The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-31
A Plea For the Sabbath contributed.
In community where, apparent
~, a majority OF the people believe
.Auour homes and all our fears

"All our hopes and all our fears
Are imprisoned in life's Harrow cell,
l am constrained to treat my sub.
ject rather from a material than
a moral standpoint. First then !
lay down the proposition, that the
Sabbath, and its observance as a
day OF rest is in harmony with the
constitution of man, and all his
environments. That man is so con-
stituted by the laws of nature that
he requires stated periods of rest
or cessation from toll, if he would
enjoy his full vigor Of body and
mind, and that he must suffer from
any serious violation of this law.
1t has been found that not only
man but all animated creatures as
we'll AS inanimated matter is bene-
fitted by periods rest and recrea-
ton: nay, they must have it or
their strength and endurance will
be curtailed. The cimplcst, as
we'll as, the most complicated piece
of machinery will do less service il
constantly used till it is worn ont,
than it will if it has been allowed
periods of rest. A locomotive
must be frequently rested or it will
not endure half its destined amount
of labor. Land must be rested, or
it will not yield its increase. Ami
mails are not subject to the same
law. Is man So strongly consti-
tuted that he is an exception to
all animate and inanimate crea-
ton? Can he alone violate with
impnnity the laws at existence, or
is humanity so cheap that he is not
worth preserving? True some
men of iron constitutions may for
time endure the constant routine
of labor without observing any i'll
effects. but if persisted in they
will eventually suffer the conse-
quenccs in a prematurely broken
down constitution. Nor is any
pursuit an exception whether men
tai or physical. The merchant who
has business on the brain tor seven
days in the week and 565 in a year
will as surely have prematurely
shattered constitution as the hard
est laborer who quits in the same
time.
More can be accomplished in six
days than in seven. While this
may not be true Of single period
of six or seven days it is most
certainly true OF long succession
Of such periods.
Material prosperity has, does,
and will make greater advance
ment where a day Of rest is OBJ
served than where it is not. TIE
foolhardy experiment of walking
100 miles in 100 consecutive hours
going one mile in each honr has
been accomplished at a wicked
waste Of vital energy, and may be
used to illustrate in small degree
the languor and fatigue produced
by unremitted exertion. But few
persons are able to perform the
task, On the other hand there are
but few persons who could not
with ease and without injury to
themselves accomplish the 100
miles in four days of eight or ten
hours each. Constant unremitted
labor produce feebleness of body
and mind which units man fol
performing his labor so we'll or in
diligently as he otherwise could
Most Of the disastrous Railroad
accidents which have been traced
to carelessness Of employees have re-
suited from this cause. Avarice
or ambition Of employees to earn
extra compensation or corporate
greed have forced the men to con-
slant labor and watchfulness be
yond their endurance and ability
to intelligently perform their dn-
ties and the consequence is a wreck
and wanton destruction of life and
property. Should rot corporations
who overtax the endurance of their
employees, failing to give their reg
ular periods of rest, in order that
they may recuperate their wasted
energies, be held to strict &C
countability? Laboring men are,
for good reasons, clamoring for a
less number hours for a days work,
urging as a substantial reason that
machinery now does the work of
so many laborers that unless the
number of hours are shortened.
many must go without work.
Yet the same men will without
protest work for seven days in a
week, thereby neutralizing the be-
nificent effect of the fewer hoar
system.
Who should be interested in
preserving the sanctity of the Sab
bath it not the laborer? What care
grasping corporations how soon
they break down.
1t a piece Of machinery breaks
they have to pay out money to re-
place it. If a horse gives out they
must buy another. But if a man
gives out they merely exchange
him for a sound one, i don't cost
them a cent.
Let laborers stand for their rights.
rr,r oh L