Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
THE R1CHMoND D1sPAToH-sUNDAY. OCTOBER %. 1895.

| though Il reach the latter point s!x.
| or even twelve, hours after 1t does tne
| former, yet 1t is precisely the same gay
when IL does reach there that II was
| when II reached the eastern point those
several hours before, Just the same az
a through train, which leaves New York
for San francisco, Is the same train on
reaching San Francisco, ard all the in-
termediate points along the way. IL was
when n left New York. The day gets
to the eastern point first; IL lsaves IL
first. 1t reaches the western point iater,
1t leaves II later. But 1t IL the same
length Of time passing each point. Anu
II the day In mind, In this Illustration,
should be the seventh day tnot from
any point we might count, but the seventh
of the week. then II would be
the Sabbath. And just six days from
the time the day was at any or these
points, Il will be Sabbath again at that
point. Thus, we keep the day as IL
comes to us, wherever We are on the
globe. And when it gets to US, 1t Is the
seventh day from the time II was the
Sabbath there before, having passed tnat
point Just six days previously.
Now, to talk about keeping the same
identical moments and hours simultane-
ousy all over the world, Is Inherent
thing and would be impossible; because,
while Il is day on one side OF the globe,
at the same instant 1t Is night on the
other. But Il is the day the Lord en-
Joins to be kept-"the seventh day Is
the Sabbath Of the Lord, thy Cod '-and'
as the day Is governed by the sun Gene
sis l., 49,, 1t is clearly Indicated when
II reaches any point on the globe. and
as plain as can be that 1t can be observed
by those at that point when 1t reaches
them, and so on around the world; apd
hence by all, everywhere. Right here
Is where many make the mistake or con
founding the identical moments and the
day. Let this point be kept In mind.
and all Is clear: and it will be seen that
the seventh day can be kept, as well as
the first.
And now, lastly. as to the teachings OF
history on the change OF the day, the
lack OF space forbids my taking up the
very questionable evidence OF the early
fathers and some OF the authorities cited
by you, but for which l would be glad 10
do so, but Will let q few well-authentt-
Gated and reputable authorities speak,
whose testimony is recognized as stand
ard the world over, and Will be called in
question by no one. Says Neander: THE
festival of Sunday. like all other festi-
walls, was always only human ordinance,
and 1t was far from the intention of
the Apostles to establish a divine COM
manu- III llllS TeSpbCl, lar lIotl iilciLI, anu
from the early Apostolic Church, to trans
fer the laws OF the Sabbath to Sunday
Roses translation OF Neander. page 1888.
Sir William Domville. an English his
torian, says: Centuries OF the Christian
era passed away before the Sunday was
observed by the Christian Church as a
Sabbath. History does not furnish us
with a single proof or indication that it
was at any time so observed previous
to the sabbatical edict of Constantine, in
a. ID. 321 determination OF the Six
Texts, page 29l.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica" ninth
edition Cart. Sunday. says: THE earliest
recognition OF the observance of Sunday
as a legal duty is a constitution OF Con-
stantine In 81 A. D., enacting that all
courts OF justice, inhabitants OF towns,
and workshops were TO be at rest on
Sunday Venerabili die Solis). with an
exception In favor of those engaged in
agricultural labor
"Chambers's Encyclopaedia" says OF
Sunday: "Unquestionably the first law,
either ecclesiastical or civil, by which
the sabbatical observance OF that day is
known to have been enjolned is the edict
Of Constantine. 81 a. Dart. Sabbath.
Bishop Jeremy Taylor, an eminent pre-
late of the Church Of England. thus states
the case: 1.-THE primitive Christians did
all manner OF works upon the Lords
day Sunday, even in the times of perse-
cution. when they were the strictest OBJ
servers OF all the divine commandments;
but in this they knew there was none."-
Ductor Dubitantium. part l., Book 2.
chapter 2, rule t. section So
Edward Brerewood, professor I'm
Gresham College, London, says: ut Is
commonly believed that the Jewish Sab
hath was changed into the Lords day
by Christian emperors, and they know
little who do not know that the ancient
Sabbath did remain and was observed
by the Eastern churches 800 years after
our Saviour's passion"
Dr. Heylyn, the eminent historian. says:
Take which you will, either the fathers
or the moderns. and we shah find no
Lords day instituted by any apostolIcal
mandate; no Sabbath set on foot by them
upon the first day OF the week."-History
Of the Sabbath, part 2, chapter l, section
10.
1t would be pleasure to give more quo
tations were 1t not that / have already
exceeded the limit intended when began
this article. W. A. MCUTCHEN.