The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-01-14
The Observance of sunday.

Mr.. EpIToR: 1t is always TO be
expected that the ''unchurched null
titude" will rebel against any res
traint that may be placed on their
actions, not merely as regards the
! observance of the Sabbath day, but
in all other directions.
All human nature Is actuated by
the same spirit that prompted our
first progenitors to help themselves
to the fruit of the forbidden tree.
1t is not satisfied with the abundance
that is given it, but kicks and squalls
like naughty, selfish child for the
full possession of all that has been
withheld from it.
Consequently we are accustomed
to hearing grumbling and protests
from those who care nothing for the
claims of the Superior Power,
against the restraints placed on them
either by law or prevailing public
opinion in supposed conformity with
His expressed will; those who are
at liberty to use the six days of the
week for seeking their own pleas
ures no less than those who are COM
PEELED to work ten TO twelve hours q
day.
The saloon-keeper works for the
adjustment of all regulations that
are imposed on his traffic. What
cares he how many families he robs
of their home and support, or how
many men he ruins? And the licen-
tious man AYERS that it is no ones
business how he carries on.
Those who are possessed of con-
victions of an opposite nature have
nothing for it but to meet these as
saults or protests and withstand
them; and, so long as their minds
are united, their hands are strong.
But when those of their own camp
rise and virtually say, ave
are deluded creatures, self-deceived,
blindly carried away by the argu.
ments, customs and usages of our
ancestors and their false interpreta
tions of scripture, that may have
been all well enough for them but
not for us, and we ought to do better
because we know better" Immedi-
ately an issue is raised. break is
made, and what is there to reunite
and sustain the parted hands, or
who is there to settle the disputed
question for them?
To judge from my own feelings
and desires in the matter, l say, all
we want to know is, what is right
We donot regard these restrictions
in any sense burdensome. We con-
form to them with perfect willing
ness because we regard them as haY-
ing emanated from the wisest of all
sources, and been proved by all ex-
perience to be for the well being of
all humanity. We do not feel that
we sacrifice anything in so doing,
but would not for a moment cling to
these views any longer, nor strive to
train or convert others to them,
could we be but once convinced that
they were fsllseious, originating
only in mans brain.
There are bounds of course within
which man may conduct himself,
for instance, on Sunday, without
violating any moral law. A con-
scientious man will do on that day,
under one set of circumstances, what
he would not do under another.
But are there really no bounds be-
yond which q man may not go, in a
manner, however, devoid of any in
Jury to his neighbor, and not be held
accountable to general moral law
Is the scriptural law prohibiting
work on Sunday really obsolete, worn
out, intended only for the people of
those times and not for US? Is the
latitude allowed by that law to cover
works of necessity" to be so ex-
/ tended as to cover anything and
everything that selfish human nature
chooses to include under the head of
necessities?
II 1, being the driver of a IL
censed hack, consider it an act of
kindness and perfectly right, to take
a passenger arriving by steamer
on Sunday, to his home or hotel.
may l also take a baseball club that
arrives by the same steamer in tran
sit to another port, out to the play
grounds to have a game on Sunday,
because, forsooth, the steamer will
not stop over for them to play a
game on Monday, and certain p0r-
ton of the community demands the
playing of a game on Sunday as a
necessity, or as pleasure which
Christian people through the laws
have no business to interfere with
And If we once admit that the posi-
ton so taken Is sound. and yield to
the demand or desire, how long
would it be, before there would be
practically no Sunday. And when
the abolition Of the Christian Sun
day became an established fact,
would it not also come to pass, that
the moral tone and character of the
whole community be loweredf
Consequently, is it not better for
those who profess to believe IN the
authenticity and wisdom of the