The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-04-02
Sunday Laws.


since, Il full report Of which appeared
n the Nashville American Of the 2Olh
ullimo. lie began by saying;
| shall not take Il text tonight, for
there is no text IN the Bible that by
logical construction bears upon the sub
ject, except, perhaps, the following
let 10 man therefore Judge you IN
meat, or in drink, or in respect OF any
holy day, or Of the new moon, or OF the
SlGlari," (Col. ii, 49,; or, perhaps,
tic fulloaing (Rom. xiv, 3, g.: "OneI
cs,cemoth one day above another,
another cstcemcth every day alike.
Let every man lie fully persuaded in his
oan mind. lie that rcgardcth the
day rcgardc;h it Unto the Lord he
that rcgardclh not tie day to The Lord,
he doth not regard it." Taking into
consideration the obviously intended
meaning Of this language it sounds very
hcrilical, and | pledge my word that !
viii not .ay anything tonight more o.
trnsi,e to the seli.cuust.tutcd defenders
Of the sunday law than this language Is
if honestly interpreted. The frstrcqul-
site to talking scnsihly upon any sub
icct is for II man - know what he Is
talking about. The question Of the ma
ture and ublila ION O.! the Christian sun
day has been one Of great interest and
considerable study to me for The past
six or eight years, and | haze come to
come conclusions that are based upon
facts and in perfect harmony with the
opinions Of almost s,h0iars' upon tins
subject. There are scores Of the best
and most enlightened ministers in all
the churches vino believe exactly as !
do on this subject, but are silent be-
cause they are afraid Of being pitched
ont or browhcalen out Of their churches
by the ignorant if they speak. One Of
the greatest yoCng preachers in the
. Prrshytcrian Church was invited three
years ago 10 leave that denomination
because he vcnlurcd to tell what he
knew about it, the ground Of the nvl-
tation being not that his views were
false or uuscriptural, hut contrary to
the confession Of faith and catcchisms.
lie then went into II Religious, His
torical, and constitutional! review Of
the question, showing remarkable &C
quaintancc with I'LL the facts and figures
b, necessary to make it most impressive
- sermon, and wound up with the conclu
sion that
The observance Of Sunday ~ II hol
: day is purely religious and convcu
tional custom, based upon cXpedienc
and convenience, and that its Observance
5 is not binding upon any human hein,
whose conscience does not command it
We conclude, CO. That the Observance
Of Sunday rs a Sabbath cannot he NOR
appropriately the subject Of State lcgis
= hlion than can any other question tina
is purely one Of religious opinion. An'
That II Is therefore just aS 'es,''''a'e u
enact n statute enforcing the observance
Of Good Friday, or Christmas day, o
f Lent, or any other day regarded sacrc'
by any porn"n oil the Christian con'n'l
provided such portion Of TIN
A Christian community can secure ma
/ iorty Of the LEGISLATURE.
l ~: nus 'hch p''"!S Us 10 inc GO"
s,Itn'iohal pom, o. V'ew' "h" P'!!"S
,he qn'S'nlnh W '"' c,''; , T.
; ms Tue H ,,n |" '''oc' "I' ,"r'," 'n ~
S"'yoo' u. "V l"''''I'' "' = t,I'',' =;
u" 'h't,'iS','. c''''',''"''o' " '''' o!'S'
''aI """ ''H''''''''o "eS'S' "'" P''''"'
u ''"!c government ''N' u ~ ~ ~ =.
PFoP'5,''o" ""'on no N,"i'' "t' "''
PU'e' 'i"' ''' ~ .''"' '"' ''' "'',5
u S'cn''' " ,'% ,. government, Is '''
P''''c'''h ~ '''y '.'v' '"'Ii"rtrN '' Il"
me p'f'on'i "''' H's q" I,eh'$ % '"'
c'iizon q" mot I''l''' ''."' mere
ronrEV"n'' Il IL" 'h'i cam "' Hs',1', ,
as constitutional or legitimate Nh'c'
docs not have Ter Us ultimate design "N'
or the other o! These th'nF' the pro
lection # the me- property or persona
rights OF the citizen, The state has II
the nature of things and the right an'
is under the obligation to lcgsIa'e upon
all questions affecting life, property an'
liberty She was created for Tie very
purpose Of protecting her creators ii
these respects, This Is the original de-
sign Of all governments, Of whatever
form or nature they may be 1t is most
obviously true, however, OF republican