The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-07-22
THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE CEN
TURY.


The action of the United States
senate in amending the bill appropri-
atins s5,0OO,O 900 for the Worlds Fair,
so ast to provide for Sunday closing,
has been severely criticised and as
heartily commended. There can be
no doubt as to the honesty of purpose
of those differing upon this subject,
outside of that class having pecuni-
airy interest in having the.people shut
out from the grounds over Sunday.
And undoubtedly there is much that
can Nbe said in favor of both sides.
But in discussing the subject there
is a higher plane than the
financial question aud one more i'm
portant to the welfare of the thou
sands who will be gathered together
in Chicago upon that occasion, which
should be taken into consideration.
1t is one kaside which the financial
side Of the Question dwindles into in
significance.
In looking at this question closely
and coolly, the amendment which was
offered by Senator Vest, which pro-
vided for the closing of the great Ex-
position upon Sunday as far as the
running of machinery is concerned,
and all other work that can necessa-
rily be dispensed with. 1t also fur
ther provided that the Exposition
managers should provide an immense
hall for the holding of public services
upon Sundays, and that clergymen of
various denominations be invited to
conduct such services. There would
seem to be much in this proposition to
commend it to the good sense of the
people of this country.
The FREE PRESS recognizes the fact
that this Sunday opening question is
a most difficult one to handle, but
there are a few matters in relation to
it that should be carefully considered.
The objection that is brought against
Sunday opening is that it would
mean the introduction into this coun-
try of continental Sunday. This
implies that even to certain extent
the continental Sunday has not
already been introduced in our great
cities. But as Bishop Whipple says.
the continental Sunday, to certain
extent is now in existence in our
large cities, so the matter simply turns
upon the question as to whether the
great crowd that will gather in Chi
cago next year shall upon every sew
enth day be turned over to the
haunts of vice of that great city, or
whether an attempt shall be made to
lift it up to higher and more emo
bling thoughts.
Members of the Exposition man
agement have stated that the open
ing of the Exposition Sundays upon
the line mapped out by Senator Vest,
would not necessitate the employ
ment of larger force than they
would be obliged to employ were the
gates kept closed, and it would give
thousands a chance to get away from
the vicious allurements of evil and
dwell for few hours among the
purer thoughts of better world. And
more than this, where could there be
found grander or more appropri-
ate place than among the works of
art and the skill and grandeur of the
nations of the earth, to inspire men
to a higher, better and broader life?
Amid these surroundings and with
the great audiences that would be
given them, would be the chance of a
lifetime for the eloquent servants OF
God, who can rise to the level of the
occasion and impress upon their au-
diences the practical lessons drawn
from the handiwork of God and man,
which will surround them. If the
church can rise equal to the occasion,
and there is no question but what it
can, it will be the opportunity of the
century to impress upon mankind the
lessons of a better life that it ought
to spread before the people. But it
will be no time for doctrinal sermons,
or for lingering over the years of past
centuries, further than to draw COM
PARSONS, but the duties and demands
of the present hour should receive
their attention. 1t would seem that
it would be much better for some
thing of this kind to be carried out
than to turn the great crowds over
to the saloons. From the latter no
good to humanity can come. From
the former there would go out over
the world an influence for good that
would make humanity better, and
add much to the benefits which the
Exposition will confer upon the
world.