Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-06-09
The Chicago Exposition.

Ed RcgiStcr-I find myself again
asking the courtesy of a little space in
your issue of this week, IN order to
make my true attitude appear to any
reader of the CHSi- Book who may have
an opportunity to see my answer to the
editor of that paper touching his criti-
cism of my late article in the REGISTER
on the opening Of the Exposition
grounds on Sunday. | desire no con-
tention or controversy with my former
stands at the helm Of the cash. Book:
nor, do | wish to limit in any sense OF
degree the right Of opinion on that, or
any other proper subject of thought in
any person, only asking a reciprOcation
of the same privilege for myself. To
my mind the mistake of most persons
on this and similar questions is, the
confounding of the distinct relations
of two large classes of persons. and
their respective obligations to observe
the first day of the week. by some call
ed the Sabbath, and by others the
Lords day or Sunday. Now, | have
never intimated that a Christian is
under no obligation to observe in the
proper sense this Holy day: but have
said, and so say now, that there is no
divine enactment in the new Scriptures
making the observing of this day
obligatory on all men alike, regardless
Of Christian obligation or disbelief
The question of Sabbath observance
Is different, where there is statutory
enactment; then loyalty to civil author
lty becomes duty, and also d virtue in
all. Still the matter OF recreation or
pleasure, not involving manual labor,
and certain species of gambling. is an
open question to a very large class of
individuals, including Christians and
even ministers.
There never had been any enactment
on this subject. outside of the church.
for 320 years after the nativity of Christ.
In 4. ID. 321 the first constitution by
Constantine appeared. prohibiting Ger
tain forms of manual labor on what
was subsequently called Sunday Since
that date, any amount of enactments
may be found on the statute books of
the Old and Eastern worlds. In the
United States such regulations have
been deferred to the several states, as
properly belonging to their legislatures.
| can recOllect of no instance on the
part Of the General Government, ex-
cept in the law prohibiting public in
struction in the Army and Navy schools
on what is known rs the Lords Day |
1t does not matter to me, except in the |
courtesy, what other people, or even |
what .'Orthodox Christiansr may think |
or do on this grave subject. My pres
snt inquiry, without any '.homily," is,
W hat is right and equitable to all class
- OF persons?
There is a maxim, which says, that
we should not follow the multitude to |
10 evil, and if | am not mistaken, some |
If these .OrthodOx' multitudes have |
oeen known to act very unseemly with
n the memory of men still living"
think it unwise and injudicious to
ALLEVIATE Il large class of persons, espec-
ally in the large cities, from religion
md perhaps the ministry, too, by az
aging ourselves against what they
nay esteem their dearest rights and
privileges. | am, in my heart and life,
n favor Of the highest honors being
Daid to the day that commOrates the
'esurrection of our Divine Lord. But
greatly regret the necessity of dis
,greeing with brother McGuire on this
his and some other points which he was
20 kind a to make on this subject in his
PAPER of last week.
1t is a question of constitutional law
whether Congress has any right to leg
slate on this point, at all. ANY way,
he United States Government has
hitherto refrained to follow the ex-
imple Of the governments of the Old
\ NOrId in matters of this kind: wisely.
t is thought. leaving such regulations
0 the States. | must also dissent from
he statement that the Sabbath, is in
my good sense the pillar on which the
christian religion rests. But | won't
persist in raising objections unneces-
arily, but simply to exculpate myself
rom the charge Of abetting in any way /
he desecratiOn of the Lords DAY. i
'uch a rest is needful for the body, and {
f wisely used of immense benefit to the
luman soul. 1t is alleged as an argu-
lent in point, by my good friend, that
II the states have had legislation to ;
'rotect the Sabbath. | cheerfully ad-
nit this, but have not some of them I
assed very unwise and even unjust en- |
ctments, and have long since seen /
ause to repeal or amend them? t
Our own state limits itself to two or :