Evening journal., 1894-05-28
MOVE TO CLOSE EARLY.
Eloquent Sermon on This Sub
jectBy Rev. S. B. Meeser.
AT THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH


Proprietors Have No Excuse to Keep
Their stores Open.
1t was large congregation that gath.
cred at Second Baptist Church, to hear
its popular pastor, Rev. S. B. Meeser, dis.
cuss the timely topic, Ethics Of the
Early Closing Movement His text was
II ye fulfill the royal law accordlng.to the
sculpture, thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself. ye do we'll.
In his Introductory remarks Mr.. Meeser
said that the stores of our city are kept
open. and those therein are kept at their
toll from early in the morning until late
at night They are worn to fatigue, and
life is drudgery. Who is responsible
for this condition OF affairs The re-
sponsibility lies between the proprietor
of the store and the people who patron.
ize the store.
1--WE, the people, are responsible. We
are caught buying in the night time.
We are the task masters. We have the
power to emsncipate them. Ii the peo-
pie do not pstronize. the proprietor will
have no excuse to keep his store open
There are few people who could not
make their purchases in the day time.
and we should concern ourselves with
this movement for the good of hu-
manity.
speak in behalf Of the whole In
dustrial class, employer and employe, A"
continued Mr.. Meeser. In part. LAS
minister | am glad to speak OF the matter
for believe it to be one of the many
social movements that will benefit
humanity-Rnd this is the work Of
humanity.
I'VE have gotten beyond the tradition
that Christianity Is to make man
slavishly content with any imposition
the world puts on him, and to give him. a
heavenly reward hereafter We have
passed to the truth that il is part Of the
work OF the churches to better the condi-
tion of man here in this world by an
nounciDg the principles Of right and
justice and brotherly love among smen
Social and industrial enterprise has
treated man one sidedly. Man is body,
mind and soul The enterprise that
gives no consideration to mans mind or
soul Is inhuman. IL is not brutal, but it
is brutalizing, because il debases the wider
use of the body-the whole man, and
repudiates the very faculties that dis
tinguish man from the brute-the mind
and soul, and these three are indissolubly
oiHed in full manhood, as they are Joined
IN mans nature, body and soul.
Science is teaching us, and science is
part Of Gods large revelation, that we
need not fear the truth. Science is teach
ing us that much of the iniquity of the
world has fertile soil in the disease of
the body and the brain. From our
double view of Science aud the Bible, We
know sin is more than a disease. II is
also the disposition of an iniquitous heart.
Nevertheless, If by Christian princi-
pies and labor we can lessen the physical
basis by changing the cause Of disease to
power of health, it is a Christian work of
honor Jesus Christ and help to man.
1T must be very evident TO the least
thoughtful Of us that certain diseased
conditions Of the body induce passion.
Overlong hours of labor, tension of re
sponsibility, each undoes the perfect Or
der Of the nervous and vital forces Of the
body until It becomes almost irresistible
TO yield to some indulgence and TO en-
gage in physical and vital stimulants
Thus while intoxicating liquors cause
poverty and disease, it is also true that
disesse poverty. worn out body and de
pleted vital forces from excessive labors
also cause intemperance, drunkenness
and indulgence in the baser passions
THE vast majority of working people
are working too long hours, both en-.
ployer and employe
"a manufacturer " ON 1 once invited
to come to my church told me he had Il
be at his mill st As o'clock In the morn
ing and it was 2 80 p. m, before he coulc
have supper at night. Continuing, h,
said, my evenings are too short for any
mental Improvement, and / am too weary
to make an effort If had the time. Sun.
day is the only morning / can sleep long
/ go TO IL o'clock church and spend th'
afternoon in driving and the evening ai
home with nay family
Il take this man, an employer, as
i type of the business and working man
and his experience as typical one, witt
the exception of the method OF spending
the short evenings and Sundays. What
can such a civilization result in2 ONLY
in ignorance, stupidity and immortality.
Now l calmly charge il upon tb'
system of our business and industrial
requirement, that makes such life neces
sary to the great enemy of intellectua
and religious improvement, and that it II
all too frequently the source Of intem
perance, evil, low amusements, and worse
the lust and unspsskable crimes of oul
cities.
I'm an article on social aspects In Amer
lea, | saw these words: Whenever
asked why the lowest kind of varlet.
entertainments at the theatres drew
greater crowds of all classes, than
strong play of human passion, received
the same reply that orr men, at the en'
of their days work, are too weary L
think. They only want to be amused
Anything will do that makes then
laugh Continuing, the writer says
Such degree of mental prostration /
almost pathetic.
But even il the body were able Z
endure it, the projection Of work int
the evenings takes the time that nigh
be BEAUTIFULLY and morally enjoyed. an
the man is left at late hour prepares
for the evenings recreation with all th
better sources Of recreation half done
But the saloon and the brothel, the lo'
dance house and the variety theatre wit
its impure suggestions, these furnis
excitement, laughter and give a relic
not so lasting, neither pure and gooC