The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-05
1t THE CHURCHES SUNDAY
Rev. Dr.. Webb Discusses the Press
and Sunday Closing.
REV. MR.. SPENCER ON PENSIONS.
Rev. Mr. Buck Deals With "The Story of
Esther"-Tenth Anniversary of the
fwedish M. E. Churoh-Fareweli Ser
mon of Rev. X. III. Miles.

upon Sunday Opening and the Provi-
dence Press" taking his text from Nehe-
miah xiii, 9, 81 command that the gates
be shut"
II am sure we all respect the press
Of the city, but the press is amenable
TO divine authority" he said. "The
Worlds fair is potent question at pres
ent. 1t was given TO CHICAGO by con-
gress, which also gave it 81, 100000 on
condition that the gates be closed on
Sunday. The local directory accept
ed the money and accepted the
conditions. Later the directory. began to
lay p ans to break the compact. Their
city. except the Inter. Ocean, took sides
with the direc ory. Then the mobs took
up the question. Then foreign-bor citi-
gems fell in line and even some preache
have weakened aud declared Tor Sunday
opening.
"The directory in its fight pleaded for
the laboring man, but begun by charg-
ing him % cents admission. Next comes
storit of bribery OF the national direc-
tory. The latter has violated its COM
pact. also.
'One paper in this city says that the
directory is legally powerless tc open the
fair, but contends for Sunday opening.
"The Telegram is even more open. The
journal ana Bulletin is also arrayed
against Sunday closing.
''The ruling settlers of this country
kept Sunday and the places of official
business are closed upon the Lords day.
"Will the editors tell Us where. when
and how the Pilgrim Fathers prosecuted
any body az one paper in this city has
said | would ask the Journal to pro-
duce the proofs. BY our attitude,
II is said, we are disgracing
our religion. How is this? Are we not
asking that the laws OF our country b.
upheld. We are called bigots. hypo-
critics and other hard names for our at
titude. is this what journalism has
come to. The Journal goes SO far as to
question the right of congress TO make
such a stipulation. The doctrine is akin
10 the recessional idea of 1861. The
Journal asks TO trample under foot the
laws Of the nation. Then it says further
that there Is no warrant for our attitude
in the tradition of our founders.
did the Lord ever sanction the VIOLA
tion of the Sabbath day /? The LORD
only sanctioned necessary work. The
@ypocrites took the letter aud not the
spirit of the Jesus-G GArist-tfcvrr
sanctioned the killing of the Sabbath
day. Christ did not resort to frivolity
or pleasure on the Sabbath day. Does
any editor think sol Christ healed
the blind on the Sabbath day, and
the hypocrites sought to condemn him
for that. II we do not go To clam bakes,
baseball and Worlds fair on the Sabbath
we are bigots and Puritans. Judge
Stein would probably maintain that
this is Jewish nation If he were asked
Let the editors show US wherein Christ
ever did anything but teach and heal on
the Sabbath.
III the workmen go to the fair on
Sunday the employer will utilize the
fact as precedent for compelling them
TO work seven days in the week, here
after. If the people attend the fair on
Sunday they will not go on week days,
and the Sabbath will be turned into
general season Of pleasure and excite
ment. The educational results of Sun
day opening will be the teaching of a
disregard Of law and contracts. We will
change our holy Sabbath for the German
beer-drinking Sabbath. We do not want
shat"
Rev. Mr. Spencer on Pensions.
Rev. w. II. Spencer spoke before the
Fourth Unitarian society last evening,
taking for his subject, patriotism and
Pensionism." He said in substance:
''There is an old proverb which says, of
the dead be nothing said but what is
true 1t is a kind proverb but speaks
only half the truth. 1t Is our duty to
sometimes speak evil Of the dead in order |
to accomr lish justice. 1t is as right to
condemn Judas AS it is to praise Jesus
mortal Day which is day when we
think Of the soldiers dead as patriots. |
and when all who ever wore the b.ue are |
honored az our country's saviours.
Those OF you whose memory run.
back to 1865 will recall the Generous
gratitude and unlimited praise that was
bestowed upon the men who came
We made no determinations and ,ye
honored them all as heroes. Is IL so to- |
dayf Has there not been during the |
last ten years u certain loss of the public |
respect which was bestowed on them i'm |
1865 There surely has been. There is
no longer that unreasoned admiration |
for the g.. A X. which once was SO de- |
hghtfui to witness. The intelligent oh |
server has been forced to discriminate |
between the true patriot and the mas
querader." The reverend gentleman |
sketched the history Of pension legisla- |
tion and then continued:
Fifteen years ago General Garfield in |
the house OF representatives said that he |
thought the limit was reached. The |
ton Of S35, 100000 The estimate for This |
year is Sl65, ,0O0. COO. There would be no |
complaint from the taxpayers for this |
enormous sum il these millions went |
into the pockets of those who were dis |
abled through wounds or injuries or dis |
eases contracted during the war But |
we know that great part goes int the |
hands OF men who were mustered out of. |
service in good health; that the army of |
", go pension agents thrive on il.
Under the disability act wealthy peo-
pie and others fit only for reformatories
and prisons take advantage OF the gov |
ernment, In the name of public morals.
Of taxpayers and veterans Themselves
we protest against this scandal. The q |
A X, which should have held itself |
shove such self-seeking, has not only |
offered resolutions at its annual encamp.
ments In favor OF larger pensions but has
been represented by lobbyists in Congress
70 press their claims upon legislators.
all this Is but a mournful evidence of |
the insidioos, demoralizing influence of |
the extravant pension legislation upon |
the soldiers themselves. The pension |
roll ought to be held as sacred as the
vestal fires or roll of honor We ought |
10 feel sense OF pride as we point to IL.
but we cannot 1t is no Longer n roll OF |
honor And what shall be the remedy, |
The public mind mus. be awakened TO |
the wicked extravagaDce OF our pension |
and then TO action that shall |
amend the laws and purge the pension |
rolls. Patriotism and pensionism ara as