The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-28

adapted 70 MS nature, ana IS INTENDED
to influence the character of every in
stitution of man. This nation was
established by Sabbath respecting COM
munity, and large per cent. of the people
yet believe IN the binding force of our text We
are essentially Christian Nation and all sub
jects oughtto be loyal to our principles. / am
aware this is denied by many who would reyo
lutiOnize existing institutions turn the dial of
civilization back to the midnight of the middle
ages, and throw contempt upon our history and
traditions.
ut is urged that as there is in the United States an
entire separation Of church and state it is contrary
to the genius of institutions to enforce the OBJ
of the Sabbath by the civil law. The State
has nothing to do with religion.
'Itisfurthermore urged that all men haveequal
rights and that the state has no right to re-
quire one man to conform to the religious be-
liefs of another. This may be answered by say
ing the state must have some religion. 1t is in
mans nature. The history of the past and the
facts of the present prove this proposition
Fundamental to Justice there must
be standards of right and wrong.
Religion of some sort gives us these standards
and no government is stable without them. The
better, the truer the religion the better the
standards of right and wrong This govern
ment has acted wisely in embodying the moral
principles of the Christian religion into it's Con-
stitution, institutions and organic law. Our
government may not teach religious principles,
but it must respect them just as it respects the
rights of private property, leaving each individ-
ual to accumulate that property according 10 his
own liking provided it is gotten lawfully A
civil government can not ignore religion any
more than physiology. 1t was not constituted to
teach either the one or the other, but it must by
like necessity, conform its action to the laws of
both.
! The opposers of Sabbath observance have
nothing to offer this Nation to insure it's stabli-
ty in place of that which it now has There is
nothing that elevates and reconstructs a people
like Christianity Itleads to virtue, prosperity
and safety, while the opposite course leads to vice
and destruction. To claim the protection ofour
flag and yet break the established laws of a
fundamental principle which upholds those laws,
is to do very much as the viper which poisoned
IKE man who warmed it in his bosom. The
state owes the civil Sabbath to God hence the
duty is enioned upon every one claifnngthe pro
lection of the state
The design of the day foreshadows the man
ner in which 1t shall be observed. Man must
cease from all the ordinary occupations of the
week Ii he cares nothing for this holy day, he
must abstain from such vacations as will inter
fere with those who do. If there is any body of
people, native-born or naturalized, who do not
respect the law of the land and the traditions of
the people, let them seek places more agreeable
to their tastes. The thief might possibly object
to the law which binders him in his business; so
might the pirate or the counteffeiter. The
American communist must learn that
law is sacred, and that the hypo-
critical spI5x rt cry f liberty is right
I wish to call attention to some practical
opposition to the proper observance of the
Sabbath
l. The first direct violation of this command
ment is very common in this city. I refer to
the custom of our saloon keepers keeping open
doors when the law requires them to be closed
tSee acts 18T7-So.) This has been affirmed by
the courts tSee Carey VS.. The State, May term,
1881 Yet the doors are OPEN and men patron
ize them with reckless bravado, while our
esteemed Metropolitan police are unable to con
troll them. 1t appears to me that either the
baser elements of society are about to assume
control of American institutions or else the
moral and law.abiding citizens are sleeping while
the vicious play. Civil and divine law are pow
erless in this progressive age and civilized Ma
ton. There is q spirit coming into our midst
brought from continental Europe, which would
secularize the Sabbath, debauch the peo-
ing the people Of every nation un--
der our flag but like the ancient
Hebrews who bowed down to the gods of the
heather who came among them, we are adopt
ing their habits and atheism. Shall we go over
to them or shall we bring them to our ways of
thinking9 We are allowing ourselves to be en-
shaved with customs and crimes which will re-
qulre blood and the sword to break
q Another speeter has arisen and defied the
law. refer to the national game of ''base ball !"
. 1t was not enough that an invigorating game
should marry the strumpet gambling, and tarry
with wine bibbers, but it must desecrate the
Sabbath day. I am fond of the game; but l
must protest against the prostitution of good
thing. No excuse can be offered for this shame
less crime of profaning holy day. Base ball
has taken up its abode with the brothel, the
gambler, the law breaker and the commune.
Some of the commandments are Thou shalt
not kill thou shalt not steal;P thou
shalt not commit adultry;" remember
the {, Sabbath day to keep it holy
1t is sin to break any one Of these command
ments. Decency has been outraged. There is