Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-08
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
The sshJscs Disessssa N she Minister'S Asss-
eiatsea Yesterday

eiatIea Yesterday
Tho meeting of the Association OF
the Evangelical Ministers OF Richmond
and Manchester at the rooms OF the
Young Mems Christian Association at
IL NJ. yesterday was largely attended,
about thirty being present. Friend j.
B. Crenshsw, vice-prcsident. presided.
4 letter from the president, DIR. Hoge,
expressing regret that he was neces-
sarily absent, was read. Devotional
exercises were conducted by Mr.. Cren-
shaw. The subject for discussion was,
"what Can We Do to Secure the Bet
ter Observance Of the Lords Day?"
DR.. Drew and Rev. II. c. CheathaIn
were announced as the chosen speakers
to open the discussion.
Rev. Ii. c. Cheatham was introduced
as the first speaker. He claimed that
the overthrow Of the Sabbath Is the
overthrow of our Christian civilization.
He presented in startling array the
multitude of enemies that threaten the
obliteration of our sacred day. Sun
day trains, Sunday excursions, Sunday
newspapers, etc., were given promi-
nence. But as the greatest enemy he
emphasized the man who, elected by
our votes, paid by our money, and
sworn on the Evangelists TO keep and
enforce the laws, not only boldly vio-
late the law, but teach men so." He
held that it was ,he duty of oil good
men to make issue with the enemy and
contest every point-make no conces-
sions. II is better to stand too straight
than not to stand at all. We are able
to meet the issue on the field Of honest
discussion with arguments that should
win.
The pulpit must sound out the truth
on this question. The Sabbath school
must graduate from its classes strong
defenders of this stronghold of our
blessed civilization and liberty. We
must move to secure the enforcement
Of our Sabbath laws, and where the
law is defective secure such amend
ments as shall make them available in
enforcing the cessation Of unnecessary
labor on the Sabbath.
lie insisted that granddaughter must
be educated to see that every violation
of the law by corporations or private
citizens is promptly presented. We
must also see that men elected to en-
act laws, to occupy the bench as judges,
and to represent the Commonwealth as
prosecutors of those who do evil, are
themselves good men and qualified to
be "terror to evil-doers."
The speaker insisted that the hottest
battle in defence of the Sabbath is to
be fought against the party of the sa-
loon and the distillery.
Mr. Cheatham closed as follows:
Let us not he ashamed or driven from our
| purpose by the sneer OF the worldling or
scoFner. Let us not cover at the charge OF
| puritanism. The sabbath We contend for
| WAS the sabbath of Oliver Cromwell and
| his Ironsldes. who broke the power OF ty-
| ranuy and taught the world some Of Its
| gTandest ideas In regard To civil and reli-
| giOus liberty. IL was the Sabbath OF John
| Hampden and his co-patriots. II was tho
DdiH Oh hCIlhIu BhAltE anu uls Npeltll-
gionists. IL was the sabbath Of the Puritan
fathers, who for civil and religious liberty
| forSook home. friends, country, aud posses
siOns and dared stormy seas and lnhosplta-
BILE shores II is the sabbath under which
the English speaking races have made their
greatest moral progress. IL Is the sabbath
under the blessings OF which the founda-
tions OF our Government were laid; the
Sabbath In the light OF which our Constltu-
tion was written; the Sabbath under the
benign influence OF which we have grown
TO he a powerful and prosperous people. IL
was the Sabbath strictly and faithfully OBJ
served by Thomas Jonathan Jac ckson, the
memory Of whose patriotism and bravery.
whose heroism and piety, VIII linger among
the people like the odor OF precious otnt-
ment in the air as long as the ages last.
A motion was made and carried to
make the subject Of yesterday the sub
ject for the next meeting that there
may be a fuller discussion and some
practical action taken.
DR.. J. William Jones made some state
| ments concerning the present laws which
allow freight trains carrying perisha-
bic freight to run on Sunday.
A committee was appointed-Drs.
Howison, Landrum, and Bledsoe-to
present to the next meeting paper
setting forth the viewsssof this Associa-
ton on the Sabbath question in practi.
cal form.