Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-10
CLERICAL VIEWS.
Rock Island Ministers on the
Worlds Fair Closing.
THE EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.

The Question of Opening the Columbian
Gates on Sunday, Fully and Entertain
ingly Discussed-From Moral, Financial
and Practical Points ofi,View.
A week ago THE ARGUS addressed
letters to the clergy of Rock Island
soliciting opinions on the question of
Sunday opening OF the Worlds Col
umbian exposition. and in reply there
to the following expressions have
nave been received;
Rev. &. +. Taylor.
believe that every sentiment, pa
triotic, social, moral and religious,
which ought to influence an Ameri-
can citizen, demand the closing of
the fair on Sunday. Space scarcely
allows me to name in outline the
considerations which lead me to hold
this opinion. | am aware that many
persons will say that my opinions
are determined from the fact that |
am clergyman, but l protest that
such is not the case. | speak as n
some attention to the study of his
tory and of the conditions of society
today; and of one who would above
he believes is : for the highest and
best interests of the people.
Without a Sabbath we cannot long
have either Christianity or a Chris
tian civilization. Continental Eu-
rope has the kind of Sabbath which
an open Sunday at the fair would
tend to make permanent here.
Strange as it may seem many who
have left Europe to escape the cOndi-
tions existing there are striving to
introduce the same unhappy condi-
tons here. Mans highest good as a
man requires that ne have on every
seventh day a respite from toll. The
Sabbath is an ordinance of God as
the succession of the seasons is his
ordinance. 1t was given to mankind
for man.
As one of the people and desiring.
above everything earthly. to see the
workingmcn succeed in their strug-
gle for better conditions for them
selves. | believe the opening of the
fair on SUNDAY would be victory
for Mammon. for corporate monied
interests which would gladly compel
the workingman to toll seven days
for the same pay he now receives for
six.
The overwhelming ma ioritv of the
people of this land want the fair
closed on Sunday. The plea of the
Chicago directory and the Chicago
papers that there is an overwhclm-
ing demand for Sunday opening. is
too manifestly untrue to be worthy
of serious consideration. Mr.. Higin-
botham claimed that the leading
clergymen favored opening. But,
when he had ransacked the country.
he was only able to name four. one
Catholic bishop, one Episcopal
bishop and two very broad-gage Uni
tartan ministers. one of them in his
dotage and the other 4 notorious hob
byist; and. the Episcopal bishop has
since intimated that he was ashamed
of him for what he had said. The
plea that the workingmen want an
open Sunday fair is not true. A few
labor unions have passed resolutions
in favoring opening. but very few of
the unions have. Besides. only one
twentieth of the laboring men of the
country are in the unions. 1t is per-
fectly safe to say that for one labor
ing man who wants the fair open on
Sunday, 10 want il closed. Since
the directory accepted the appropria-
ton of congress. with the stipula-
ton for closing, even if n legal loop
hole is found for evading the stipula-
tons. every consideration of integri-
~ and honor demands closing.
An open fair on Sunday. l believe.
would mean financial disaster. 1t is
evident that it would he unreason-
able to hope for more than an aver
age attendance of 100, 900 on the |
which would net the man
ayers about S1.000.010. 1t is per-
fectly safe to assume that Sunday |
opening would entail loss of many |
time that amount.
There is not n single argument in |
favor of Sunday opening. except the |
money argument. Many pettigog
cling pleas, educational. social.
esthetic, moral and religious are put |
as a reason for opening, but, |
l suppose there is not man in all |
the land so stupid that as not to |
know that every such plea has as its |
only basis the gate fee.
Sunday opening. with the machin-
cry quiet and good part of the ex-
hibits closed is a gross injustice to
the Sunday attendants.
Yours truly, c. E. TAYLOR.
Rev. j II. Kerr.
am unqualifiedly opposed to open
ing the fair gates on Sunday. 1 have |
carefully followed the discussion of |
this question since it began over a
wear apo I do not 500 how opv ono