The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-31
THE WORLDS FAIR.
A COmrade Asks Few Pertinent Questions ON the
Subject Of sunday Opening.

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune;
e. ,.vSN a recent issue find an earnest and no
SE9 doubt honest appeal for the closing OF
SEo the Worlds Fair on Sunday. ! was
A. glad 10 note your firm stand la Opposi-
Coo ton thereto. and will say If there are
reOple who believe. honor bright" that there
is any sanctity about Sunday, notwithstanding
the Scripture evidence TO the contrary, and
they are fully convinced that the day would be
seriously bent or demGraiZed by their presence
at tho Fair, what under the sun is there TO
hinder hem from staying quietly az home. or
attending church, rs they plCascP Who Is pre-
pared 10 say that the church 10 which they
chance 10 belong will in any manner suffer, or
the contribution box go into a decline by
reason Of their absence or neglectr
IL is a matter Oi some surprise 10 certain OF
those individuals who fought for liberty, equal
rights and freedom of conscience, 10 learn that
certain other individuals. who claim TO have
fought for the Same thing do now stand Shout
der 10 shoulder with " dog-in-the-mAnger =
sort Of party. organized apparently for the
purpose of kicking over the very principles
Tor which both fouChti We would rise TO in
quirc what in the world civil government has
10 do with religion or religious questions. any
how, or with the protection of any creed or
dogma Whatever Sunday is recognized by
many ms n thoroughbred religious institution,
and 10 invoke the arm of the law in It's defense
is TO invite, Just 10 that degree, a union oi
Church aud State in this land OF the free and
the home of the brave"
There are those who barbor quite an ass0rt-
mcnt Of wel-dCfined doubts as Ia the feasibility
of attempting 10 construct Christians by any
process Of law. Personally, j am thoroughly
and emphaticaly down on religious legislation
OF whatsoever name or kind, whether IN DehalI
OF Sunday or any other day.
The cgmrade speaks of The Christian Sab
bath and Lords Day." by which terms
we presume he means Sunday, the first day OF
the week. when, II Scripture testimony has any
weight for the testimony Of the fathers, and
the traditions Of men don't count, we Ind that
the bona Gde Sabbath comes on the seventh,
aud not The first day ofthe week. Further that
that is the only day the Lord blessed and ac-
kuowedgod as his own Of which We eau find
any record in his Word.
The comrade inquiries whether the One has
changed who on Mount Sinai. amid the thun-
derS and the ightnings, babe Moses 10 remcm-
Der the Sabbath day 10 keep il holy, or whether
il is tho wise generation OF to-day that IS
changed. Permit me 10 remark here that, as
near as we are able 20 CLEAN. the Lord has not
changed that he is the same yesterday, to-
day, aud forever" The change then, has not
been made ia the Lord, but in the day. The
wise generation Of to-day, 10 which the COM
Tade refers, has been tnkeTing with the day
itself We cannot be made 10 believe that the
onderful display of which he speaks was got
ten up on account Of any Difference for Sunday
on the part of the Lord for We don't believe lac
regarded that as any better than any other day,
when we consider that he began the work OF
creation on Sunday, the first day; and hence, IL
that labor was wrong. the Lord himself must
have been the first Sunday desecratOr,
| am Of the opinion that if the c0mrade will
give the matter "A deserved measure of research
hc will discover that that transaction at Sinai
had no reference whatever To Z" the venerable
Day of the sun" A change has indeed been
made.
would therefore modestly inquire 10y what
authority does Sunday masquerade in Sabbatic
garb? The Bible is silent in regard thereto.
About the first reliable data have been able
20 unearth is the edict Of the heather Emperor,
Constantine. who in the year 81, A. d., issued
| the following in its behalf:
Let all the Judges aud town people and oeeu-
patton Of all trades rest on the venerable day OF Tie
sun; bat let those who situated la the country
freely and at ui liberty attend To the business OF
agriculture; because 10 olicu happens that 40 other
day Is 80 I'll Tor sowing corn aud planting vines:
lest the critical moment being let slip, men should
lose the commodities Of Heaven"
And he saith unto them, whose Is this image
aud supcr-cririion? They say unto him. Cesar =.
Then saith lac unto them, render therefore unto
Cesar the things which are GesnT's; and unto God
The things thai are God'H. Matt, .: 20 n.
Aud " u reem evil unto you To serve the Lord.
choose yea this day whLm you will serve. Josh,
2i:Ij.
NJ. B. DUFFrE,