Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19

The secularization Of Sunday has reached that
point where clergymen Of New York city have
felt themselves justified in urging its observance
as day Of rest through the columns of the
Sunday Tribune. Agreeing that its highest and
oest observance Is as day of religious worship,
and that universal blessing rests upon its re-
igfous conservation, they differ widely a. to the
ways In which the day should be spent. They
see very plainly that on religious grounds
the earlier observance of the day-the
observance that held sway before the influx
OF foreigners-cannOt be maintained. They
hope for nothing beyond the holding Of Sunday
as day Of rest, and even here they are met by
an almost impossible difficulty. The existing
Sunday laws are not enforced, and the temper
of the public is such that they are not likely to
be enforced. The demand for recreation on the
part of the laboring population of large cities is
such that Sunday, of necessity, becomes holi-
day, and men like DR.. Robert Collyer have no
heart to say that they shall be restrained by no
the other hand, DR.. Henry C. Potter predicts
that the confounding of Sunday as rest day
with Sunday as pleasure or travel or labor
day Will inevitably put a burden upon the
laboring people which they will be unable to
bear. and thinks that this issue is the problem
of all others that awaits solution. DR.. Howard
Crosby holds that 1.-The Sunday laws should be
most strictly observed, and that it Is for the
interest of the whole community to form a
united public opinion against open stores aud
mental labor CD the day of public rest" DR..
William N. Taylor Is not sanguine about the power
Of legislative enactment in this matter. In his
opinion it 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 evangelistic activity
of the church members of the land" DR..
Thomas Armitage hits the nail on the head
when he finds the solution of the problem in
the dual character Of our Sabbath, in its civil
and religious bearings. The state has recog-
nized the day by law as civil institution for
the social, moral, and political blessing of the
commonwealth. 1t is secured legally on the
basis OF economic principles. Its religious
character is inseparaby united with its civil
privileges The observance of Sunday as day
of religious worship must be left to moral
suasion and to the healthy example and
this process Is slow but sure, and the
Christian Sabbath is mot lost because some
of its present aspects are not of Puritan strict
ness" The Sabbath is still retained In Ameri-
can life, and the mutual action of legal and
moral influences will retain it's essential fea-
lures for a long time to come. These opinions
are valuable. because they are representative
regard common danger. and, with considera-
BILE divergence. they agree that Sunday observ-
ance, at least as day of rest and gentle recrea-
ton, must be insisted on. as much for the well
fare of the nation as for the spiritual education
of the people. 1t does not seem as II the time
had come for anything more than restrictive
legislation in the several states. As the Boston
Herald says, the wsest course is that which per-
mits the largest liberty which does not destroy
the character of Sunday as day of rest. The
higher observance must be left to each individ-
ual conscience.