Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-06-14

give our consent without reluctance, as
| said. in Difference to the feeling OF the
great and best part of the nation. But
the civil power should understand this
and not drag poor Jewish craftsmen TO
the police courts for pursuing their
calling on a day that has no religious
sanction for them, especially when they
do keep the other day which is holy ac-
cording 10 the clear word OF Scripture.
1t is a case OF Albany legislation and
church dictation against the Word OF
God. that word which the Chris
tian acknowledges to be the only
infallible guide to salvation. But
as regards the good Christian folk-the
mistake made by both state as well as
church is that they acknowledge only
two Rs in the due observance oil the
Sunday, viz: Rest and Religion; third
ought TO be added thereto, viz: Kecrea-
ton. This is, in my opinion, as great
and pressing need as the two others;
nav. a condition Of the efficacy OF either.
Rest without means OF bodily and men
tai recreation is sheer idleneSS, and
have we not been taught in our youth
that the devil finds always something TO
do for idle hands? Slowly, very slowly
the churches begin to see that rational
and harmless amusement l. the strong
est auxiliary they can enlist on the
side of religion. Nothing Is more
grateful and more welcome TO the poor
man than TO see his claims 10 this
worlds happiness recognized; assure
him of that and ne will lend a willing
ear 10 your promises Of the good day TO
come i'm the other world. A gymnasium
for his boys, dance for his girls, a
nice tea party with endless gossip for
his wife-all under the eyes of the pas
tor, and he and his family taking
heartily part i'm it-thiS will make the
common man believe that God thought
of him when He said: | created heaven
and earth in six days and on the seventh
/ enjoyed myself (for this is what the
last word in Gen. xxx, liz really means.
Now men, my poor, tOiling sons, go no"
and do likewise.
Shall places of amusement be open on
Sundays? Yes. everyone OF them,
especially in the afternoon and evening;
for the morning l would see reserved
for the second Religion, according TO
an old Jewish rule for the day: Half for
God-half for man. What? All open
on the Lords day? Certainly; only l
hold that those not fit TO be open on
Sunday are not fit to be open on week
DAYS either. We should not so para
phrase the fourth commandment: Six
days thou shalt do all thy drinking and
dancing and rioting and goOd-timing In
general: only on the seventh day thou
shalt do no such things, but be holy unto
the Lord Up to the stroke OF twelve
on Saturday we license fifteen Thousand
drinking places and dives and low
varieties in this city; but five minutes
after twelve it becomes sinful to sell a
glass Of beer or play or make or act a
PIECE. Keep the city pure during the
week and no one will question whether
the same amuSementS should be offered
to the working classes on their only day
of leisure. As 10 museums and librar-
les, il would be less sinful to close them
for six days and open them on Sundays
only than it is to open them on the SIX
and close them on the Sundays. That
will be One of the greatest days religion
has seen on earth, when the preachers
of faith and of righteousness will devote
themselves to the great task of provid-
ing for the people the full blessing of
the Sunday by bringing into harmony
its threefOld reQuirments: Rest, Re
ligiOn. Recreation.
GUSTAV GOTTHEIL,
Temple Emanuel, y. y.
\ DAY OF SPIRITUAL ELEVATION.
Sunday should be a day Of general
elevation. | would be very sorry TO see
Sunday Secularized. l think we have
enough secular hours and that Sunday
should stand for something that is ele-
waiting and refining.
do not think that the State can
recognize Sunday as religious day
any more than they can recognize Sat
urday IS the Jews Sabbath, but | GER
tainly think that the State should OBJ
serve Sunday on the grounds, for in
stance, say for the good of the cOmmu-
nifty, that they should rest from work
one day in the week and that the law,
therefore, can order business suspended
on that day in the same manner in
which they advise holidays on the
Fourth of July, ArbOr Day, Washing
tons Birthday and many others. That
being done the church can then come
forward and say: "Your work is now
stopped, come to Us. We think we can
do you good and that il is best for you
TO expose yourself TO the elevating intiu-
euce of religion"
l, for one, should recognize the fact
that there are other clevating influences
besides religion that the church does
not stand for. acknowledge that mu-
SeumS, libraries, art galleries are ele-
waiting in their tendencies. They should
be opened on Sunday, US that Is the
only day when the majority of the peo-
pie can have access to them.
don't think their influence would
antagonize the influence of the church.
In fact, | think it would harmonic
with it. | should like TO have the
church take an active part in aivocat'
ing the opening Of such institutions IN
order To show TO the people that the
church is their best friend and benefac-
tor. and moreover that it is always
ready 10 advocate anything for thelI
good.
would have rum shops closed most
decidedly on the Sabbath at all hours
Experience has taught us that it is the
worst possible thing for the majority OF
the deople to have liquor places open on
a day when every one is idle. We close
these places on an election day for the
so, 49,, raaco,, thot II il had for the con.
eral public.
As far as closing churches during the
summer months is concerned can only
speak for myself or my own church
which is never closed from one years
end 10 the other. II is difficult TO say
what other people should do on Sunday.
Ny avn personal theory is that once a
day Is enough for anybody to attend
church. II could have it so l would
arrange for three separate services for
three different congregations.
R,fferfnt, r,,ttst no DrpSaufpl N peDnlq