The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-15
REV, WILBUR +. CRAFTS
Field Secretary Of the American
Sabbath Union,
ADDRESSED A BIG GATHERING
or Wheeling People at the First
Presbyterian Church Last Night,
As'rOng Plea fOrthSsabbath,
a Local Organization.

Rev, Wilbur +. Crafts addressed
meeting Of representative people in the
First Presbyterian church last night.
Rev. Mr., Gratis is Field Secretary OF the
Amerisap Sabbath Union, and he deIiy-
cred an interesting talk on the aims and
objects Of the Association, with a view
Of establishing a branch OF the Asso-
citation in this State and city. TIE
house was fairly well filled, and in
the pulpit and the front seat sat
all but three members Of the Protest.
ant clergy OF the city, All the Protest.
ant pastors have, however, become
members Of the Union, and are assisting
in the local work.
The full church choir was present and
sang several selections, among them
America. Presiding Elder Rev, s. i,
Jones, who IS Vice President Of the Sab.
bath Union for West Virginia, acted as
chairman OF tho meeting, and Hon, G,
l., Cranmer, State Secretary, was also
present. Rev. h. Rush SwOpe opened
the meeting with prayer, alter which
Rev. Mr., Jones read chapter from the
Scriptures, and then Rev, Mr., Gratis be-
gan his address,
Mr., Crafts, in his argument, discussed
the subject from three particular points;
First, Sabbath legislation is not religious
legislation; second, 1t ia constitutional
legislation, and third, It's applicability to
the saloon. He began with a reference
to the fact that Sunday laws are consist.
ent with liberty, and that real personal
liberty Is not affected by their existence,
Following will be found IN abstract from
the address;
at Is a picture worthy Of a comic al.
manaci these unwashed refugees from
despotism, who never saw liberty and
wouldn't know 1t II they saw i offering
themselves as teachers Of liberty to
Americans. AZ usual, In such cases,
wG ask these professors OF liberty,
WWhere did YOU graluateY Who was
your teacherF' They believe in the
liberty Of ono person to do what he
likes. We do not believe in any ouch
personal liberty, but in popular liberty,
the liberty Of the whole people, aud that
liberty only so lar as It is consistent with
the libeitirs OF Others,
"The principle that unlerllea all civil
laws was well expressed Ia the card
which hung gu the steps Of a certain
city halt Gentlemen will not aud
others must not loaf on these steps.
Sabbath laws proclaim that gentlemen
will not aud others hust notd, ptive the
toilers OF their natural right 10 the
weekly rest day.
at Is sometimes said by opponents Of
Sabbath laws that government hus no
right to dictate how n man shall spend
tho day. Hut Vt quarantine Govern,
ment prnveu IT, right To dictate how u
man shall spend q fortnight, when the
general good requires 1t. Sabbath laws
arc consistent with liberty In part, b..
cauge they ARE health laws; in part, also,
they arc laws lUr the prevention OF
crime.
when saloons were open on Sunday
in Cincinnati, ! am told that tho CITY
PROSECUTOR 50 Id that one.thIrd Of all the
crimes Of thHt city were committed on
Sundays. Now tlqt itg SALOONS are
closed, evon those Of itS daily papers
that are most hostile to Sunday laws re-.
port that on Sunday the police have
almost nothing 10 do. Sabbath laws
are therefore consistent with liberty in
the same way as other lees effective laws
for the prGYention oil cEiile. Thpae are
our answers 10 tho Personal Liberty
Leagues aud to those who are victims
OF their sophlRtries.
1.-THE case Is moro difficult when the
cry Of religious liberty is raised by au
entirely different class; Oy good citizens
who rtl!gtously and regularly observe
Saturday. Those who regularly Qhd re-
ligiously observe Saturday by a9staining
from labor and business deserve the
kindly and generous treatment they
have received, with few exceptions, In
the Sunday laws and gtill more In the
customs OF the stateR.
"They agree with us that man has a
natural right to rest one day in seven.
1t Is only in the exigencies Of debate
that they argue that man should do
seven days work for weeks wages. We
90 a stop fprther apd hold that in this age
Of corporations and Of competition e9l.
ployes cannot be SECURE in the enjoy.
ment Of this natural right to day OF rest
unless the State protects II. The State
must therefore select the day which the
majority prefer.
"Fhe Fourth Commandment can be
ohOyed by keeping either day, but 80.
Ciety cannot wisely encourage or protect
more than one OF them"
Immediately after Mr.. Crafts had fin.
ished, the following resolutions were
adopted:
"ReSOlued by Ibis mass meeting Of he ciii.
renS of IHheslIng, That the rect day OF our
people is threated by various forms Of
Sunday traffic and work carried on con.
trary TO law, and which are sure TO lead
to further Sunday toll II not suppressed.
"ReSoiued therefore, That we call upon
our public officers TO double their
diligence in Shpprcssing this Sunday
work, pledging them our support in i'm.
partial enforcement Of our Sunday laws.
RsiOlVed, That We hereby appoint the
pastors OF the city, including the Catho.
lie priests (who have been recommended
10 cooperate in this reform with other
citizens by tho recent Congress In Baltl.
more), a nominating committee with
power to appoint In behalf Of this meet.
lug o committee on Sunday closing, AMID
committee TO consist chiefly Of laymen
from churches Of oil Crceds and from
labor organizations"
A collection to deiray contingent ex.
penses was taken, aud Rev. DR.. Swope
pronounced the benediCtion.
The MoundstIlIo +. o. Fight Finished.
Tie contest for tho NIoundsvile post.