St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-19
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The Threatened Abrogation
Thereof Discussed by H.
F. Phelps.
A Subject of Vital Interest
on Which the Public is
Sleeping.
Kick From Minneapolis on
the Blunder Committed
by Congress.
One Writer Roasts the Act
From a Religious Stand
point.

point.
It was not a very large audience
which gathered last night at Odd Eel
lows hall, but that the participants
were in earnest was very evident. ii.
f. Phelps, who seems to be shoudering
the management of the anti-Sunday
closing agitation in ST. Paul, was again
the speaker, and vigorously denounced
the idea embodied in the Sunday-cloS-
Ing clause of the worlds fair bill. He
held it is the most important question
today engaging the attention of the
American people. threatening as it does
the inalienable rights of religious free
dom and the untrammeled exercise of
conscience. These rights have been
assured in this country, said he, as in
no other in the world, and must be
iealously guarded if we would preserve
them intact. The blood-bought free
dom of thought and action in religious
matters, if abr0gated in any way, in
wolves dire mischief to American insti-
buttons. They are menaced now by a
powerful foe. and it is not impossible
that these precious heritages may be
wrested from us.
Mr.. Phelps depored the fact that the
masses OF the people do hot seem to
realize the danger which inSidouSiy
threatens the very life of the nation.
Congress captured, as the speaker
maintained, by a religio- political organ
Zation. in favor Of coercion to ell
force Sabbath observance, can only
mean that the spirit of the constitution
is being lost sight of in the miSts OF
bigotry. Unthinking citizens may to-
day laugh at the idea OF their personal
views OH religion and kindred subjects
being the prey of public censors, but
tomorrow they may wake and find 1t
too late to act in their own defense.
The speaker incidentally sought to
connect the Catholic church with the
threatened curtallment OF the rights OF
conscience. but he overlooked the fact
that Cardinal Gibbons, the head of that
church in America. has declared for
opening the gates Sundays. The argu-
ment against the step taken by congress
was i'll the main, however, strong and
cogent The thought was clear throu gh-
out that vicious biunder had been
made by the lawmakers, and the audi
ence was in full sympathy with the
orator.
A Minneapolis View.
To the Editor of the Globe.
| have read the article by Mr.. Stevens
~ in the GLOBE of this date entitled,
81 let the Gates Be Barred" in which he
advocates the closing of the worlds fair
on Sunday, and gives as his principal
reason that eve are aChristlan nation"
[ desire a small space in your valued
paper to ask the gentleman wherein we
are Christian nation ? The total mem
bership of all churches in tile United
States is less than one-third the pOpula-
ton. Can a man be Christian and not
belong to any church, or without max
ing confession lOf faith? If not. then
over two-thlrdS Of our population are
not Christians; and how can we be
Christian nation, without being nation
of Christians Again, all Christians
must take the Bible as their rule of
faith. Let us examine some OF our Gus
toms and see whether we are Christian
or pagan.
The Bible teaches to work six days
and rest on the seventh. Paganism
changed this rest day to the first day of
the week. The Bible called the rest
day the Sabbath of the Lord. Pagan
ism called it's rest day 1.-THE venerable
day of the sun, FOR Sunday. The Bible
saws ''frOm even to even We shall OBJ
serve your Sabbaths." Paganism says
from midnight to midnight shall be a
day. The Bible says, "This shall be
unto you the beginning of months"
CThis was our March OF April.) Pagan
ism said January is the beginning OF
the year. The Bible calls the days OF
the week, first day, second day, third
day, fourth day. fifth day, sixth day and
seventh day, or Sabbath. Paganism
calls them:
Soils Dies, Sun-day-Day of the Sun.
Luna Dies. Mon-ddy-Day of the Moon.
+ Thu or Martie Dies Tues day-Day OF Mars.
Wooden, or Mercuri Dies, Wednesday, Day
Thor,-or Joyis Dies, Thurs-day-Day of
Frigga, or venous Dies, Fri-day-Day of
Venus.
Saturn Dies Satur-day-D ay of Saturn.
Therefore we as a nation accept the
pagan rest day i'll preference to that OF
the Bible. We begin our days by pagan
dictation. We begin our year by pagan
dictation. We call our days after pagan
gods, etc, etc. Our Declaration of In
dependence declares all men free and
equal and to have right to the pur-
| ton allows of the free exercise of con-
science and abridgeS no mans right to
worship the God of the Christian, or any
other god, OF not to worship any as his
| conscience dictates. Ii congress has a
| right to pass law compelling the OBJ
| seryance of a Christian day OF rest,
| then have they not the same right (aS
| the representatives of christian ma
| tion'' (?) J to compel the observance OF
any other dogma of some Christian sect?
For instance: The Unity of God. Uni
tarianism; the Trinity of God, Presby-
terianism, ETC.; Intallibillty of the Pope,
Catholicism: Seventh Day Sabbath, Sew
enth Day Baptists, ETC.; Washing OF
| Feet. Du nkardS, etc, and so ON TO n
finity. And if congress has poWerto
pass a religious law, surely 1T mas
the right to provide penalties for the
law breakers. What then have we less
than church and state? Then comes the
| inouisitinn. LIBERTY"
Minneapolis, Dec. II.
Chance for Harvest.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Are we not very selfish in wanting tt
| close the worlds fair Sundays. wher
an opportunity of a lifetime is Offered
TO fulfill the command OF Him who said
$50 tell to every ma ton the gOSpel"
Surely we have forgotten to whom
this grand, glorious country or freedoIl
belongs, and who put US here to enjoy
it. Then arouse, and let us give "hono
to whom honor IS due"
| Why, to close the fair Sunday because
of the day would be like the Pharisee:
of old, who upbraided Christ for heal
ing the afflicted on the Sabbath. W.
would be as the foolish virgins, withou
oil in their lamps, and sleeping whel
their bridegrooms came. Then up
Christians; to work for the Master.th
harvest is now ready. Think of tn
souls that might be reaped for the com
ing bridegroom let us all have on
lamps trimmed and burning when h
comes. Don't close the doors agains
our visiting brothers and sisters. ant
our own poorer brothers. who only hav
this day, and thus compel them to seel
the denS OF Satan
1t Is time we were at wor and chea
Satan out OF some of his spols, as h
has the majority. We can see Satar
| - l,aar, tr1-tnr m thn door