The morning call., 1890-09-29
CHRISTIAN CHARITY.
A Generous Plea for the Satur.
day Half-HOIiday.
Rev. J. Sanders Reed, DID, Responds Flo
querty to a Petition From the
Shoe Clerks for Help.

The shoe clerks early-closing movement
was generously favored by Rev. j. Sanders
Reed, D.. D., in his address to his parishon-
ers at Trinity Church, corner Of Post and
Powell streets. last evening. His argument
was delivered as follows:
1.-The shoe clerks OF this city have adj
dressed circular to the clergy petitioning
for our aid in reducing their hours of labor.
[ know nothing of the situation, therefore /
can and will speak without prejudice 1t is
quite clear to me that large class of work
ingmen have turned to the clergy for assist
ance, and as Christians we must range our
selves on the side of mercy, justice and
peace. The church is in sympathy with
every righteous endeavor to improve social
life, and her mission is to unite in one grand
brotherhood employers and employees. If
the workers are oppressed it is 10 the church
they should come for help.
1.-The circular petitions for reduction of
hours of labor on Saturdays, and sets forth
that the keeping open of shoe stores on Sat
urday evenings is not only unnecessary, but
also injurious TO employees. But / do not
like the remedy proposed. The circular
asks for the closing of stores at 6 o'clock OH
Saturday evenings. l would go farther.
In Short favor closing the stores at II or l
o'clock, aud declaring for half holiday Oh
Saturdays.
A CHRISTIAN MovEMENT
1.-THE Saturday half-holiday movement in
New York has been made successful with
out the aid of socialists, labor organizations
or political patronage, and Is therefore one
of the most Christian movements OF this
century. In connection with its success
there has been no boycotting, no strikes, no
loss Of money.
1.-The adoption of the Saturday half-holi-
lntr nm no tp act md To ha
preservation and restoration OF Sunday as 4
day of holy rest. Workingmen are bound
to indulge In excursions on holidays. The
country is their playground, and TO the
country they 60 upon every favorable OPP
portunity. For them the sun shines to no
purpose from Sunday to Sunday. For them
| the birds never sing. Their eyes crave for
a sight of real nature. they long to lie on
| their backs on the hillsides and forget that
| their feet are weary from tIamping over the
hard pavements. Sunday is their only day
for this enjoyment, and there is no doubt
that they would take advantage of Satur-
day afternoons TO seek the country outing
! we're it made possible for them to do so.
Sunday is day for physical, intellect
ual, moral, spiritual and holy rest. 1t
should never be observed with mad revelry.
But how can man keep it holy when it
is his only holiday. How can. he attend
church when, perhaps his back is panied
| from the strain of his labor in the previous
rushing past the church on Sunday Then
| give your employees a rest and half holiday
| every Saturday. Sunday is saved for the
| church, but the workingman is saved for
| Gpd.
1.-The highest wages paid would not be
| sufficient Ior those who never know what
| proper rest is. For instance, young girl
| works from twelve to fourteen hours day in
| store. In many cases it is not long before
| her constitution Is broken down. and she
hnan t,axr0 IntalI xta.-1
have prevented this sad termination of the
| young wOman's labOrP Yes, by giving her
| one little half day extra every Saturday for
rest or recreation. The world is growing
| richer every year. Surely 1t Is wealthy
| enough now to allow the distributors of the
wealth half-holday on Saturdays. Surely
| ii is not right to confine men and women.
| boys and girls so closely that their weak
| ened frames invite the agonies Of insidious
| disease?
TO APPLY THE GOLDEN RULE.
81 am also in favor of the Saturday half
holiday because of the christianizing effect
| the concession would exert upon employers.
Here, then, is your opportunity to apply the
| golden rule to all those under your roof and
pay. Why not perform all that Christianity
and humanity demands of you?
| The Saturday half-holiday would be not
only for the comfort and health of the en-
ployes, but for the crystalllzation of capital
| and labor The success of the charitable
movement lies with the ladies' of San Fran.
cisco. They should resolve to refrain from
| purchasing goods after Il o'clock 1t is the
customers who make long hours for clerks.
| All evils are the result of unreasoDableness
on the part of society. If you are in favor
OF the half-holiday you must talk of it aud
| work for it wherever you go, and thus make
| it popular movement. Let our large bust
ness.houses know that the movement for
the Saturday lf-holiday is the result of
| popular sentiment. and mako il ensv for
| them to comply with that sentiment. Agi-
tate it! agitate it! agtate it, Give your
selves and friends no rest until you have
made the Saturday half-holiday movement
success. There is a generous and grand
| benevOlence in such movement. it has
become Christian movement for Christian
people to carry out. 1t is for the benefit of
| health, culture and amusement