The Wilmingtonian., 1886-01-30
Sabbath Observance.

Sabbath Observance.
We, in Wilmington, have just passed
| through the throes of an unusually stirring
Temperance commotion. Elsewhere, in
New York, and other centres the Sabbath
observance question is, as the Rev, Heber
Newton said last Sunday, "fairy up before
the community.
Prominent laymen and clelics Of New
York, members of the Sabbath Committee
OF that 3ity belonging to all denominations
met on Sunday evening. Their dictum is =
"The committee as individuals believe in
the maintenance Of the Church and Of the
public observance OF worship, but as body
have no right to enfur e that religious Oh
servance upon the public. They believe the
Sabbath was dyinely appointed, and it is
tile time when body and mind should rest.
The committee must take proper measures
TO resist insidious attacks upon the Sabbath.
and is working quietly and earnestly and
with some measure of success in preventing
the desecration Of the sacred day Of rest.
Archbishop Corrigan seut letter to the
chairman Of the meeting in which he sad:-
AS understand it, the movement for
opening the museums ou Sunday, though
advocated in the interest of the working
classes, is really the entering wedge Of lar
ger aud insidious design which aims at
throwing open also on that day the theatres
drinking saloons and othoY places Of amuse.
ment, and gradually to d. away with every
thing that gives the Sunday sacred char
acter.
If this view be correct. as there is good
reason TO believe it to be, the question be-
comes a very serious one, and deserves
most attentive consideration.
To visit the museums ON Sunday is, in
itself, harmless. To destroy the general
religious observance of Sunday would be a
national calamity. To weaken and endang-
er eyen its sacred character would be most
undesirable, for we all know the tendency
Of human nature, and how hard it is to re-
call the due observance Of the day once the
old landmarks are broken down"
Bishop Doane of Albany made an address
in which he said =
This question of the proper observance Of
the Sabbath has great range and reach.
Man needs this day of rest. The voice OF
God, the voice Of religion, the voice Of hu-
manity and the voice Of the Church say,
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
The only way to secure the humanitarian
part OF it is by religion, We only want it
kept. The manner of its keeping must be
influenced by religion and moral suasion.
We do not want that monstrous tyranny ofla.
days work. The right to rest must not be
nterfered with. We do not want too strict
or straightlaced rules, as it has broken down
under overstrained methods. The danger
Of the drift of desecratou is that after one
thing has been done ct ers may follow. To
open the museums Is in itself harmless, but
when this is DONE to satisfy some people will
you not be compelled to open the theatres to
satisfy others? Museums mean theatres,
and theatres, factories We ought to exact
as little work from the laboring class as
possible and consistent We sho uld advo-
cate natural recreation, such as fresh air, as
agnst the artificial recreation of museums
and theatres. The sale of liquor on Sunday
must be prevented. The early closing move
ment and the Saturday halEholiday must
not be lost sight Of. They will do much
toward proper observance of the Sabbath.
Museums can be seen at night and they
should then be opened. Our churches should
be made more attractive and the stranger
received at all times with hearty well
come"
General Er ckenridge of Sou hern fame,
then followed, much in the same strain, but
making an eloquen4ly touching appeal for
toil-worn, foot-weary, heait-sick humanity.
He said 3
Our heritage is a heritage Of sweat of the
brow, sweat of the brain and sweat of the
heart, and il is crown. The race needs and
must have periodic roSt Work to be well
done also requires It. The family relation
calls for the preservation Of the Sabbath. Il
is the only day which the exigences Of civil
lization gives laborer to know his wife and
children. We need just that to teach us the
necessities of life Opening the museums
you may say is minor matter, but thers
cannot be any minor matter in concatena.
ted system. You cannot tell how the sharp
edged rock will div dc when you begin tc
tamper with the basis Of the great super
structure. Every piece OF work on Sunday
connects itself with every other piece 0
work. You cannot remove 4 single barrie
now existing without danger. Tho obsery
auce Of the Sabbath must be maintained
and it will be. ="
Other speakers followed, including Di
Howard Crosby.