The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-09
ONE DAY OF REST.
DR.. East0n'S Discourse On the
American Sabbath.

At Calvary Presbyterian Church last
evening" the pastor, Rev. T. Chalmers
EastoD, DID,, who had intended to deliver
discourse on the subject Sound at the
Core" announced to his congregation that
he had received a letter from DIR. Edward
THOMPSON, Secretary of the American Sab
bath Union, who is now in Sacramento.
stating that the Sabbath laws would come
up before the Joint Committee of the Legis-
lature for consideration on "Wednesday
next, and asking his cooperation in getting
for them favorable consideration. He had
determined therefore, he said, to POSTPONE
his intended discourse, and instead. deliver
one on the theme, THE Am erican Sabbath
Is Essential to American Liberty"
After stating his subject and making a
few remarks relative TO the bills regarding
the observance of the Sabbath which the
Sabbath Union will endeavOr to have passed
at the present session of the Legislature,
the reverend gentleman said: ANY attac k
made on the Sabbath is treason against the
very foundations of civil government. 1t is
therefore the right of the State to protect
by law this fundamental support of our re-
publican institutions. In all the original
States of the Union laws protecting and
regulating the observance of the first day of
the week were among the earliest enacted.
AS new States were formed the example
was followed, until now in every State of
the Union. except California, as well as by
the Federal Government. weekly day of
rest is recognized by law.
Christianity does not teach that men can
be made religious by law, but it does enjoin
that men should abstain from all unneces-
sary avocations on the Lords Day. This
civil Sabbath is what the civil Government
in America is called upon to enforce. First.
because it is the right of all to be allowed
one day OF rest out of seven; second, be-
ca use such rest is the command of God and
the command of conscience, and third, be-
cause the civil Sabbath is necessary for the
preservation of our free institutions and
good order of society aud good morals
among the people. Morality without re-
llgion is impossible. Ii the Sabbath there
fore, be abolished, the fountain Of life for
the people will be sealed and all our civil
and religious Institutions will be leopard
lied. Any attempt to seculariZe the Sab
bath imperils the sacred institutions and
civil liberties OF this glorious land of
America. The Christian Sabbath is essen
tial to American liberty, and in the preser-
walton of its saIct1ty lies the fundamental
support OF all our republican institutions.
In all our large cities concerts, military
ana CIVIC pafades, anusementS and festivals
are held lh theaierS and saloons are open on
every hand, indicating to what peril our
American Institutions are subjected by this
European mode of Sabbath Dissertation.
The Christian Sabbath is a safeguard to
civil liberty, and every American should be
jealous OF his liberties. In America church
and State are separate, and thank God for it.
The sphere OF the State is tU look after the
temporal welfare OF its citizens, their high
est freedom and civilization"
In conclusion the speaker referred to the
Sabbath laws that had been passed in the
different States, advocated the closing Of all
places OF business on the Lords day. and
urged all present TO use what influence they
might possess to secure the passage of
Sabbath law for this State.
AS the congregation left the church nearly
all present attached their names to petit
tons, one to be sent to the Senate and one
to the Assembly at Sacramento, asking the
bills regarding the observance of the Sab
bath be passed. These petitions We're pre-
and were placed in nearly all the Protestant
and Catholic churches of the city yesterday.
They will be forwarded to Sacramento in
time TO be laid before the joint committee
on Wednesday. The one at Calvary Church
received over 200 signatures.