Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-10

| finances shall warrant it, the plea
that congress itself violated the con-
dition, when it turned a portion of
| the original appropriation into an
other channel, are the merest sub
terfuges, and discredit both the
logic and the morals of those who
offer them
In regard to the argument adj
vanced as to the foreigners present
by invitation, that they ought not to
be compelled to remain away from
the fair on Sunday when they have
| no scruples on the matter, | think
it sufficient to say that it is alto
gether false idea of hospitality that
it should surrender principle in the
entertainment of guests. If we sac
ritice the principle always heretofore
honored by our nation in keeping
Sunday as Gods day, we will justly
incur the contempt of other nations
that do not have the sacred institu-
tions we have.
Sunday opening means the entail
ment of IL vast amount of labor, and
will only help to rivet on the labor
ing classes the chains that bind them
now. They will be losers and not
the gamers by opening the gates.
The history of nations proves that
desecration of Sunday reverts with
terrific effect on the laboring classes.
The more Sunday is made an open
day, the more it is evaded by labor.
We have to deal with facts and not
theories, and the facts are that an
open Sunday means more wide
spread desecration of the day and
inevitably more Sunday labor.
fear that the material advant-
ages to be be reaped by our nation
from the magnificent display of our
advancement will be more than Off
set bv the moral effects of an open
fair on Sunday. The former will be
great. the latter will be disastrous
in the extreme. Our nations foun-
dation was laid in the fear of God and
in reverence for His laws. Why
should we now as Il nation go back
on our history, and in the eyes of
the world desert the stand taken at
the Centennial exposition? five had
reason for regarding Sunday in 1876,
we have much more reason for doing
so in 1898.
| believe that the trueSt and
best sentiment in our land is unalter
ably opposed to opening the fair on
Sunday. | believe that the highest
interests of our nation can better be
subserved by keeping the fair closed
on Sunday. To yield to the materi-
aliStic influences so prevalent Is to
retrograde in every way. Respect
for our own principles, regard for
our own customs and consideration
c., bo na+iAna1 oh
would keep the gates of the Worlds
fair closed on sunday. If they are
to be opened they will be opened in
violation of all these"
JOHN II. KERR.
Pastor of the Central Presbyterian
church.
Rev. Y. L. Sweet.
Yes, | am in favor of Sunday open
ing of the Columbian Exposition. l
consider Il visit to the fair means
of grace, and see no more harm in 1t
Christian visiting it on Sunday, than
in his driving his family out on that
day for recreation. In the Chris
tian church. Sunday or the Lords
day has always been considered n
feast day. Our Puritan friends kept
it as fast day and have thereby
uOIe very luucn TO DflnT IL INTO us
repute as the day of God. All Chris
tian people should attend public
worship on the Lora's day. and also
on all other festival and fast days
appointed by the church in com
memoration of some great event in
our Lords life. The observance of
the sabbath" was abrogated by the
Christian church. which substituted
the Lords Day" or first day of the
week. in commemoration of our
Lords resurrection. The Jews did
not get the command to observe the
sabbath" from the scriptures. 1t
was observed by them before the old
testament was written. and so with
the observances of the Lords dav.
The Christian church kept it as
day of worship. JOY and feast before
u word OF the new testament was
written. We do not get our author
ity for it from the new testament
The new testament is simply
record of the fact. Any one VINO OBJ
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