The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-05-14
THE HOLY SABBATH.

Should BE to Man.
Our appeal for the proper observance
of what is Familiarity known as the
Christian Sabbath, or the Lords day, is
based upon the following propositions
The American Sabbath is civil in
stitution, recognized and embodied in
our law as a conservator of public NOR
ais and as conducive to public order. In
many ways this principle is recognized.
No contract is valid II made on Sunday;
no civil process is valid if served on
Sunday except in extreme cases. The
President is allowed ten days, Sunday
excepted, before the absence of his sig
nature to a bill submitted to him allows
that bill to become law. In many
such ways the Sabbath is in our law as
civil institution recognized, provided
for and pcrpctuated.
A second principle is that the need of
rest is implanted Of God in the consti-
tuition of the body, and therefore the
Sabbath is the most effectual shield
around the laborer, protecting his lib
erty, his health, his home, and guard
ing alike against the tyranny Of capital
on the one hand and the license Of an
archy on the other.
And again, the claim of the Sabbath
as day of religious culture and wor-
ship is laid only on the individual con-
science, and is not and can not be en-
forced by legal statute.
1t is no part of the Sabbath movement
to make people good by law. Sabbaths
are not kept by legislative enactments.
No attempt is being made to force re-
ligion down the threats of men. God
only is the Lord of the conscience, and
has lifted it entirely from the doctrines
and commandments Of men. For this
reason, therefore, the cry Of "bigotry"
is in the highest degree absurd.
Once more, the Constitution insures
legal right to enjoy the Sabbath day.
Every individual, according to the Su-
preme Court, has the right to the enjoy
ment Of the Christian Sabbath, without
liability to annoyance from the ordinary
secular pursuits of life, except so far as
they may be dictated by necessity or
charity.
On the basis of these propositions it
is sufficient to urge that Sunday and its
proper observance Is called for on the
ground OF reason and sound logic. 1t is
the working-man's friend; it seeks to
lift the CALLING yoke of toll from the
porl ~ @,yO y,,;11;ono ~ o,,r o;ti,oco MI, r,
are compelled in one way or another to
engage in active work on the Lords
day. Now, reason has abundantly shown
that men can do more work in six days
than in seven, it is better for the body
for the brain. Machinery in all its parts
will work longer and better if allowed
70 rest one-seventh of the time. Wher-
ever men have attempted to annul the
Sabbath day they have brought upon
themselves added and increased bur.
deus. Men have attempted to observe
one day in ten as day Of rest; but it is
historically true that even such a di-
vision Of time is fraught with more peril
ana hardship than the sacred observ-
ance Of ono day out of seven. There
was Divine philosophy in making what
neems to many an arbitrary division Of
time into weeks, and appointing tina,
the seventh day, which is the Sabbath,
should be kept holy unto the Lord. II
has recently been shown by railroads
and other large corporations that they
have been great gamers by giving tc
their employees Sunday as day of rest
The right observance of this day is
called for by the home and its happi
ness. The little boy well said Of Sun.
day: Tt is a loving day." 1t truly
consecrates the joys of family and home
life. 1t Is great school of love. Would
YOU make your home a sanctuary Of
respect, Of obedience and love? Would
you desire to make 1t the source Of the
purest JOY, the liveliest emotions, ths
most tender devotion? Then sanctify
Gods holy day.
five consider the necessary element.
of family life to be the constant prac
sice Of the duties which belong to tn,
relationships of family life and the
unity of its members, then we shall Sc,
that the observance of Sunday bring
both one and the other. But neglect o
the Sabmth means neither. The oh
servance Of Sunday confirms paterna
authority, it binds closer those link
which unite together the members o
the family. Unless the Sabbath be oh
served, the .eme becomes mere Or les