The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-03

tue ldDOTlDS Glasses Ol HONOLULU 10 De
able to sit down and listen to good
music on Sunday afternoon.
CITIZEN.
Mr.. EDITOR: The proposition to
devote Sunday afternoon to Open-air
musical performances by our brass
band is q measure that ought to be
discussed on its merits. II is of very
little significance in the right decision
of the question that those who take
one side are stigmatized as bigots and
narrow minded, and those on the
other side as lax and irreligious.
Right and reason should determine
the stand we take, not personal preju-
dices or preferences.
Our view Of the Sabbath as being
essentially a religious institution, or
as merely a legal holiday, will inffu-
ence largely the view we take of what
is desirable or allowable in the OBJ
servance of the Sabbath. If the day is
of divine appointment for specific
purpose, dependent upon divine au-
thority for its sanction, then the aim
and object of the designation of our
weekly Sabbath will indicate and
control the spirit and method of its
observance If our weekly Sabbath
be of merely human origin, one of the
DldIlf vi upClotAOiOh VI VI
state-craft, then popular sentiment or
desire may be expected to give tone
and style to Sunday amusements and
Sunday revelry.
But the fact is that no other salts
factory and sufficient account for the
observance of our weekly Sabbath can
be found than that which is given in
our Sacred Scriptures. The week is
not connected with any natural phe-
nomena. 1t has no foundation in the
phases of the moon, the circuit of the
sun, or the movements of star. 1t is
a period of time, not fixed by any as
Economical laws, but by some author
itative appointment above and beyond
nature 1t is witness to no physical
phenomenal regularity of succession.
It is q sign and seal of supreme spir-
itual authority, and a demand for our
loyal allegiance in hearty obedience,
trust and reverence.
That all men do not acknowledge
such demand, and yield such Obedi-
-ence is no proof that such authority
does not exist, any more than the
long lists of delinquent tax payers
proYe that the Provisional Govern
ment does not exercise paramount
authority in this community. Our
week is a combination of days, entire
ly distinct from all other periods that
wears will go on independent of hui
man action. But if any community
does not observe the week, it ceases
to exist, so far as that community is
concerned, as one of its established
institutions. If all communities
should observe it, some supreme
authority must be recognized in its
establishment and maintenance.
ONLY one such Supreme Authority
int "a nhSarUQn nf tho
Christian Sabbath. 1t stands at the
boundary of our week of seven days,
marking off the first day of the week,
to be kept as religious observance,
pledge and memorial of loyalty to the
Creator of the world, the divine Re-
.deemer of mankind. 1t is sign and
seal of Gods prerogative IN the dispo-
sition of our time, independent OF ma
ture, independent of science. This
time is traceable solely to the divine
institution of day of sacred rest, APP
no;nted also as memorial day by the
5ivine Founder of Christianity, who
redeemed us from sin ana satan oy
his triumph over death and the grave.
Whoever recognizes the Christian
Sabbath thereby virtually recognizes
the divinity of its Author, ana the
duty of loyalty to HIS com Is
IN InlS IlnSiCShSAA
t;an life and progress, one may as Wen
'Ianv that the sun is the source or the
1;ght of day as deny the paramount
i1fiuence of the gospel OF Christ IN
Establishing and moulding the lnstltu-
t;ons of civilized society as IL exists
today. The community IN whlch we
I've is distinctively Christian IN ITS
institutions The facts ana principles
niyen us in the gospel, guide, II they
60 not control, the customs anu ia"s
IF the community. No anti-Chrlstlah
antiments would be tolerated LOT one
sS,nmeut. as the acknowledged 1unua-
r,entaI principles of our soclai Inter
course and relations. a;ob,x,
IF these premises are unuenlaoIy
80 and correctly stated, then the
iogical and practical lnnuence Is ona'
io6islation and usages must pe con.
liant with the aim ana ooJect oI
ct,a institutions established py Tue
II;r;ne founder of Christianity. me me
UUt,riStian sabbath, the first DAY Oh the
Cais is one of these institutions OF
Weeh;; ohcervance. Will the aim and
socla at Of its divine founder be best
cured by secularizlng .ie 70 " observ,
nv sacredly devotlng II 20 S JU9ei W
# public religious wOr ,s,n;tu as
-, Christian community
1etin- certs by. brass oano
tha othet authority conso-
TIC act of the Instltu-
What c~Sabbath. or are
a. for? aesdesign and