The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-07-19

were exhausting, in simple repose; by a
third, who labored with his brains during
the week, in bodily exercise. Whatever was
found to refresh the mind and body. to en-
able the better bearing of the burthens OF
life, and to raise one above mere mechani-
cal existence, was proper to be lone on
the Sabbath-was holy and incumbent
upon people. IF a man found himself the
better for a walk in the park
on Sunday, if that was the rest his
body and spirit needed, he should take it.
Yet he understood that there were move
ments, even associations Of ministers, look
ing toward the closing of the park and
Geological Garden on Sunday, and even
the Incorporation of Sabbatarian ideas in
our national constitution. He could not
conceive any justification for such efforts,
not the first ground for any such interfer-
enee existed. In view Of all the circum-
stances of what the park is and may be to
so many. he could not understand how its
closing could be contemplated IN Sunday,
the day of days when the only opportunity
cane to the masses of enjoying its beau
ties and reaping its benefits. What, close
the beautiful park? He did not know that
it would be any more a violation of the
Sabbath to close all the churches on that
day.
This whole Sabbatarian crusade rested on
a misconception-an error. There was no
authority, divine or human, for any special
observance of Sunday. The change from
the observance of the seventh to the first
day of the week had no recognition in any
law of the church or of the people. it had
come about gradually at first. The disci-
pies of Jesus met on the first day Of the
week possibly only for an hour to COM
memorate the rising of their master from
the tomb. They kept the ordinary Sab
bath then, but gradually as the spirit of
Christianity became more diffused the old
Jewish Sabbath with it's restrictions gave
place to the Christian Sabbath. 1t was
monstrous to seek 70 burden Gods ''rest
day with human impositions. Whatever
interfered with any mans rest is a viola
ton of that day. Meeting together for
social worship on this day was as good a
use as he could conceive for a part of it,
but it should not be made wearisome by
its frequency Or imposed as a duty. One
service participated in rightly was better
than a Thousand gone through formally.
A service that refreshed and helped a per-
son was of great value, but if only a sense
of WEAKNESS were experienced then par
ticipation should be abandoned. Unfortu-
nately, it was too true that many services
were to many partlcipators only ediou
and wearisome, and did not assist a proper
observance of the Sabbath. Those who
felt them to be such should stay away.
Their attendance was downright hypocrisy
and a violation of their duty to ~ssrest.o
Sabbath observance, the Doctor in effect
contended. was wholly al individual re-
sp~onsibiiity. Each must observe it in ae-
cordance with his actual needs, and be
honest with himself in his manner of tax
ing the incuieated rest Only two things
should be observed as modifying the indi-
yidual liberty. No kind of excess should
be INDUCED in, either of church going, or
reading, or walking, or eating, or drinking.
Excess in any way was harmful, not rest
full. and therefore a violation by the in
dulger of the Sabbath. The ones rest
should be so taken as to interfere as little
as possible with other peoples right of
rest. Domestics should especially be al
lowed as much of the day for their own
use as practicable. Beyond these two re-
strietions he knew of none to individual
liberty in the manner of observing the
Sabbath.