Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-17
THEDAY Is THELORD'S.
MEETING OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CONVENTION LAST KIgHr.
Officers sElected--Addrssse from Rev Nessrs.
sledd and power-ro-Dsy's
Programme.

GraceStreet Presbyterian church. Among
those from distance were Rev. DR.. II. \.
sledd and Rev. DR.. Joshua Hunter, OF Nor.
folk; Rev. Or. A. Il. Owen, Of Portsmouth;
Rev. {. X. VIM, OF Petersburg; Rev.
L. W. McCorkle, OF Clifton Forge, and Rev.
j. p. Smith, Of Fredericksburg.
Nearly all OF the Richmond pastors were
present.
PRELIMINARY.
Rev. DR.. Hatcher, the temporary presi>
dent OF the convention. called II to order,
alter which the Doxoogv was sung and Dr.
Hatcher led In short prayer.
Rev. Y. r. Kerr, ID. D.. read selection
from the Scriptures. and Rev. Joshua Hum
ter, d. d., OF Norfolk, offered feryent
prayer.
PERMANENT oPFIcERs.
DIR Hatcher stated that the idea OF having
the convention originated some time ago in
the meeting OF the Evangelical Alliance. He
accepted the Office Of temporary president
and the first thing for the convention 10 do
was TO elect permanent officers.
Rev. w. e. Judkins. OF Centenary Metho-
dist church, nominated DR.. Hatcher Tor
president and the Doctor was elected.
The following were nominated for vice.
presidents, and all were elected
Rev. DR.. j. Powell Garland, Of the hetho-
dist Church, by Rev. l.. A. Cutler.
Rev. DR.. A. L. Owen, Of the Bsptlsts, by
Rev. DR.. Kerr.
Rev. j. +. Smith, Of the Presbyterian
Church, by Mr. u. NJ. Qusres.
Rev. Frederick ID. Power. o. Washing
ton, Of the Christian Church, by Rev. DR..
Judkins.
Right Rev. Bishop whittle, of the Epis-
copal Church. by Rev. Dr. John B. Newton.
Rev. j. 5. Moser, Of the Lutheran Church,
by Rev. DR.. Judkins.
Mr.. B. NJ. Qusres was elected secretary
and the newspaper reporters assistant sscre-
taries.
TIE FRONT ROWS.
Rev. W. II. Atwill moved that the front
rows OF pews be reserved for delegates, but
Rev. r. Il. Howison opposed the motion, as
he thought it might probably keep some
people away from the sessions OF the meet
Ings. The motion vast lost.
TIE TOPIC.
nr. Hatcher announced as the first sub
ject for discussion, "The Observance OF the
Sabbath as Duty Toward God"
Rev. DR.. II. n. Sedd, OF Norfolk, was In
troduced as the first speaker.
The Doctor said Ss soon as he heard OF
greatly interested in the WORK. Our duties
toward God grow out Of our relation to
Him. and OF these relations we know only
what lie has revealed through His word.
The argument from physical standpoint in
favor OF this Observance may have lts weight,
but there Is nothing which points out so
plainly our duty az the Word Of God. Our
appeals TO men must be from this Word.
SUNDAY AS MERE HOLIDAY
There is at present, said DR.. Sledd, a
popular drift towards making the day a mere
holiday and no Sabbath st all. Why Is this d!
Are the people growing so bsd have they
no regard for GodY No; it is rather that
the human mind seems to be clothed in an
uncertainty regarding the holiness Of the
day. Many OLD writer's hold to the view that
the Sabbath law was abrOgated at the dawn
OF ChristendOm. Many people seem to regard
our Lords day as human institution.
THE OLD SABBATH.
The speaker then briefly reviewed the
history Of the old sabbath day, and how
God demanded His people 10 serve Him one
day out OF seven. God made the earth and
all that is therein in six DAYS and on the sew
enth rested from His labors. and therefore
hslloWed the seventh day. These days may
have been twenty-four hours long or a
longer period, but this does not mat
ter. God requires one seventh OF our
time. The law in regard to the Sabbath was
craven upon stone with the Ten Commands
ments, aud is therefore iust as binding as
any. The law requires a complete cessation
OF secular duties. Not only must the parent,
child. and servant cease their duties, but the
domestic animals must have respite. There
should be no ldleness, visiting, amusements,
ETC.. on this day, but it should be devoted to
religious worship. There is nothing in the
Saviour's teachings In regard to the abroga-
ton OF the Sabbath law. lie corrected many
abuses of the day and said that it was made
for man.
TIE LORDS DAY.
The Apostolic Church. said Or. Sledd,
changed the day from the seventh 10 the
first. They called it the Lords day, and
nut INTO II all the elements God had original
lv Intended. We now observe the first day
Of the week in commemOratlOn OF the Iisen
Lord. God wants this day kept holy, and
leaves no room in HIS Word for evasion or
compromise. 1t is a day Of rest and wor-
ship and but a foretaste OF the rest in
Heaven.
DR.. SledG is a Good speaker, and bis re-
marks were listened to with interest, aud he
was warmly congratulated upon his able
effort.
DR.. Hatcher introduced Rev, Frederick
u. Power, OF Washington, ID. c., az the Sc
cond speaker. Mr.. Power is q man OF fine
personal appearance and seems to be about
forty years Of age. lie has a fine command
OF language-indeed, Is very fine pulpit
orator. He said that in his study OF the
theme be had learned that the Jewish OBJ
servances were typical. Their observance
OF the Sabbath day was to beget In men a
hope OF eternal rest. The Christian people !
have this same need for a day Of rest. 1t !
would be a very remarkable thing il the |
Christians had nc day OF rest-s holy day.
The DAY IS THE LORDS.
The authority for this day. said Mr. Power, !
is from God. The Sabbath is enioineG upon |
us as the frat day Of the week-called the |
LORDS day because Christ arose from His |
grave on this day and brought life and im- |
mortality to light lie met with His disciples |
on this day before His ascension. The day |
s the Lords; it belongs TO Him, and not TO !
tho world or TO the devil. Our supreme |
duty is to God. and He gave US
the authority for this day OF rest. |
why did the disciples assemble on |
the trst day OF the week unless they in
tended TO set an example for others TO fol- |
low and 10 make the day a holy oney Some |
people, like Thomas, forfeit their claim to |
this day by absenting themselves from as
sembliDg with the other disciples to wor- !
ship. The day Of Pentecost came on the !
day after the Jewish Sabbath or on the first |
day OF the week. Aud therefore It Is hal |
lowed 10 Christian people. We are not now |
under Moses's dispensation, and therefore |
keep the Christian Sabbath.
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.
The FIRST fruits OF Christianity were reaped |
on this day, when 5000 souls obeyed the |
Gospel under the preaching OF Peter. This |
was the beginning OF Christs kingdom upon |
earth-the day He sent His Holy spirit TO the |
Apostles. 1t was the practice OF the Primi-
tive Church TO meet on the first day
OF the week TO break bread and cele-
brate the death OF the Lord. The hIsto-
rians write about Christians meeting
on this day awav back 10 the second century.
Christ is now our Law.Gyer. His resuI-
rection was the elimination OF the Gospel.
The light OF new day dawns upon the
,-a shnuId failnWinp the teach-