courteous and conslderate to the prevailing
religion, while ceasing from labor on hygiene and
an hropoiogical grounds. 1t is true that many of
those VINO have had TO do with making our laws have
intended TO put a distinctly religious force
IN the sunday laws, but such an effort is con-
trary to the whole genius of the American Doliiy
which recognizes no State religion, and considers
jew or a Aahometan in all respects equal o a
Christian before the law. Let this ia se notion of the
law acting for religion" be aside and we shall
put an end 10 most OF the opposition to quiet Sun
day, which we demand on civil grounds and on the
grounds of common sense and common courtesy
The religious community should no more press
sunday law as a religious engine than they should
a II I'm MI IGF lAa
III these erroneous ways Our German fellow citizens
especia ly should understand looming to us as they
DO so largely with iree-thinklng views and with
honest notions that orr Sunday is an eXactlOE
of government reiglon) that We INSIST
upon Sunday rest for the good of the laboriDg
man, and upon quiet Sunday for he sake of decent
courtesy TO the prevailing religion. No sensible
man can object to these arguments or see any relIg
ious oppression In the practice.
On the above erOunus. and only on thes. |
hold that the Sunday laws should 10
most strictly observed, AMI that it Is
Tor the interest of the whole community TO form a
united pubic opinion against open stores and mcnial
labor on the day of public rest. think thai the
popular tendency would be altogether 10 keep the
Sunday rest II II were divorced from The idea of
rehglous compulslon, and that divorce | most
thoroughly advocate.
Any endeavor TO govern land or any part of it
from 81 stem OF religion must prove fatal to all
true religion What wemIst have is perfect freedom
for Religion 10 grow as II WILL and this perfect free
dom cannot be had If the Law interferes.
Personally, believe ia strict Puntanical Sab |
bath, and such | observe every week but | have |
no right 10 force my belief on Others or make nv |
belief the guide for their conduct. 70 his own |
Master each one stands or fails. | count the Sun
day bOiy day; Others count II a holiday Let |!
each one DE fnIly persuaded III his own mind.
But, apart from all that, the quiet Sunday is au |
American institution, founded broad and riQhte-
Gus principles. which believers and uubelleycrs |
alike can honor and as Americans LOVING our |
country and honorng our fathers ana the privileges
they gave us, we can never give up the day rest
t9y Oeqreathed 10 us at the call of politicians and
Of foreigners who have not yet learned the of
neTicah Ideas. HOWARD CROSBY.
NeW- York, May 10, 1883.