The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-17
TO OBSERVE SUNDAY
Presbyterian Synod's Strong
Report Upon the
Subject.
STILL AFTER RACE TRACKS
Want an Anti Gambling Clause in
the Constitution-Yesterday's
Proceedings.
Special to the Jersey City Nears.

Rev. Frederick r.. Boad, Phi. D., of
Blackwood, who has been a member OF
the Synod for thirty-six years,
ed his committees. The Jersey City
Presbytery members of the committees
are:-Bills and Oyertures, Charles A.
. Dewitt: Judicial Business. Edwin A.
Buckley, D. D.; Narrative for 1895, the
Rev. Frank E.. Miller.
The stated clerk reported that GER
tain papers had been sent TO him, At
the proper time these papers were re-
ferred to the Appropriate Committee.
Among them was a complaint by Or.
Haley against the P~resbytery of Newark.
The complaint has a bearing upon the
Brigg case. But it is not thought
that it will be brought Upon the floor of
the Synod. 1t was referred to the Ju-
dicial Committee, of which DR.. Studdi
ford is chairman.
DR.. Kempshall offered the following
resolution, and it was adopted by the
Synod
tion be adopted
ITO the Legislature of New Jersey
THE Synod of New Jersey respect
fully petition your honorable body to
formulate an amendment to the consti-
tuition of this State. prohibiting pool.
selling, book-making and gambling of
any kind, and submit the same to the
people for approval, either together with
the proposed amendments relating to
the judiciary now pending or separately.
I'D. That a committee of Synod, CON
sisting of one minister and VIM. M:
Lanning, ESQ, of Trenton, be appointed
to lay the above petition before the Leg
islature at its approaching session"
RACE TRACKS ABOLISHED.
In presenting his resolution, DR.. Kemp
-f.1I nfnyroA n tho fact nat nm n
help of God, the citizens of the State
had driven the race track from the
State and ridden the statute books
of the State of that form of iniquity.
ability of New York State ~forbidding
pool-selling and such methods of gam
bling, and which would throw back
the stream of iniquity on this State.
He urged it's adoption. The resolution
passed without debate.
The Rev. George s. Mott, I'D, pre-
scented the report of the
1.-THE question of Sabbath Observance
in the State of New Jersey remains
as it has been, a conviction and an en-
friends of the Lords day been more
deeply persuaded of the Importance Of
maintaining it's proper obseryance-ana
this for the sake of religion, of good
body of toilers. There also exists a
prevalent desire 10 prosecute suct
measures as will preserve the safe
guards which now protect the day.
"But when the attempt Is made to
work out this desire into efficient en-
deavor, serious obstacles are encoun-
tered. There is, first, a disposition to
let the other person do hard and dis
agreeable work.
Again, there exists that weakness
which undermines any good movement,
scious hat their own example is incon-
sistent with that which they profess to
promote. The fact is open and humili-
ating that too many churches are lax,
and some of them exceedingly so, in
their own regard for the sacredness of
the day; and so the foes of the Sabbath
are largely those of its house.
ANOTHER OBSTACLE.
Another obstacle is the confusion of
opinion as to he trictness with which
Sunday should be observed. This prac-
ter about which We must be cautious
in laying down rules. The d~elicacy
consists mostly in that it is complicated
with inclination: we are not perplexed
SO much as to works of necessity and
mercy as We are regarding the measure
of personal indulgence which may be
tolerated on Sunday. lAnd just here,
as in other modes of Christian conduct.
the spirit of s~elf-Genial needs to be
aroused.
1--WE should grant to others all that
we claim for ourselves. And lastly,
there confronts all efforts to maintain
Sunday laws, the strongly entrenched
and persistent dissertation of the day by
PUBLIC lines of travel; by the sale of mer-
~chandise, OF which the sale and distribu-
ton of the Sunday newspaper is a part
and by the surreptitious sale of intoxi-
cants. These and similar modes of desc
Grafton bring gain to those pursuing them
and qualification to the patrons. And
profit and pleasure are hard forces to
contend with. But no amount of money,
and no self-indpsgence can be a compen-
sation to the Individual and to the State
for the loss Of the Sabbath. And Sun
Ill., &@n u G1ranAnx ~ pfI ~ ~ 11a1ax w
saloons and the Sunday newspapers,
onee they dominate the Sabbath, will
change it from the peoples day into the
oesA FHfR OPEN ON SUNDAY.
"All these a~nti-Sabbath forces are at
work vigorously in our State. In the
but with easy access to most Of them by
a side door. h sale of Sunday news
papers is everywhere unrestricted. This
Atlantic County Agricultural Fair, which
was omitted last year, was held this
year. It was open on Sunday, Septem-
Der 16, as has been the case in previous
delphia makes these st~atements;.As
usual, Sunday will be a great day. More
strangers were present than on n pre-
syious occasion. n this is given as II
of the reasons:-It was Sunday, and the
wine makers and the grape growers kept
open house. 1t is a disgrace to Egg Har-
State, that this is permitted year after
year. In some of our cities baseball,
bicycle races and athletic sports are a
conspicuous feature of a violation of our
Sunday laws.
ssNew forms of Sunday Dissertation are
now becoming prominent, to which your
feel constrained to call atten-
fion. Electric railroads are made the
occasion of increasing this dissertation
These extend to the suburbs of our cities
to which cars are run frequently on Sun
day, and they are crowded, and pleas
nre grounds are opened there; where con-
certs, paid for wholly or in part by the
companies, are given, and refreshments
are sold. There are members of the
Presbyterian Church who are directors
OF these roads. The excuse is to accom-
modate the public, but that accommo-
dalton is turned into an enticement.
Also the convenient and useful bicycle
Is perverted into al occasion of Sabbath
bicycle clubs to appoint meets for
the purpose of excursion, or to get up a
run, and in some instances a public race.
although to go on a..bicycle is In
itself no more of a violation of the
Lords Day than to ride in a carriage,
yet the very great convenience OF a
bicycle as compared with a buggy, fur
nishes a strong temptation to many to
spend a part If not the whole OF Sun
day in riding merely for pleasure, or
for sport. We believe that many youths
are Iured away from the Sanctuary and
Sabbath school by the attractions OF a
bicycle ride.
"The success of feeble and ~spasmodic-
efforts made in cities of this State, to
secure a compliance with existing Sun
dav laws furnishes sufficient proof, hat
where these endeavors are fully sup
ported and constantly renewed, many
of the causes which are a violation
Of those laws, and which produce dis
-..1l hn pnuanua1 90 that Wn