The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-14

lHc question:, now 10 spend SUNDAY, IL
one of great interest to the people and to
the Chriatian church. Ministers Of religion
recognize that the majority of people in
nearly every city do not attend public wor-
ship; and the problem presented by their ap-
parent indifference has been the subject Of
much thoughtful discussion. What, besides
praying and going to church, may n Chris
tian do on the Sabbath? The in
quiry is full of interest for every
man and woman in sympathy with
the spirit OF progress. In order to get
a clear and comprehensive idea Of the
meaning Of Sunday observance, from tho
standpoint Of both religious and secular
thought, brief articles have been secured
touching the various phases of the subject i,
from a umber of prominent men. The
articles are presented below.
1t All Depends on the Man.
"The way to spend the Sabbath2"
1T depends on who is spending it. The
proper way for me to spend Sunday is to
work to really labor in my business as a
blacksmith labors at shoeing horses
on Saturday. If it is an
lsraelite he ought to do just as he
does on any other day except Saturday. If
1T be a Christian layman he ought to do
almost nothing that he does on other DAYS.
Now this answer ia an attempt to adapt in
my reply the underlying principle of the
Sabbath. What is that? The Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab
bath. 1t was made for N an, for his physi-
cal and spiritual holp, hat he might live
HI long and be as healthy as
possible. The Sabbath law is older
than the tables given to Moses on
Sinai. It is written in the fbres OF all
animals, including man. No mar can
york on the same line seven days in the
week for seven consecutive years running
without physical, intellectual and spiritual
deteriora ton. That is the verdict of sci
once, and l am speaking now as n scientific
man and not as q gospel preacher. because
l do not understand that your question
limita me to a professional answer. In my
1nmost heart l have a most reverent re-
spect for tine moral sanction given the law
in the word of God. When | come to
examine that l find that / am taught to
keep one day in seven "holy." There are
two ideas in the scriptural sense of holy,
Namely: Separateness and helpfulness.
Each man must make his Sabbath day sep
arate from all the other DAYS of the week,
and he must get out of it all possible help
for his body, his mind and his spirit. 1t is
therefore SO well called the day Of rest.
Our Israelitish brethren do we'll to keep it
on Saturday because their celebration of
that day gives them spiritual help. Chris
tians do we'll to take Sunday because it rep
resents the & eat fact on which their re-
llgion hangs, the resurrection of their Lord
from the dead. But no arrangements have
been possible by which all men inhabiting
q million of square miles can keep the same
day. ! am a Christian, if q passionate lave,
for ths man who died on the cross gives any
human being claim to that blessed name,
and yet / caunot nav my Sabbath on the
Sunday. Schools and sermons and sacra-
ments and other services make that my
special working day. SO my Sabbath falls
on Saturday, and with my idea of Sabbath
l will not preach on Saturday. I will not
pay pastoral visits nor prepare sermons on.
that day. / read less of the Bible that day
thar any other, generally limiting it to one
verse OF sacred scripture taken to guide my
thoughts.
But on Saturday l will sleep all can and
battle and read and go about amongst my
fellow men, swapping anecdotes and doing
just exactly what do not do on other days,
that | may rest myself. So if / were q
banker, when Sunday came I would not
allow myself to look over the financial re-
ports of the dav or the week before. If
were a lawyer l would not allow myself to
look at my briefs, or to aunt up precedents,
or to do anything else that belonged to nv
profession.
The way for every man to observe the
Sabbath is to get out of one day in seven all
that will make tho other six days sweet and
multiply their number, and all that will
make him meet to enjoy the rest which re-
mains for the people of God.
CHARLES +. DEEMS,
ChrrCh cf tho Sfronoovo