The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-22
sABBATH OBSERVANCE ENFORCE
MENI.


Through its membership in this State
the New England sabbath Protective
League is about 20 move on Rhode Island.
Three public mass meetings are now
4 scheduled FOR the immediate future and
doubtless more will follow. 1t iS the pur-
| pose TO stir up popular sentiment on the
| subject OF decorous observance of tho
| sabbath day, 10 secure the enforcement Of
our present laws and If necessary To bring
the matter before the Assembly with u
view 10 new legislation along the lines Of
the principles laid down by the organiza.
ton.
There will be public meeting under
the auspices OF the League in Pawtuckct,
Monday night next, another in the Baptist
church, East Providence, on Wednesday
evening ard on the Tuesday following
April 27th, the biggest demonstration OF
all will bo made in the First Baptist
meeting house, in this city. The speakers
are yet To he announced but a number Of
the leading clcrgymen of Providence arc
giving the movement their active coopcra-
ton and there will be no dcarth Of cilec
tive advocates of the movement either
locally or from abroad. The Sabbath
Protective League is powerful orgnni2a
ton. 1t is incorporated under the laws
OF the state Of Massachusetts, and Bishop
Randolph 5 Foster is, we believe It's
present president According TO the state
mcnt issued in the monthly magazine, the
Defender, which Is conducted by, ana in
the interests of, tho League, Its object
shall be To maintain the observance of the
Lords day as "a civil rest day and day
for religious uses, " defending il against
tho encroachments of business and
pleasure. Its methods include organiza-
tion and agitation, instruction by press,
pulpit and platform, education of the
young ana morally ignorant, the protec-
tion and enforcement of Sunday laws, and
the securing better legislation in the in
tercsts of the workingman and good cit-
zenship.
1t assumes that the Sabbath is divine
institution, for rest from toll. This con
viction is based upon the references TO it
in the sacred scriptures of the Jewish and
Christian churches; upon the example of
Christ and His Apostles; upon the general
conduct of the Christian church for eigh-
teen centuries; and upon the acknowl-
edged necessities, physical, mental, and
moral, of the nature of man. This CON
vction IS strengthened by tho testimony
of history-that, wherever the Sabbath
has been most intelligently and generally
observed rs divine institution, the con.
dition of the people has been in every way
superior to the conditions prevailing else
where; there has been tendercr human
ity, keener intelligence, more respect for
law and order, better schools, higher
wages among workmen, and generally
moro advanced social conditions, than in
countries where the ordinary labors and
amusements of the people have been
persisted in. Leading everything which
belongs to personal conduct and respon-
sibility, as to this great question, Co in
dividuals, it recognizes that in its relation
to the community generally, and in
matters for which the whole citizenship
in its corporate capacity is responsible,
vigilant guardianship is necessary.
The meetings, as we understand their
purpose are designed both to awaken pub
lie interest and TO secure members The
work that the League seeks TO do must be
supported entirely 10y the contributions of
the friends of the movement 1t has no
church, funds, pledge or endowment be-
hind it, 1t is intericnominational includ-
ing eleven denominations in its list
of officers and members. It's funds
come from life memberships at 500; sus-
tanning membership at $40; and annual
membership at 81.
Among its officials we note the name
of Honorable Thomas b. Stockwcn,
vice president, of this city and Rev.J. NJ
Lowden of Olneyville of the executive
committee. Rev. Floyd W. Tomkns Jr, of
Grace church and Rev. Henry NJ. King of
the First Baptist and Rev. Mr.. Sherwood
Of Olncyville are among the leaders of tho
movement in Rhode Island complete
list of whom, however, we have not a0
command. The work of the organization
i'm our sister commonwealth of Massachu.
setts has been rapidly successful IL has