The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-05-14
TIaE FAIR.
An Able Minister Says il hoEIl be
OHeneh ON Sun,iaN

n a paper from Hon. sir. Byrns. member
rs. Of Congress from this district, reply.
of ing to certain ministers who have re.
quested him to vote and otherwise
to use his influence against the opening
be OF the Chicago exhibition to visitors
ms on the Sabbath. Now. for one. we
or hope that our esteemed Representa-
H. tive will do no such thing: not be-
cause we are in favor of l~csSeuing the
&c due observance of the Seventh day
re of the week, in any degree or sense.
whatever. but because we consider j:
IN unwise ana Unnecessary curtailmcnt
II OF the liberty and enjoyment of a
large class of persons.
There are thousands of persons
who may ne: be able 10 avail them
selves of any other day for rest and
recreation. and to deprive them of
the opportunity Of visiting the Exhi-
bition, with their little families. per-
haps, would be a great p~rivalion to
, them.
But suppose the Exhibition were
closed Gu Sunday, would that help
+, the churches any! We think not. Ii
will only create a prejudice in the
minds of thousands against the church
and her ministers. and causc persons.
through ambition, aud other motives.
to stay away from them. altogether.
But again: Suppose we look at it
from au ethical or religious sence. do
we find sufficient reason for exclud-
ing certain classes of persons from
such enjoyment? 1t would hardly
be considered a violation of anv
Christian law, or principle 10 look
upon some natural Scenery-such as ,
mountains and valleys, or some attrac- ,
tive landscape: or eve natural pro- &
auctions. consisting of trees. shrub ,
berry and flowers. Hundreds of our ,
ministers 20 all the way 10 Europe ,
every simmer 10 do this very thing. l
If il is innocent :.nd excusabie to h
look upon objects i'll nature and adj !.
mire them, can ii be very wrong, even !.
from a religious standpoint, to look :,
upon some beautiful work of art or =,
mechanism, because il is a Christian .
day OF rest from bodily labor: Wha! !.
are many Of these churches so ex- !
quisitciy finished in the highest and =
latest styles Of architecture for. unless
il is 20 attract attention. and excite
in the mind of the spectator feelings
Of admiration and wonder: .,
What are these city churches, in II
many instances. so deliberately fnru- +.
i>hed tor: TO give comfort 10 'hs poor l..
wer,hippcr and help III his deyotior: 81
If j; Is c~Hiireiy innocent for a person nj
of pr;de or wealth. to Gaze with such y,
rapture on those beautiful curves and ~
lines of grace il the traCcry OF an n.
inside roof or stained glass window II
with accompaniment of fancicd n,
!igurcS or classic images, can it be 81 ,
full or a sin in sonc poor artisan CT "
labprer to devote Il little space OF the IA
sd ne sacred day in lookin" upon the III
same structures his own hands may ~.
have contributed. however remotely. of
produce: The answer to such
Questions cannot be doubtful in the ~
m nth or on the lounge OF any fair-Itb
minded aud lafec-hcaE;cd man. ,r
Nor was it different in ancient or 40.
times. What were all these -,
STRUCTURES c"i'"" c''"''ta'H'Son'c ed
Of the mary which yet cXi>tin the old for
er lands. intended fOr-what these I'M on
lncnse ecclesiastical structures which I,,
sand with m~oss-corered walls. not I'M IF
Ike the Pyramids of Egypt, Inviting tio
pilgrims. even preachers from al Lands an
- gaze upon: The time was. when Or,
s :ch structures might be supposed TO vi
be erected for the glory OF God, but 20
such n faith in these days would be al
with many grains of allowance. of
| write these lines in the interest xo
and with sympathy for the poor, and III.
hard laboring. whose only respite xI
rom har" ION Il on the snort i""rS ful
Of Gods day alone. Many of the ws
grand churches have no place for q ,
such a worshippcr. 1t is true, he it
might 20 around some where, land m
pig among the sailors" III,
The light of human freedom is be- no,
too clear nowadays for even eli
he "plowman TO plod his weary way III
darkness" The Archbishop of ~:
Canterbury. has thrown all his vast On
influence in favor of opening the We
Museums of London to London poor III
IN Sunday; and why should Chicago uo
hut the doors OF this great Inter
National Exhibition to the unfortunate
thousands who may not have any -.
,thcr day TO don their few Sunday
and go out TO see what tie =.
whole civilized and savage nations Of
he earth are invited to come and
ook upon.
We are opposed to any such measure
being adopted by Congress because
If the narrow spirit that calls for it
is true that the churches and those
hat rule them. should seek for some
enlargement OF their conceptions of
he Diety whose love aud worship VIC
prize above all other things.
This is a vast universe, in which :,
are placed. but for 10 narrow a'
purposes. If the philosophy ard
'eligious views of some good people
were TO be accepted, a half bushel
-.-- .,.-l. l.. 2 t.,.ln1 % hnl,l