The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-30
THE DAY OF REST.
Rev. 1. w. Read breaches on the Prop
er Observance of Sunday.


At the First Baptist church last even
ing, Rev. l. W. Read preached an able
sermon on "The Proper Observance of
the Lords Day" His text was from
Marx, s;27, and a synopsis of the dis
course is given:
There is abundant evidence for week
ly day of rest and worship. II we look
at history we may sec how men have
prospered in consequence of this fact,
Physiology speaks plainly in favor of the
day, while mental philosophy makes no
uncertain sound as to its demands. Nor
ality speaks in most eloquent terms of its
vast benefits to humanity. Law, as she
wields the seepter of justice, says the day
must be kept, or serious consequence will
follow. Economy lifts her voice in favor
of tine day. saying that its recognition is
demanded from economic principles.
The bible, that by which all questions
ought to be, aud will be settled by aud by,
makes no uncertain statements upon this
question. The day must be properly OBJ
served in order to secure the blessings
which will naturally follow from its rec
ognition.
First. There are physical reasons for
the observance of the Lords day. Rest
is an absolute necessity. He who will not
rest must be sooner or later physical
| wreck. There is abundant evidence OF
| the truthfulness of this statement, 1t
has been proven beyond question that
uorEipn mon ara chortar lived than thoce
| who do not labor so hand. The physical
being demands periodical time for recu
peration. Over six hundred physicians
said In petition few years ago, Your
| petitioners are convinced that a seventh
| day of rest Is essential to the bodily
health of men in every station OF life.
This has been proven beyond controver-
sy time and time again. The rest and re-
taxation of the Lords day comes rs "a
bored herd all the week
Second; Mental reasons for its observ
ance. The mind will rebel against a too
heavy strain. Like a chain which is of
sufficient strength to endure certain
strain. if overtaxed, will snap. The
same is true with the mental faculties of
man. Go just little too far if the mind
has had all it can do, it will rebel either
IN insanity or death Rest becomes TO
the mind what it is the body-a necessi-
ty. The Lords day is needed for mental
reflection and change. These both come
by the recognition of the demands of this
day. 1t is positive rest to the mind
taxed all the week, to find one day for re-
ligious thought and reflection. Wilber-
force said that he never could have sus-
tanned himself had it not been for the
change and rest of the Lords day.
Third; Moral reasons for the Lords
day observance These are abundant,
| two of which will be mentioned. U.
The observance of the Lords day is
adapted to teach morality. This may be
seen in a variety of ways. Compare this
country with others where everything
went haphazzsrd in regard to this day,
and mark the difference. Look at Greece
and Rome; they had no day entering
into the moral life of the nations. as does
our Lords day Debauchery, riot, licen-
licusness, and every form of vice ran
riot in those nations. This was because
they had no day which would give moral
tone to their society or government.
The day teaches morality by calling at
tention TO God, and putting van
upon any who shall desecrate it By
violation of the laws by which it
i, governed. (2l. The enforcement of civil
laws on the Lords day is essential 10
purity of government, to social perfec
tion and to the highest good of the COM
munity. This statement. think will be
accepted by any one who is not so fully
covered with prejudice that he cannot
see point. This last proposition touches
us at home in this city. The purity Of
the government of this city is only in
name, for certainly the facts would not
carry out the idea of purity. Remember,
am only speaking OF the enforcement of
the laws on Sunday. Some of the BAR
bers tried to have the law enforced rela'
tive to their business and could not do
it. A petition sent into the council and
signed by several of these gentlemen,
failed for want of adequite support. Sa'
looms are run in open violation of law,
without anything being done BY our
police force. | believe in the enforce
ment of the laws that we have and this
enforcement evidently belongs to our city
officials. raise my voice, and enter my
protest against the slackness seen in this
enforcement of our Sunday laws.
Fourth; The enforcement Of the OBJ
servance of the Lords day is necessary
to the good of the people religiously.
mean in this the willing recognition OF
all the demands of the day of rest. Re-
ligiously it is of the greatest Importance
o.. Religion must have time for its con
sideration, and that time is the day sci
, apart among all civilized nations, the frs
day of the week No time is so appro-
pirate for the special consideration of the
great theme of human destiny as the day
which commentaries the resurrection OF
Jesus, the founder of Christianity. Every
thing else has times for special consider
alton. and so must Christianity. e
Religion must have time for the wor-
ship of its author. l do not mean tina
one cannot worship God at any time o.
) in any place, but in order that there bt
special united worship a time fixed i!
essential. By this means Him whom WI
serve as master is brought to the atten-
ton of the people (3). The time thu
given must be one day in seven, accord
ing to the manifest design Of the Lord
By this there is seen a sacredness which
makes the day more than any ordinary
days, and gives it an influence which
other days do not have. l believe in thu
Lords day as day of rest and worship
; believe in it as day to which civil all
e thorty attaches the greatest Importance
8 For this reason | am in favor of compel
ing recognition of its claims according tt
: the laws of our state. In closing,
want to lay down this proposition: Re
ligion and morality prosper where tn
5 Lords day is observed, and immoralit
, and irreligion prevail where this day i
disregarded. Study the history of tn
world and see if this statement is no
true. If it is true, then what is our dut
| in relation to it? This is simple ques