St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-22

llSVe In the SaDDatn as day OF rest,
not because God ceased from labor
| on that day, but because man needs to
cease from labor on that day. The in
| Stltution is not based upon the words of
Moses, but upon the necessities of hui
manity. 1t is sacred, not because it is
supremely blessed and hallowed, but
because it subserves the welfare of
man. There is but one thing in this
world that possesses inherent sanctity
and that is human nature. There is
but one thing truly devine-the soul,
altar, ritual. ceremony, day-theSe are
sacred only as the minister to its de-
velOpment and culture. Man was not
made to keep the Sabbath; the Sabbath
was made to keep the man, to keep him
in physical health and soundness and in
ellectual vigor.
On the subject of Sabbath observance
DIR. Shutter said: In our own age and
nation the observance must be modified
by certain conditions of life and thought.
You cannot take the Sabbath of one
period and make it fit another.
You cannot take the Sabbath
OF one nation and project it
bodily into another. You cannott
take the Sabbath of village and fit it
to the n.ultitudinous eomplexity of a
city. The Sabbath is not fixed and un-
variable, but flexible and capable of
adaptation. 1t is not a rock that stands
unmovable through the centuries; but
it is rather sea whose waves adjust
themselves to the combinations of the
shore and offer themselves to the use
of those who dwell thereon.
This leads me to say that L conceive
great mistake was made when it was
ordained that the worlds fair should
close its gates on Sunday-a mistake
that sincerely hope there may yet be
found some legal means to correct 1t
is a mistake for the Christian people of
this country, this land Of tolerance and
equality to insist upon anything
that looks like coercion. The object
in closing the fair is to bring
it to pass that more people shall go to
church. But this course will rather en-
bitter multitudes ana turn them away
from the churches. They will look
upon this action as an invasion of their
rights, and will justly become indig-
nant. The church has lost a magniti-
cent opportunity to show her sympathy
with all classes and conditions of men,
to do good even to their enemies, to
diSarm opposition by magnanimIty.
regret the attitude of the churches
towards the Columbia exposition, be-
cause it is not wise for religion to in
yoke the interference of the state. The
most unfortunate thing the good people
could have done was to roll up
these petitions that frightened con-
gress into attaching a relig-
i0us order to their appropriation
bill. The petitions were a sign of
weakness. not of strenth; of waning
power, and not of increasing domain.
Wnen religion appeals to the state to
enforce the observance of its sacred
days, to prop and bolster its outward
institutions, the blight of death is upon
its vitality and spirit.
The American Sabbath will be and
must be the expression OF that other
American idea, personal freedom. 1t
is none Of my neighbours business how
| spend Sunday, so long as do not in
terfere with him. This is the only Inn
itation. On the other hand, he is not
to interfere with me. We may
try to influence one another
by persuasion, by argument, by
friendly counsel, but neither of US
has any right to lift himself up before
the other and say: "YOu must" Ii
man who has been shut up amidst
smoke and dust all week thinks III will
do him and his family more geod to go
lllO Lllc WOOuS anu W lu0 ldheS, WHclC
they can get a breath of fresh air
and bit of sunshine than to go
to church, then l say he has a
right to 90, and you and [ have no right
to tell him his soul is in peril or stig-
matize him as a Sabbath breaker. II
another whose time for reading has
been scantY wishes to supplement his
fragmentary moments by some hours
in the library, say go, and God bless
you." This is the way feel about the
observance of the Sabbath.
This opening or closing question is
+ not to be considered in itself. 1t is but
one battle in conflict that RACES along
the entire line-a warfare that between
the spirits of rhe past and the spirit of
the present, between bondage ane free
dom, between superstition and sun
light. OF the ultimate result there can
be no doubt. The sunshine will con-
quer.
In conclusion DR.. Shutter said: "Of
one thing / am sure, if the doors Of the
worlds fair remain bolted, it will be
the last triumph of bigotry in an age Of
democratic thought-a land Of religious
freedom.