The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-30
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.


SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Thursdays celebration reminded US
all that we have much to be thankful
for. The people Of Montana will be in
clined to discover new source OF graft
tude and thank their stars that their
lines have not been cast in western
A company Of red-hot
bigots, known to the benighted as
Sabbath association, recently met in
Pittsburg, voted themselves the salt OF
the earth, and proceeded to turn the
gaze of their mental obliquity on the do.
ings Of their neighbors, whom they style
the children of wrath. Stage thunder
is apt to be more amusing than
effective when one has learned the
method Of it's production, and the fulmi-
nations OF the Sabbath association will
stir among self-respecting people feel
ing Of mirth and contempt rather than
morbid fear. The unfortunate post
master general was the chief victim.
Him they figuratively bound to the horns
Of the altar, and they dashed him till
they were wearied and the sun went
down on their wrath. Wanamaker is
to be disciplined. What terrible pun
ishments lie under that comprehensive
threat, it is hard to tell. Perhaps they
mean to resuscitate the stocks for his
especial benefit, or fasten him up at the
church door, an object Of scorn and de-
rision to departing church-goers. Per-
haps he may be decorated with pla-
card to the effect that this was the good
John Wanamaker, now disciplined by
his spiritual masters for allowing the
transmission Of the mails on the Sab
bath day. Poor postmaster general
Perhaps he may bow the knee to it all,
give up his political preferment and be
received once more into the bosom of
the fold of the self-righteous after much
penance. Perhaps, too, he may prove
himself, in spite Of great blessing vouch-
safed, only one more OF q stiff -necked
and perverse generation, and request his
censors to take the beams out of their
own eyes before they venture on the
delicate surgical operation Of removing
q mote from his.
1t is refreshing to turn from the con-
fined air of such narrow intolerance and
pharisaism to the breezy utterances Of
the pastor OF the Congregational church
in Butte, the Rev. E. w. Howell. Here
10 minister who has actually discovered
that the world has moved since the
days 81 Judaism. He is no iconoclast
no Sunday breaker. His is the broad
catholic mind that, while it admits the
desirability Of q day OF rest, resents thu
attempt Of one man to dictate t.
sAnQ4her in what that rest shall consist
25ould leave the consciences Of tn,
free ON the subject OF Sunday OBJ
ssste 1nce. That, he believes, is the tru'
dooEine,a as it was the doctrine q the earl.
Christian church. A people who can b
entrusted with civil liberty will not b
l Iefufed the exercise Of their discretion
ltters ecclesiastical. That the Sun
daxsshould be observed is desirable an
expsdiant even from mere utilitaria
point Of view, but the observance is nc
aufsssential Of the Christian life. Gu
Puritan ancestors made the day tn
dreariest in the week. For their chi
dren 1t spelled ennui, and for active me
and women WEAKNESS OF the tlesl
The world has outgrown this mario,
conception, and it is cheering sign {
fho finnoa that minister's afo WILLING 4
lead, and not be dragged in the wake {
the inevitable result. Sunday is n
longer day of comatose conditions.
has attained it's true development whe
it becomes an opportunity not only Il
wholesome activity in Christian wor
and well-doing, but, as our reveren
critic puts it, when it provides occasio
for whatever is beneficial for the deve
opment and refreshment Of body, so,
and spirit.