Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-18
N0LAB0R ON SUNDAY
DEMAND FOR ONE DAY OF REST IN
EACH WEEK.
Newspaper. street-cars, Railroad Trains,
&C, Discussed by the state conven-
tion-Resolutions Passed.

The Christian Sabbath Observance Con-
vention, ia IFS second days session, met in
Grace.Siroet Presbyterian church at 1910
o'olock Yesterday morning-fte Few. w. 4.
Hatcher, d. D.. president, in the chair.
Rev Dr. w. L. Judklns, ofthe Methodist
church. read a selection from the Scriptures
and Rev. James T.. smith, OF the Presbyte.
rlan (harch, led In PRAYER.
gEY. JOHN POLLARD, D. D.
The fr.i subject taken up for discussion
was "Iocsl Assocutions.' and Rev. DR..
Pollard. oi Richmond College, was iniro'
duced ss the trst speaker.
The Doctor said the only initmation he had
received that he was expected 10 address the
convention WAS through the newspapers. IL
wass vcry grave subject the meeting bad 10
deal with. Tor " a insn has no sunday there
IL no hope for his SOUL He supposed tnat
hv local associations were meant Organiza-
tions IN ,he cities aud towns 10 create
feeling in behalf OF q better Observance
% The Lords dsy. Whether Il is advisable
TO have these organizations depends upon
another question. As soon as the Christians
begin 20 work the devil will wake up aud
marshal bis forces. II we are not prepared
20 work we had better not wake up, or else
The devil will take the field. II we are pre-
pared for long sud hard fight, all right and
good for rs. such organizations may then
cause "a better observance OF the sabbath.
N ORGANIZATION Is STRENGTH.
What is eyerybody's business, said the
speaker. is generally nobody's bDsiness-
one feels no special obligation 10 take the
burden upon himself. II you have an assO.
ciAtion its members will feel that II is their
duty 10 look after this work. In legislation
we should be very particular to do just the
rieht and proper thing. We may get some
good laws in perfect harmony with religious
freedom. Legislators are sent to execute the
viii 81 the people, and unless we can create
feeling in favor OF better Sabbath laws and
can send men to speak 10 Our representatives
who are backed by some strong body it will
be useless TO attempt such thing.
PUBLIC oPIMoS.
An officer Of the law must feel that the
Will Of the people Is upon his side when he
executes the law.
Let them know that the will OF the people
is upon their side and then they will show
no hesitancy in executing the laws upon the
S;atute-books.
CHRISTIAN AND SINNER.
But. said the Doctor, we cannot get the
people Of the world TO ssnctiiy the LORDS
day until the Christsns themselves do so.
We should consider how we can get people
Of The Church to keep the sabbath. II
Christian man keeps his drugstore open 10
sell drugs on Sunday and then sells tobacco,
cigars, aud cigarettes, The sSloon-koeper, who
lsnOt church member. will keep his bar
room open. We should first get the churches
right and all will work well.
WILLIAM c. PRESTON, ESQ.
The next subject taken up was "The
Sabnfh Laws Of Virginia; How Executed
and What Additional Legislation is
Needed" and William &. Preston, Esq, OF
the Richmond bar. was introduced as the
first speaker.
Mr. Preston began his address by quoting
from the Code the laws in regard to the sab
bath, which. he snd, were very few. The
law gives the railroad companies almost un-
restricted right TO ran trains on Sunday, 10
80 many trains are "excepted " in the law.
The statute permits those who believe in
the observance OF the seventh day OF the
week instead Of the first day the night 10 OBJ
serve II according TO their faith. The law
IN regard 10 selling liquor on sunday is very
effective, and is well enforced.
SUNDAY DRUGsrOREs.
p speaking of the evils which exist and
which tbe law has not reached, Mr.. Preston
said that great msny things can be pur-
chased in drugstOres on Sunday besides
0flEA MS ~ NOT iUt thNt WIN MI NINK~
glsts. FOR many OF them will only sell their
medicines on the Lords day. but still 3
great mauy others do not observe this rule.
Llyery-stables are violating the Law, for
there is only one lveryman I'm the state
who will not hire his teams out on the Sab
bath.
TIE RAILROADS.
Railrosd-rDen are the most condemned for
Sunday work. While some roads observe
the law others do not. The easiness to evade
the law is probably the cause Of some OF the
vlolstions Of the statute. The Common
wealth's attorneys in the state are pOwerless
10 enforce the law as it now stands.
LEGISLATION NEEDED.
In regard TO legislation needed Mr.. Preston
said be sgreed with Dr. Pollard that il was
Impossible 10 work unless we are backed up
ly public opinion. We must prove tbat the
laws we want are for the good OF society.
The Legislature OF Virginia has no right TO
pass 8 law because it is a law Of God. What
sn individual says should be enacted because
80 is from God, and therefore good for socie-
ty, will have 70 effect upon the lawmakers.
To say that law will make individuals
better Is not sufficient. We cannot legislate
10 make q man attend church. We have no
right 10 say he shall leave his home and 60
90 worship on the Lords day. The laws
which we have made for the good OF So
c.Ctyan Christianity have nothing TO do with |
them. They were not enacted because they
aye Christian laws, and when we 90 10 the Le-
rislature and ask for new laws don't ask for
such so tho name OF Christianity, but for the
good Of the masses.
WORK TO BE DONE.
There is work 70 be done TO create tho !
public sentiment We desire, Public senti- |
mout gave US the right TO vote upon local |
option. and though the sale Of whiskey was !
not prohibited In Richmond this public sem |
tiisent has bad a wonderful effect.
The speaker said that few years ago |
man could get a drink at almost any bar |
room over a space OF fifteen squares in GER |
tain portion OF the city, but now you can't |
get drop OF liquor ST one OF these places on |
Sunday. The man who violates the liquor /
Law is speedily dealt with.
THE KIND OP LAW.
The speaker said he would recommend
that the laws we ask for be Of a special rather
than general character Don't say any
thing about works OF charity, for judges and
Jurors will ditler as 10 what shall be con-
slrutd S. charity.
TIE SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS.
Turning to the press, Mr. Preston said that
there IS not country In the world where the
press Is allowed such freedom as Ia this.
ILt the papers violate the Sabbath law.
Printers are made 20 work upon this day or
lose their positions. This is not a work OF
necessity. IL Is not necessary 10 lay paper
~ mans door on Sunday. This Sunday.
newspaper business causes n ore decoration
Of the Sabbath than any one thing, and the
press should be suppressed when 1t goes be-
yond the limits.
STREEINCARs
There is no necessity for street-cars or the
Sabbath. and the public should ssy whether
this business should continue or not.
They do not hsul people 10 church, but
haul many from the churches. They are
not obliged 10 run 10 carry people 10 the
country, for mau can walk from any point
IN Richmond 10 the country IN fifteen min
utes. Yet the city ordinance says that the