Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-06
A TRUE SUNDAY,

The Sabbath was made for man, and not
man for the Sabbath.-Mark, IL, n.
The name Sunday was very natural
ly given to that day of the week on
which the resurrection of Christ took
place. And very naturally, also, that
day of the week has been set apart as
time in which to engage in religious
services and mediate on the fact that
the angels who rolled the stone away
from His sepulchre will some time do
the same for us.
There is a peculiar significance in the
very name, Sun day. 1t has ring of
joy and triumph in it, like peal of
bells in the still air of a winter night.
The whole ante Christian world regard
ed the rising of the sun as the most awe
inspiring mystery of nature. 1t was
the victor from whose invincible and
imperial presence darkness fed to hide
itself in caverns until the majestic orb
sank behind western hills. 1t cleared;
all overhanging mists from the land
scape with it's mnltitudinous rays, KISS
ed the respondent sod into laughter,
and nursed the grass and wheat OF the
field into productive life. Little won
der, then. that it was regarded as the
beneficent cause of all things beautiful
and useful and worshipped with pomp
and ceremony.
No greater tribute of respect and
gratitude could have been paid to
Christ than the transferrence to Him OF
this sense of obligation to the blazing
orb. 1t was an inevitable consequence
of the benefits He had conferred upon
the race. What the material sun was
to the material universe, that He was
to the universe of spirit. Under His
influence the despair of doubts dark
night gave way and the smile OF a hope
full resignation came in its stead. Mems
aspirations were fructi6ed, and their
| faith in eternal things grew space. The
dirge of fate surrendered in the sover
eighty of Providence, and this short
life became the vestibule of the palace
in which we are disrobed of the dusty
garments of earth and fittingty Hrrayed
to enter the royal presence.
On the first day of the week, there
fore-the day on which the conqueror
Death was himself conquered, the day
when door was discovered on the fur
ther side of the tomb through which
the soul may enter heaven-the very
grass seemed greener in the fields; the
sky was deeply, darkly, beautifully
blue as never before; the astonished
world looked up and not down; human
sorrow was assuaged; broken hearts
we're healed of their wounds; the shin
| ing spires of another life were seen in
| the distance, and by general con-
sensus it was called Sunday.
The practical question is, How shall
this day be observed? And if we lay
aside all interested opinions and preJu-
dices it ought not to be a difficult ques-
| ton to answer.
Remembering that there is no divine
| injunction regarding it, and that 1T
rests solely on the grateful appreciation
Of thoughtful men and women, how
shall we pass these delightful hours OF
respite from care and toll?
Our civil law takes part in the con
| troversy and prescribes certain changes
in our ordinary routine. This action ls
not based on religious grounds, though
religion heartily Endorses it. but on the
| face that orderly society requires 1T.
| One seventh of our time is to be given
| to leisure. This is necessary to the
moral as we'll as the physical health OF
the citizen. Continuous work is ener
waiting and injurious. A period OF re
cuperation must be afforded that we
NAV retain our vigor and not use our
vitality in too spendthrift manner,
The hum of business ceases, the whlrr
of the mill wheel is not heard, the pas
sion for trade is checked, fathers and
mothers gather about the heartnstohe
with their families to enjoy the pleas
ures of domestic life.
All this is purely secular, its purpose
being to protect the race from the con
sequences OF carking care. A day
breathing spell when we are on long
Journey and bearing heavy RESPONSE
bllities is a matter of political expedl
ency. The pleasant dreams of Sunday
are a universal refreshment whlcn en-
ables us to enter the struggle with
coming events with largercourage and
increased energy. ;.
But overlapping this legal obligation
certain religious duties are found
These duties are as varied as nunah
nature, and it would be manifestly I'm
proper to impinge upon any ones per
sonal convictions.
One magnificent fact stands out like
a monument on the open plain-name,
lv. that the day represents the life oil
Christ. which we are to initiate, and the
immortality which we are to share
| with Him. Neither the civil nor the
moral law is authorized to dictate the
| way in which we shall show our ap
probation of that fact. Public opln
! ion must needs leave every man the
| widest measure of liberty in that mat
| ter. He is responsible for what he does
only to himself and God, provided. OF
course. he keeps within the require
ments OF the civil law.
| The Church has been founded and
stated preachers appointed that the
grave truths of two worlds may be dis
cussed within hearing of the people.
| This is an expedient provision, and It's
| influence on the community is beyond
measurement. But church going is a
privilege to be accepted or not as con
science and convenience may suggest.
This is practically the view whlch Is
taken by the populace. for when the
pulpit thunders the pews are never
empty, and when the pulpit is drowsy
the pews are never full. 1t is no mans
DUTY to listen to a dull sermon. Relig
ion exerts the sunniest. the most joyful
and hopeful and invigorating influence
in the world, and you have right to
90 anywhere--to church, or into the
fields. or to the ends of creation-ln Or
der to get it. And moreover, If you are
a serious man, with noble purpose In
your heart, it is impossible for any one
to tell you what you may do Oh Sun
day, for of that matter you are the only
Judge. There is but one rule that holds
good in all quarters, and that is to do
what will furnish you with nobler
thoughts and feelings, and avoid what
you know will be baneful. God has
given you that much freedom of choice.
and there is no power on the earth tnat
can justly abridge it.
You and God must settle such ques
tions, and when they have been settled
there is no further room for coLtro-
versy.
Sunday is Sunday, day of peace,
and joy, and light, and love. He who
has found these treasures must needs
have spent the day becomingly and
well.-NeD York Herald.
Dream Language.
n II 4 hod