The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-04-03

Mr.. EDITOR: The proposition to
devote Sunday afternoon to open-air
musical performances by our brass
band is a measure that ought to be
discussed on its merits. 1t 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 legal holiday, will infiu-
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 a 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. II our weekly Sabbath
be of merely human origin, one of the
many inventions of superstition or of
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 a witness to no physical
phenomenal regularity of succession.
1t is a sign and seal of supreme spir-
itual authority, and 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 10 proof that such authority
does not exist, any more than the
long lists OF delinquent tax payers
prove that the Provisional Govern
ment does not exercise paramount
authority in this community. Our
week is combination of days, entire
ly distinct from all other periods that
mark duration of time. Months and
years will go on independent of hui
man action. But II 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 it's
establishment and maintenance.
Only one such Supreme Authority
is recogniZed-int the observance of the
Christian Sabbath. 1t stands at the
boundary of our week of seven days,
marking off the first day of the week,
to he kept as religious observance, u
pledge and memorial of loyalty 10 the
Creator of the world, the divine Re-
deemer of mankind. 1t is a sign and
seal of Gods prerogative in the dispo-
sition of our time, independent of ma
ture, independent of science. This
peculiar septenary division of our
time is traceable solely to the divine
institution of a day of sacred rest, ap-
pointed also as a memorial day by the
divine Founder of Christianity, who
redeemed us from sin and Satan by
his triumph over death and the grave.
Whoever recognizes the Christian
Sabbath thereby virtually recognizes
the divinity of its Author, and the
duty of loyalty to His commands.
In this nineteenth century of Chris
tan life and progress, one may as we'll
deny that the sun is the source of the
light of day as deny the paramount
influence of the gospel of Christ in
establishing and moulding the institu-
lions of civilized society as it exists
today. The community in which we
live is distinctively Christian in its
institutions. The facts aud principles
given US in the gospel, guide, if they
do not control, the customs and laws
of the community. No anti-Christ;an
sentiments would be tolerated for one
moment, as the acknowledged funda-
mental principles of our social inter-
course and relations.
If these premises are undeniably
true, and correctly stated, then the
logical and practical influence is that
legislation and ussges must be con-
coriant with the aim and object of
the institutions established by the
divine founder of Christianity. The
Christian Sabbath, the first day of the
week, is one of these institutions of
social observance. Will the aim and
object of its divine founder be best
secured by secularizing the Sabbath,
or by sacredly devOting it to observ-
ances of public religious worship, as
becomes Christian community?
Are open-air concerts by a brass band
under Government authority conso-
nant with the object of the institu-
tioD of the Christian Sabbath, or are
they incongruous with its design and
purpose? G. NJ HYDE.