Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-06-22
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
REV. c. w. BYRD's SERMON
YESTERDAY.

Delivers "a strong Appeal for n
Proper Observance of tine Lords
Day-Respects to the "Brethren "
Rev. Chas. W Byrd, pastor of the Cen
trail Methodist Episcopal church, south,
preached on Sabbath observance" yes
tcrday. He read for his first lesson the
closing verses Of the 58th chapter ol
Isaiah and for his second lesson the first
Twelve verses Of the 10Th chapter Of
Matthew, the interesting incident Of the
corn6cld.
In his opening remarks Rev. Mr.. Byrd
said that the Sabbath. it's natural and
divine authority, and the safeguards that
may be thrown around it by civil legisla-
ton, arc great serious questions of the
day-questions that call forth discussion
from the platform and the press, and that
constitute suitable theme for frequent
pulpit discussion. He contrasted the
views Of those who argue for the conti-
mental Sabbath with those Of the great
christian public who stand as a bulwark
against the inroads that are being
made by foreign ideas upon our American
institutions, civil and religious. He
showed that Sabbath law was not
merely an arbitrary enactment that was
abrogated when christianity took the
place Of Judaism. In the Savior's an
swer to the frequent charges Of the Phar
isces that lie violated the Sabbath there
is always staunch recognition of the
law Of the Sabbath and the contest is
only about the narrow Pharisaic inter
probation Of that law.
Here the speaker discussed the Savior's
broad AMI generous Interpretation OF the
law, making il the conscrvator of mans
best interest social, physical aud spiritual.
lie briefly alluded to the recognition OF
the nOn.christian nations to the impor-
tancc OF seventh day Of rest. He then
discussed the Sabbath as physical me-
ccssity; quoting the recorded experiences
Ol railroad employees and other laborcrs
whose duties required them to work on
the Sabbath, the universal testimony be-
ing that they could do more work and
better work in six days than in seven.
lie also quoted from scientific experts
and soeialistic philosophers, who, unbi-
ascd by religious influence. but rather
hostile TO it, bearing the same testimony.
lie declared that every railroad corpora
ton from the little dummy line, which
was such fruitful source oi Sabbath
desccration in our own town, to the
great corporations that control traffic OF
the land, and every factory bell that calls
to Sunday labor, is the enemy of the labor
ing man. The rich may rest when they
will but the poor can rest only when
their day of rest 10 secured to them
against the greed Of irrcligious ca pitalists
and soulless monopolists by legislative
enact ment. His next point was that the
Sabbath is a social necessity and here he
showed how it rcbukes sel6shness, deceit
and impurity and conserves the purity
and the culture Of the home. On this
day christianity puts forth its best ct.
forts; the churches are open, the SUNDAY Y
schools are gathered with their million
teachers and ten million scholars. so.
cial action whose power cannot be com.
putej.
The Sabbath is a civil necessity. 1t il
the supreme police power OF the land; il
affords place in the home for the culti
walton of honest sentiment, furnishes d
basis for just and equal legislation, thur
becoming the trucst patriot in every
commonwealth. This fact is recognized
in the statutes looking to the enforce
mcnt Of Sabbath observance ~ all tn,
towns, cities, states and territories Of tn,
land. The state has right, and it cxci
, cises that right to cmancipate on,
day in seven from all enforced toll anC
give it to every toiling man, not dictat
ing what shall bc the nature of his OBJ
servance oi it, but leaving it to the higl
behests Of his own conscience. Legisla
tive enactments can be enforced only a,
they are backed by the moral sentiment
Of the people, and there 10 little hope q
enforcing Sabbath observance, where II
community of twelve thousand, its cit
izens will go out seventeen hundrct
strong on Sunday afternoon excur
sion, run in the interest OF would be off
r Gals Of the city.
There is little hope for the enforcement
Of law looking to moral reforms in thos
towns where the officials are run by tn
bar-rooms, the despiscrs Of law an,
, order, from the mayor down to tn
Z humblcst policeman, and when men ar
promoted from the chain gang to III
police force to look after the enforcement
Of law before their hair is grown on
after having the state prison. Let n,
: one 20 away from here and say that
/. have spoken severely of Ashcvillc polics
men, for am not acquainted with an
of the present force. Those whom kne,
Of the former force, were sober, courteou
and law-abiding. lcould not afford t
speak dscourteously OF these officials 70
it would be to criticise the close kin {
some Of our excellent councilmcn.
- Sermons on Sabbath observance
were also preached by Rev. c. M. CAM
bell, of the North Asheville Methods
. church, and Rev. John Z. Troy, OF Il
Riverside church, to good congregation