The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-19

The SECOND PARlsH.

LIE cEOOND fAhlSh'
Rev. Mr. Daniels spoke as follows yesterday
afternoon, on the Sabbath question
love the Sabbath. 1t is one of the sweet
est, strongest proofs of Gods loving care. 1t
Is intended and fitted to be one of his greatest
blessings, physically socially, morally and
spiritually. Search the scriptures and there is
but one standard of Sabbath keeping, viz: the
use OF our Time and power to honor God secur-
ing not personal ease, pleasure or comfort but
COOS glory. Will not stand in Judgment bnt
will ask christian people to Judge themselves
in the light of truth. Do you yenerata and
love the Sabbath? Do you make it an honor
able day? Do you make it a high and holv
inspiration, delight to the Lord? Do YOU
make an effort to attend the worship of Gods
house, using as much effort so to do as in 60
ing to business or to the concert? Or is it a
matter of convenience and when ,ou feel like
iH And the hounties of the day, are they the
richest CT all the week? The leisure hours of
the dag, are they set apart to sweet and noble
uses; 10 educate ones soul in divine things. by
the study OF Gods word, and earnest medit1-
tion aud prayer; or By teaching Children, gain
cred III our Sunday school, the WAYS of heavens
~ life; or IN sweet offices OF Kindness and
grace to the poor, the sick, tue prisoner and
outcas2 Or DO We pass them in sleep, novel
reading, pleasure driving or summer excur-
sions, tempting bait in this city. 1t is nv
privilege to place before you what seems to me
to be the broad, sure, necessary and christian
law of the Sabbath. 1t was made for man To
be kept holy. The issue is between those who
believe in distinctive rest on the Sabbath
and those who want the license of holiday
Sabbath as pleasure day always means ex-
cess, noise, excitement and dissipation.
The rest which means license and
dissipation units for Mondays tolls. l hold
that the law of Sabbath observance ia
that it should be kept holy. Every trace we
have OF 1t long before the law was given indi-
ntGc hn%s 1, de-. sRe -t..1
not set aside the Institution. He honored it
by example and precept. The day has been
perpetuated in holy things by Christ's own
sanction. insist that in whatever light YOU
look at it, whether in its origin history, in the
law or gOspelit is essentially holy day. What
does 1t mean to keep it holy? Does it mean
that we must not do anything but pray and go
to meeting and read the Bible and sermons?
THESE are suitable occupations for the Sabbath,
but the word holy does not restrict us TO these.
Ii means to set apart from a common to a
sacred usage. But more, the law of the holy
day is grounded on the necessities of our ma
lures. IL has been proved by careful observa-
ton that men and animals require rest one
day in seven. III physically we need the Sab
bath, it's equally true intellectually. The
mind is refreshed by change of thought.
Another great purpose of the Sabbath is the
instruction OF the people, not in science or gen.
eral education but in all subjects pertaining to
moral and religious conduct. AS day of mere
idleness it would relapse into abuses which
would be far from beneficial Call ur on phys
ioogy and it comedies its sanitary Importance.
Mental science proclaims its intellectual adam
tation. Ethics, law and biography attest its
work. Political economy sees its relation to
true prosperity. believe it evident that the
Sabbath must cease to be day of rest ii it is
not kept holy. For when the Sabbath ceases
to be holy day it necessarily becomes holi-
day. Worship ceases in any true sense 1t
n ANN ont and hat
means self indulgence and that vice. Then
also the amusement of one means labor for an
other. The non maintenance of the sacred
ness of the Lords day makes way for selfish
ness and the greed of gain.
The speaker closed with an earness appeal to
his hearers to faithfully guard the sacredness
of the day.
THE STUDY OBJ HISTORY.
The Rev. Henry Blanchard delivered his
lecture on "The Study of History" last even
ing in the First Universalist Church. After
brief Introductory services, Mr.. Blanchard be-
gan BY saying that forty years ago the word
most constantly on the lips of thoughtful men
and women was Culture" Today, the word
most frequently heard is Science" He had
a great respect for science and great esteem
for many of its leaders. He thought, however,
that science received too much attention to
the neglect of literature and history. He
wished, therefore, to speak for the neglected
study. He believed that history would give
more OF the elements of culture than any other
single study. Defining history to be record
of the past, however obtained, from poems,
novels, biographies, pictures, ruins, coins,
newspapers, and the elements of culture to be
vigorous power OF attention, Disciplined
memory, strength of imagination, balanced
Judgment, a knowledge of the thoughts, as
well as the deeds, Of the men of the past, and
an acquaintance with noble lives that inspires
to noble living, he proposed to show that the
study of history would give this culture The
mastery of the details of history evidently re.
quires great attention. This faculty is the basis
of all education, Men differ much in their
power OF attention. They are the masters who
have this vigorously developed. The study of
history will greatly train men in this regard.
This study also largely develops the power of
memory. And this is also one OF the uses of
all culture. To hold as well as to get ia the
important thing. A thorough course of history
will greatly strengthen this much needed fac
uity. The problems presented by the past ex-
ercise the reasoning faculty-they strengthen
the power of judgment. Men of balanced
Judgment are everywhere and always needed.
A study which trains them in this regard la
al important. History also develops mag
ination-a royal faculty and one much needed
lA UAo 0CSuInitAOn VI AlOWi0Qg0 aud IN the
details OF life. Men are often bigots because
they lack magination-cannot put themselves
at the point of view of those from whom they
differ. We must know the past in order to be
guided in the present. Many plans and theo-
ries have been thought of BIZ the men of old.
and their futility discovered through expert
ence. History enables us to become wise.
The men of the present need to study the
lives of the great men of the past The proph-
cts, philosophers, poets, lawgivers, martyrs,
discoveries, inventors, scholars, show men their
own littleness and inspire to noble living. No
culture is worth anything that does not Gull
inmate in noble life. In conclusion the speak
er showed how history taught men that there
is progress from good to better, with prophecy
OF the best, and that it makes its students be-
lieve with Tennyson, in
"That God which ever lives and loves.
One God one law, one element
And one far-off divine event,
To which the whole creation moves'