Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-20
SABBATH REST CONVENTION.
The Opening Exercises in the First II. E.
Church-The Speeches.

another hymn was sung. Rev. Love then
read a chapter from the Hebrews after
which several short prayers were offered.
The opening address was then delivered
by Rev. 5. L. Hamilton, president of
Wichita Ministerial association. The
reverend gentleman said that his remarks
could hardly be termed an opening ad-
dress as he would say no more than
was necessary to explain the object
OF the convention. Mr.. Hamilton
then went on TO describe the way the Sab
bath was observed. Passing from this he
said that all forces had been united to-
ward the closing of all places Of labor or
business and the cessation Of all kinds of
secular LABOR on the Lords day. He then
dwelt on what had been done by church
organizations in the east-the appointing
OF committees, ETC., for the purpose Of
proper observance of the Sabbath. ''These
committees" said the speaker, met and
corresponded with each other on this
theme and thereby gained considerable
attention throughout that part of the
United States. This led to a meeting on
the 18th day Of last December held in
Washington City, for the purpose Of the
organization of the American Sabbath
Union. The meeting lasted several
days and such interest was shown
in it that the different COM
mittees or delegates were astonished.'
The speaker then talked for short time
on the Sunday rest BILL which has been
presented to congress by Senator Blair, and
the different things which this bill pro-
poses to abolish on Sunday. He then used
as illustrations the ups and downs of slav-
cry and the liquor question to show the
battle which would be fought in this coun-
try over proper observance of the Sab
bath. Upon the close OF Rev. Hamiton's
address Rev. j. W Love read the call for
the convention. so that it would be shown
plainly who had a right to vote for officers.
Continuing, Mr.. Love spoke for few min
utes on the objects of the meeting after
which he asked that the convention APP
point permanent chairman or president.
The Rev. Sabin arose and moved
that Mr.. Fleming, state superintend
ent of missions, be made permanent
chairman. The motion carried and Mr..
Fleming on taking the chair returned his
thanks for the honor the members OF the
conferred on him.
Rev. E. A. White was then appointed
secretary and Rev. Monroe, vice-presdent.
A committee of three, consisting of
Revs. Love, Monroe and NIilliken, on Gre
dentials
A committee of three on resolutions was
then appointed The committee consists
of Revs. Ii. c. Marshall, j. w. Fisher and
j. c. Post.
A motion was made that committee of
: H.
Matter laid over until this morning.
Moved by Rev. Marshall that opening
addresses be limited to thirty minutes and
other speeches to five minutes. The regu- |
lar program was then taken up.
Rev. w. l.. Seabrook, of this city, then |
spoke on 1.-THE Physical Sabbath In the
course of his speech he used several illus
trations from real life. There was consid- |
cradle force and eloquence in Mr.. Sea-
brooks speech. The following is extracted !
from it:
If were called upon to preach sermon |
on this topic, | should take for my text |
Mark 2-27-'The Sabbath was made for |
man." and by way of introduction would |
quote thu words of Dr. Schaff: at is the |
divine gift to man, which, when accepted |
and properly used, contributes to mans |
physical, moral and intellectual happiness
and welfare, and gives a foretaste of the
saints everlasting rest in heaven" 1t is
not for me to discuss the subject in all its |
bearings, but | must confine myself to a |
brief consideration of the subject of the |
sabbath as related to mans physical con-
and to its moral and spiritual |
bearing, only as Incidental thereto.
The true and full meaning of the Sab
bath is to be known only from the word of |
God, but the law is wrii ten in physiology
and in all nature as well as on the divine |
page.
God created the world in six days and !
rested on the seventh, and therefore
blessed and hallowed that day on which
his work was complete, and as a sign of
their covenant between them and their
sod, the people, whom he has consocrated
TO himself, are also to observe day of rest
after every six days of labor, the human
life is to be a copy of divine life: not to run
>n in reSulJless circles of labor, but as the
great German author Oehler puts it, 'to
.erminate in a happy harmony of ex-
Stence'
There was no significance in the Sab
oath except as seventh day preceded by
TX days of labor The first par5 of the
command found in the verse Exodus CHI
20 to hallow the Sabbath day, is equally a
Command, Six days shalt thou labor"
The saying, IN the sweaty of thy face
halt thou eat bread" remains in force.
The Sabbath rest Is intended, therefore, |
rot simply to Sanctify the works
IF our calling in life by the end toward |
which they tend, but also to prevent self
exhaustion in earthly labor, or as keil
Bib. Archael | p. 1922 puts it, AS a cor
'CctiYe OF the injury arising from that Sc
-ere and burdensome labor, the result of
he curse. which tends TO ALLEVIATE man
rom God
1t is difficult for one. who belives in the
1 -. l.
upon it as something more than mere
est day, Il day Of holy rest-a day of relig-
Gus worship-a day specifically dedicated
o God and the soul. day when religion
$ to be the chief business, the day that
Tod has bIesSed-the day when works of
necessity and acts of mercy may De per-
ormed, but on which worldly occupations
ire to be put as far as possible form our
thoughts, to separate the mere physiolog-
cal idea of the Sabbath from this higher
dea.
But as l have said the law of the Sabbath
5 written III all nature, in the physical
oustitution of all that lives and moves,
uSt as truly as on the divine page. and
his fact has been recognized by the worst
uemicS Of the Christian Sabbath. Con-
iderSd from Utllltarlan standpoint. even
he Old Testament Sabbatic ordinances :
ave found no more eloquent eulogisJ than
he Communist ProudhOn. The French
were so thoroughly
atiSfied that day of rest was physically
Necessary at regularly recurring intervals.
hat when they blaSphemoUSiy aboiised
he Sabbath they substituted for it a de-
AIDE. making every tenth day, not a holy
ay. bat holiday Il i an interesting
act in this connection that their human
Institution was found TO be poor substi-
ute for the divine and that a day OF rest
sch tenth Gay was insufficient, and the
hange poor policy.
Mans physical constitution requires a
-, Of rasr Hold he haar, rIy- CON |