The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-05
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
Rev. DIR. KneeIand at Chestnut st.
Church.

Church.
The Rev. Martin d. Kneeland D. D.
asoretary of the New England Sabbath
Protective league spoke to good sized
congregation at the afternoon service
yesterday at the Chestnut Street Metho-
dist church.
The objects OF this league as implied
by Its corporate name are to "maintain
the observance of the Lords day as a
civil rest day and day of religious
use." defending it against the encroach-
ments of business and pleasure.
It's methods include organization and
agitation, instruction by press, pulpit
and platform, education of the young
and morally ignorant, the protection and
enforcement OF Sunday laws and the Sc
curing better legislation in the interests
of the workingman and good citizen
ship.
The speaker began by saying, "When
l face Methodist congregation / come
with feeling Of special gratifie cation be-
cause one Of your bishops, Rev. R. s.
Foster, is the president of our league.
The Sabbath was made for man, physi-
cally, morally and spiritually. in every
way 1t was made for man. God gave US
this day and ID is this day that il Of the
most Importance The commands Of
God regarding the Sabbath and its OBJ
servance touch on this question. The
questions of finance. of gold or silver
standards, and of national honor and in
tegrity are questions Of Importance, but
this question of Sabbath observance Ia of
far more consequence.
more for this cause than all others and
are therefore more prosperous because
+ their love and fear of God and delight
to obey His laws. France at ono time
began to observe one day In 10 but the
people could not endure 1t and demanded
that one day In seven should be kept In
accordance with the plan Of God and this
was granted them.
"The workinRman above all others
nesds one day in the seven az a day of
rest. He 10 the one that should claim
the Sabbath day as his day, az day for
rest and worship.
1T ia not the claim of this league that
we oan make men attend church, but
we do claim that every one should have
the day to enjoy these privileges if he
wishes to. John Stuart Mills said those
shat now work seven days shall .eventu-
ally be ground down to accepting five
days pay. We hold that there should
be q law on the statute books Of every
state to the effect that every man should
be allowed one day in seven.
''The moral side of the subject Of Sab
bath dissertation is Of great important &c
as the reinforcement of the Sabbath
laws involves questions of impurity, I'm
morality vice crime and suicide. The
spea ker then referred to the question of
the extent of the custom of bicycle riding
IA we'll known judge OF one Of our
courts has said that most of the crimi-
mails that come us began their career by
reckless deseoration OF the Sabbath.
We don't expect to bring back the old
Jewish Sabbath, continued the speaker
but everyone that is interested In the
W. CT. o., Epworth league orlChristian
Endeavor or other organization of like
nature should be interested in securing
a return Of our old Puritanical Sabbath
in preference to the continental Sabbath
| that has settled upon us.
We are working along the lines of clos
ing Sunday theaters, working on the
streets BY contractors and their crews
excursions, and in many instances have
succeeded in stopping the promiscuous
running OF freight trains. We have not
begun struggle but what we have been
successful. not saying this to BIZ boastful
but to show that we are right In our
position. We have circulated much litera-
ture in New England touching on this
subjeot and VIC are also holding many
conferences and shall soon hold meet-
ing in Portland with addresses on the
work. And 80 the work goes on and God
is behind ALL The speaker closed with
an appeal to the congregation to contri.
| butte to the extent of teir ability to the
fund for the advancement Of the cause. y
DR.. Kneelandsspoks at Free street in
the morning and at the First Presby.
terian ohucrh in the evening.
FoRTY-THIRD BRANCH STORE.