The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-07
The Atlanta Exposition and the Sab.

The Atlanta Exposition and the Sab.
Are the gates to be opened on the Sab
bath? Is the Christian sentiment OF the
country TO be ignored by those who invite the
patronage OF the Christian public? Is the
serving OF Chicago to be repeated? We have
seen nothing and heard nothing about the
policy of the Board OF Managers. 1t Is time
something was being said and done. There
were hundreds who refused to go to Chicago
Just because the managers refused to close the
gates on the Sabbath. Atlanta will have the
same experience If she follows the same
policy. We hope the pastors OF Atlanta will
stir the matter and get definite expression
from the managers. 1t Is only two months
now until the exposition opens. Shall the
Sabbath be recognized or trampled upon :?
Let there De no dodsilg. There stands the
law OF God. The requirement Is plain. 1t
needs no critical analysis TO interpret the
meaning: Remember the Sabbath day to
keep II holy"
Chicago probed to the bottom the gushing
pretense about the dear working man." He
did not want the sunday" opening. and was
CONSPICUOUS by his absence. When II was
found that the expenses were more than the
income on Sabbath, the managers were anX-
ious 10 close the gates, but they had gone too
far and the courts forbade the closing. From
the lowest standpoint Of worldly gain the
experiment was notable failure"
The Press and Banner copies the above paE-
agraphs from the the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian.
There can be no question as to the duty of
all Chr istian people In regard TO the obser-
vance of the Sabbath day.. We believe that
Christians everywhere will agree that IL Is
our duty TO remember the Sabbath day to
keep II holy"
But the question here Is, what should be
done.
The editor of the Press and Banner was in
Chicago during the Worlds Fair. The ques,
tlon OF Sunday opening had been discussed
by the religious press OF the country, and
whatever influence these papers and Inc
church could exercise was put TO against
the opening of the Fair Ground Park. Not
one word had been said about opening the
other parks OF the city, and we presume
from that fact, that many persons did not
know OF the opening OF the gates OF any park
on Sunday, except the Fair Grounds. Moth
Ing was said about the running OF the trains,
the Keeping open Of the hotels, the presenta-
ton of vulgar and corrupting scenes In the
theaters on Sunday and Sunday nights.
The editor being interested to know OF ms ms
opening of the Fair Grounds on Sunday, went
to see for himself what the Fair Grounds
were on Sunday.
The grounds we're deserted. The buildings
were closed. We saw little but bare walls,
and long stretches of vacant space, with only
here and there a little group. The gates,
however, were kept open and the gate Keep
ers were ready TO receive the tickets. The
show In its legal aspect was going On.
But the exhibitors the booth Keepers, and tne
people were not there.
With all the exhibits closed, the machinery
standing still, and the booth keepers absent,
the people pre- ierred TO 90 To some OF the
other splendid parks, where an immense
multitude Of people could be seen enjoying 6
themselves, each In his own chosen way.
These parks, with their splendid equipages,
their flowing fountains, their green hills and
pleasant levels, their placid waters and
their swiftly gliding boats made a scene
more pleasing and more inviting. BY com.
mon consent the people by the thousands as
sembled In the parks morning and evening,
where seemingly all had merry time, ap'
parently all unconscious OF the fact that 1t
WAS the Lords day; !, ~. 90 n,ro, IN.
volved In the opening or closing OF the gates
on Sunday, as In the making or other places
more attractive.
Sunday is a matter OF small concern. The
attractions of the day at that place Will be
made or marred by the exhibitors. Ii they
stop their machinery and close their oootns
and stop their exhibits, the people Will hunt
more interesting or more dlverting scenes.
The probability Is, judging from Chicago
that the parks around Atlanta Will be maze
attractive. The city railroad trains Will be
run to their fullest capacity, and thousands
upon top OF thousands OF people. will go else
where on Sunday than to the Fair Grounds.
The theaters will no doubt draw great crowds,
and the barrooms and many immoral places
If the Fair Grounds at Atlanta are mana.
ged or governed half as well as were the Fair
! Grounds in Chicago, the grounds OF the great
exhibit will be the safest and best place for
the people. The Chicago show was SO well
managed that one saw neither improper per-
sons or improper conduct on the grounds.
The great thing 10 do, is TO impress good
moral principles on the people who go TO the
show. They are not going to shut themselves
up at their boarding houses. As they will 60
out, the effort should be 10 keep them
from going TO improper places: We need q
religion OF principle, which will make man
conduct himself as we'll away from home as
he does at home.
When we 60 abroad and see preachers. pious
women and sanctimonious church men CAD.
ding about great city on Sunday, making
merry while having good time generally
the average man Is shocked and Is led 10
doubt the sincerity OF their professions OF
Christian faith according to our way ,6s o.
conduct Of majority OF people who &c
abroad. The rule seems 10 he to disregard
the Sabbath day. Then If our Christian
brethren would do real service, let tnem
urge church mem bers to deport them.
selves properly when they 60 abroad. II
matters not so much what Others may do, SO
long as we ourselves do the right Thing, ano
let our light shine so that others may see the
way and learn the right.
The Presbyterian says that hundTeds OF
Christians refus ed to go to Chicago because
| the gates were open on Sunday.
mistake. II they had gone their visions
might have been made clear. and their con.
cepLions OF the great show would have alter.
ed. They would have thought better OF this
sinstrcken world If they had seen the great
M attitudes of the best people OF America
| No aggregation of people coull show higher
general standard for respectaoiiity, intelli,
gence, and, we presume, religion and morals
| TOO.
The staying-away Christians were inconsis-
| tent. If they really remained away because
the doors of the Fair Grounds were open on
sunday, and If these eminently cohscien-
tious people had any befuddled idea that they
were thus serving the Lord, then they should
boycott al railroads that run on Sunday
They should burn all the railroad bonds
! that now support our colleges. They
should destroy all the city bonds which
our Theological Seminaries hold, because the
interest is paid In part by revenues from H.
censed sin. They should cease TO use lime IN
the construction OF their houses, or In wash
| ing their barns. The limekilns when once
lighted burn ceaselessly, day and night, year
in and year out. They should stop their
ocean voyages, except in case OF necessity
and IN mercy, for the reason that the ships dc
not cast anchor on Saturday night.
The question at last Is, not whether the
gates are open, but, whether we conduct our
selves properly.