The morning call., 1893-10-02
A MINISTER'S PLEA
For Keeping the Fair Open
on Sundays.
Rev. Leslie w. Sprague Thinks the
Laborers Should Have a Chance
to See the Exposition.

Last evening the Second Unitarian
Church was again crowded. many going to
hear what Rev. Leslie w. Sprague would
say on Sunday and Our Midwinter Fair"
The sermon, which was a mastery one
and was listened to with wrapt attention
began as follows: lido not like to appear
in debate with others who are sincere and
are doing what seems to them right. and
hope that what | shall say tonight may
not seem a criticism upon the other Chris
ian ministers of this city with whom
cannot agree in this matter. l wish only
to criticize the position which some have
taken.
II am glad that the Unitarian church is
not an clesiasteal sect, and that l and
every other minister may speak upon such
subjects as this, and not with the air OF
Thus saith the Lord but as common
citizens speaking what seems to us COM
mons sense. | do not know that l shall
express the full sentiment OF this congre-
CATION nor of a single member. That is
not my business. l will express my own
views and you are privileged to accept
them or reject them. but all l ask is that
you think with me.
IN the first place we are TO have an ex-
position. California is great country in
tsslf. 1t has great resources ana grow
ing population. California is long way
from Chicago, and though everyone
speaks of our exhibit as among the best
in the White City, it can give Eastern
and European people but little idea OF the
wonderful products Of this coast. Chi
cag0 is so far away that few California
people can visit the fair.
There are Two important reasons for
the Midwinter Exp0sitiOn; first. that
people who are at Chicago may see our
coast; second, that the people of the
coast may see the fair. The first is good
commercial reason, justifying the ex-
pense; the second is good humane
reason far more than justifying the effort
being made. After all the great excuse
for the Midwinter Exposition is humane,
and is larger than either of the state
ments just made.
1--WE are in the midst Of great financial
crisis. Mills are closing down. Capitai
is obliged TO draw INTO its she'll and await
the passing of the storm. EMPLOYERS must
do the little work gwen them with fewer
men. The result is that there are 100000
more unemployed in America than is usual
at this time OF year. Shall these honest
workingmen turn beggaIs. and thereby
pauperZe their better self-respecting in
stincts? Shall they go hungry and
threaten the stability of society by the
fearful erowl of cold ana hungry man
who knows he was made for better things,
or shall some way be provided by which
to tide over those who are willing to work
Eli better days come.
"Denver solved the problem as far as
she is concerned when she abolished the
sOuph0uses-a dangerous expedient-and
set about improving her streets. Oakland,
| understand, is to do the same.
'BUt great move for California and
bofa ir,f hfa inn i,
winter Exposition. | confess that did
rot have much enthusiasm over the pro-
ject till / went out to the park and saw
the multitude of men and teams employed
there, earning an honest dollar. Then
asked what are the wealthy charitable
people of this. city doing that they do not
put up a million dollars and in really
permanent and beneficial way help those
hungry men who are crying for food and
labor?
~ say the Midwinter Exposition is a
humane movement. 1t is not charity. Il
is ot aims. Isis real friendship and busi-
ness-a commercial undertaking in the
name. of human brotherhood. 1t means
la Dor for the unemployed food and clothes
fer their families; it means check upon
the howl of the hungry man. which threat
ems our social order.
i"And more than that the fair itself
means education; it will quicken our COM
merce, our manufactures; it will interest
Eastern capital in the great field before
them here. Ii will bring to our shores a
most desirable class of people.
+ "Many able- bodied men are applying to
me every week for labor. Let us feed
these men in .ths only legitimate way by
giving him change to earn a dollar.
When a crisis comes capital draws in and
the capitalist lives on his stores. The
labOrer has no store to live on, and, being
hungry, complains. But feed him by Civ
ing him work and he Will be. your friend
1T is on just such ground as this that
the Midwinter Fair appeals to Us.
"ADd now for the immediate question oil
the evening-'Suuday and the .Midwintel
Fair This question was raised in Chi
cag0 long before there was any certainty
of fair, aud preachers became corrupt
politicians and threatened the heads o1
Congressman who dared to make an. ap
/ preparation to an open fair.
The question came up here when the
| project was fully started. One preacher
refusing to assist In the opening exercises
unless he could be assured that the fail
would be closed on the Sabbath day, and
others have followed in his footsteps. ant
| one have been as generous as DR.. Gard
ner, who urged cooperation, even IL ths
| Christian people we're to be defeated anC
the fair kept olen.
"Here 1 Mant.to go back to my text and
| remind you that the Sabbath was made fol
man. / wonder what Jesus would say tc
the boycotting Of DIR. Gardner's folio wers
| and in his name to-day.
Il wish / had time to trace the origin
and growth of the Sabbath for you. Yor
| know that command, Remember the Sab
bath day and keep it holy." does not apply
| to Sunday at all. The. seven tn day people
| Jew and Adventist. are the only reall,
consistent followers of the texr. On tn,
authority of the Bible the Seventh Day
| Adventists retitioned Congress to have
the Chicago Fair closed on Saturday. apt
| this was the only consistent application.
70 bali he, , .,