Evening star., 1898-12-19

be such a power. for nearly all its great
men have been educated in this country.
The bishop said he had never lived in
city where there was so much enthusiasm
III behalf of every good movement or cause
as in Washington. 1t was the most relg-
ious city he had ever known. This
true, he said, not only among the people.
but among the members of both houses of
Congress. The American Sabbath is rich
Inheritance. 1t came to US by way of Plym-
ourh. The German Sabbath was not of
scriptural foundation. Martin Luther. the
prince Of refOrmers, never said one strong
word for the sanctity Of the Sabbath;
Rev. DIR. Henry c. McCook of Philadel-
phia said: The maintenance of the Amer-
can Sabbath is necessary to the preserva-
uon of the integrity of the great American
nation. Christians must keep the Sabbath
if they love their country
Referring 20 visits made by him TO many
az the camps of the American soldiers from
M"ntauk to Tampa and in Cuba. he said he
found Sahbath desecration to be the rule
We have. he said. become conuuerors ISL
ands have been given TO us for an inherit
"hSe- Have we the courage to carry to
our new possessions the American Sahbathp
l1r- Greene announced that he had re-
ceiVed letter from Bishop Sattcrlee which,
D." was sorry 20 say, he had forgotten to
bring 10 The meeting, regretting his inabf-
lty TO be present hut expressing his hearty
tDprDyIl Of the efforts Of the Ar1erican
Sabbath Union and wishing it abundant
success.
D"iiN@rnnce Approved.
The meeting indorsed the following. which
was adopted at the last meeting Of the
general asser bly, Of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church:
The present condition of the Sabbath
question in the United States of America
is one of very serious import
The current of Sabbath desecration has
been swollen by many rivulets into
mghty Hood that appears to be augmented
year by year. especially during this last
decade of the nineteenth century and
threatens to sweep away our distinctiveIv
American Sabbath.
The Fourth Commandment rests lightly
upon the masses of our people
The standard of Sabbath observance has
been constantly lowered year by year until
the American Sabbath of the early part of
the century has largely given place to the
continental Sabbath in many parts of our
land.
That which fifty years ago would have
shocked and scandalized the community
now receives the appreciation and indorse-
mcnt of not only the nome Christian but a
large portion of the professed Christian
population
Many of the younger generation have no
knowledge or conception of the Sabbath as
it was understood and observed during the
last and the first half of the present CEN
tury.
BY many of our people at the present
time the standard of Sabbath observance
u 'N'447 -Cuiiu III INC DSCd4oSue, is
found in personal convenience, the inter
ests of worldly gain and sensuous pleasure
and is one of eXDediency rather than of
principle.
In a considerable portion of the business
world the Sabbath is observed not because
it IS the law of God, but only because of
the necessities of labor. Not because Thus
saith the Lord but because thus saith the
tired issues of Drawn and brain.
we believe that the real cause of this
growing disregard for the Lords day is
found in latent infidelity. that is careless
Of obedience to any and all Divine law; in
a conscious and sometimes an unconscious
belief that deadens the conscience de-