The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-27
THE DAY MADE FOR MAN.
Sermons by Three Preachers Condemn
ing Sunday Labor Demonstrations.
The Annual Harvest Home Celebration by the
First Baptist Church Sunday School
Services at Other Churches.
MANS DAY OF REST.


Diseourses Yesterday by Presbyterian Preach
ers on the Observance OF Sunday.
Rev. Dr. James McL.eod's sermon yesterday
morning at the Second Presbyterian Church was
aased upon the text 1.-THE Sabbath was made
for man."-Mark ii, o. He said that among
Christians the Sabbath question always occupied
q conspicuous place l. was great question in
the time of Christ, in the time Of the Reforma-
ton, and is a great question to-day. The views
held by The Pharisees respecting Sabbath OBJ
servance differed widely from those of Christ,
but not more widely, perhaps, than some Of the
views held nowadays. The rnarisaic Sabbath
never was made for man. There was in 1t a
spiritual slavery, where there should have been
religious LID y. Our Lord frequently violated
the pharsaic Sabbath. He rebuked their relig-
ious martinetism, and showed how truly they
had misconceved the principle which lies at the
foundation Of a right observance of the Sabbath.
To the pharisaic mind it must have seemed that
man was made for the Sabbath, while Christ
clearly conceived that the Sabbath was made for
man. Il must be, therefore. that man has
right to the Sabbath to the rest it brings to him.
and to use it for the high and holy end for which
il was designed
Christ said, in effect to His followers for all
time, keep the Sabbath by all means, but do
not keep it TO override justice and mercy" He
shows US how the moral and spiritual elements
may be buried out of sight underneath a cold
and formal ceremoniaism. He would have His
followers understand that works of charity and
mercy are entitled to precedence in all that
eeems best in Gods commands. He justified
His followers when they plucked the ears of
corn on that Sabbath and began to eat. 1t was
In the spirit of the Lords day, and In these
words is found the spirit of Sabbath observance
for all Christians. He came to make manifest
60 the sons of men its true significance
There are tens Of thousands of citizens
who entertain very loose notions about the Sab.
bath, and what is even more to be regretted, the
secular press in many instances entertains
tions quite as loose Referring to the thousands
who marched through the streets last Sabbath,
and to the sports in which they INDUCED, of
our city newspapers was bold enough to ask, care
the workinRmen to blame for making holiday
OF the SabbathP and proposed that the pulpit
discuss that question. Well, on that subjecS
the pulpit certainly should have something to say.
Man Cid not make the Sabbath It was made
for him. 1t was made with Adam, and existed
tong before Moses brought forth the Decalogue.
"God rested Oh the seventh day and hallowed it /"
True twas changed from the seventh dav to the
first; but it was changed by the Lord Of the Sab
bath, and He who made it had rig hit to change
it. 1t was changed for good reason-to COM
memorate His resurrection. The Sabbath was
made for man. It was made to benefit him phys
ically, morally aud spiritually, and, where
rightly observed, il has benefited man in all
these particulars. The very word Sabbath
means rest. And it just as strongly enjoins
work during the other six days of the week, aud
no man can rightly enjoy the benefits that God
intended to give who does not work with hand
brain during the week. Six days shalt thou
work Is just strongly enjoined as that the sew
III hall ha daw nf Tha dc NJ
the working man seem to have lost sight of that
fact when they urge that five days work is
enough for the week. And they think if this is
denied the working men that they are not TO be
blamed If they turn the Lords DAY into snort
I've holiday. God is the laboying mans friend if
he has friend anywhere il creation. He de-
signed this day, not merely for rest, but for
meditation. for making life purer and better, for
communion with the Father and for preparing
for that rest which remains for the people of
God.
The day was made for man. not that he might
keep it as he chose, but to keep it as God de-
signed it should be kept There have always
been strange views in connection with this topic
always been those who could not see clearly.
IT was discussed in the apostolic age, and has
been discussed ever since. That all men are
ander obligation to keep 1t has not been denied
by any Christian teacher. Some have advocated
stricter observance than others, but its due OBJ
5ervance Is unquestioned.
Modern society is 80 constituted that some men
must work on the Sabbath if they would keep
their situations and support their families. II
bave talked with some of them, and God knows
have pltied them, as they have had TO trudge
TO their work on Sunday as well on Saturday.
While railroads are run. furnaces kept going.
newspapers printed, and while saloons are kept
open on the Sabbath, great many men must
work on this holy day. To this seventh por-
ton of time every man is entitled; if he can
not have 1t on Sunday, let it be Saturday,
or some other day. Every man cannot observe
a fcnlv ANtn tsnt AE khn al
The people of China, California and elsewhere
do not observe it exactly when we do. If any
employer will deprive. willfully, any man of the
blessings OF this day. or any man willfuly de-
prive himself, he sins against God and against
his own soul, and for his sin he must, one day,
render an account No man is under obligation
TO make it day of gloom and sadness; and
while it is not to be day of amusement it is to
be day in which to do good deeds day to re-
joice and be glad in. 1t is q day to give to the
mind rest, opportunity to worship God and bring
one closer and closer to the Redeemer of his
soul Church, State press and pulpit should
join hand aud heart in preserving the Christian
Sabbath, and should cry out loudly against its
proclamation.
REV. r. V. HUNTER ON SUNDAY PICNICS.
Rev. r. V. Hunter, of the Seventh Presby-
eerian Church, addressed large congregation
last evening on Sunday Picncs' He spoke
from the text, What evil thing is this ye do to
profane the Sabbath dayl'-Nehemah xiii, IT.
The Sabbath question, he said, is of the
greatest questions with which the American peo-
pie have to deal 1t was at the very foundation
of civilization and morality. To give I'D the
American Sabbath is to relinquish hold upon
morality and a high civilization, and it will
eventually undermine religion. Rest provided
for by the Sabbath is necessary to mans constr
tuition.
History proves that religion cannot exist
without Sabbath. and not even decent moral
ity In proof Of this proposition, he gave as ex-
amples many of the countries of the world where
religion has not gained foothold and in none
of them is the Sabbath observed" Continuing
he said, God rested the seventh day in his work
OF creation. The condition of the laboring
classes is worst in those countries where the
Sabbath is not observed In the empire of Rus
ala, where there is no Sabbath the poor are re-
dueed to abiect noyertvn