The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-20
SUNDAY BALL.
Rev. DR.. sooy Takes n Stand
Against it in a Sermon.
HOPES FOR PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
To Back up the Fight Against the
Sunday Ghmcs-A Sermon on Sab.
bath Observance In General : Two
Causes Assigned for Dissertation Of
the day. "a

1.-THE Christian Sabbath and Inter-
State Base Bali Games" was the theme
OF Dr.. sooy's sermon at Fourth Street
q. L. church last night. and 1t was q
plea for n strict general observance
OF the Sabbath. DR.. Sooy announced
that the fight was on for Sunday, ball.
and he intended to arouse public SEN
y tlment against the game being played
on Sundays in this city and vicinity,
and fntfmated that any statutes pre-
venting Sunday bill would be called into
requisitlon.
The Sabbath, he said. was Il divine
institution. and hitherto the American
Sabbath had been the nations delight.
DR.. Sooy drew 4 very effective picture
OF his childhood in the country, where
Sunday meant pence and quiet, quiet
home, the ride to the church. and the
respectful worship In the simple edi-
wee devoted to God. blessed memoir
les clustered about the sweet Sunday of
childhood. The day was essentially
day OF rest from worldly cares. There
should be one day of rest In the Week,
medical and other authorities uniting In
testlfying to this fact.
Many years ago, said DR.. Sooy. when
the Sabbath was In keeping Of an
American born population. 1t withstood
the assaults of English delsm and
French atheism. But to-day. It has
two strong foes, owing partly to the
large number of immigrants within the
past half century. The two foes OF the
proper observance Of the Sabbath are
practical atheism and German irrelig-
ion., This practical atheism asserts
that every man has a right to observe
Sunday as he chooses, and that the
state has no right to leglslate concern
Ing the days worship, which to their
minds Is n state Of affairs representing
the union OF church and state. DIR.
Sooy forcefully showed that the Sab
bath is legislated for by the state, indie
pendent OF church.
The doctrine OF natural theism, or eI-
istence Of God is necessary to the exist
ence Of n state. for twice France tried
government on atheisuc principles,
which efforts resulted in reigns Of ter
ror, and any government. republic or
not, must be based on Gods laws, not
the least OF which Is His ordinance
concerning Sunday. Hence the state.
In observing Sunday, follows Gods
command, which was issued to any
church or religion. The speaker went
on to show that the Sabbath was from
the beginning. is and ever will be. and
he spoke at length In support OF the
claim that keeping the Sabbath holy
was a state ordinance, hence the prac-
teal atheists were In error.
This atheism. the speaker traced to
foreigners mostly. The German fire.
ligion. the other foe of the Sabbath.
sought to make Of Sunday n holiday,
and its influence was most subtle. Re-
ferring to the plea that working men
need recreation on this day. DIR. Sooy
said he wanted the Industrious laboring
man to oppose encroachments on his
restday. The talk OF breathing
Spots" with sacred music ct the
parks" was all bosh. he said. A re-
spectacle working man liked the fresh
country air: he liked to walk out from
the city with his wife and family, but
It was onIy the baser sort that wanted
the beer and the sacred music" at the
parks about Wheeling.
Coming TO the subject Of Sunday ball..
/, DR.. Sooy wanted working men to stand
out against Sunday being converted
: into any more OF work day He pic
tured the crowds and jam on the mo-
tors going TO the ball game, whether on
the Island or out the pike. and said
base ballwas more ruinouS than racing;
they would deplete the Sunday schools.
and many men who wouldn't so to n
race track, would patronize the great
national game" on the Lords Day The
speaker related his experiences fight
ing Sunday ball in Trenton, n. j., and
Des Moines, Iowa. He called on the
good people vi the community to line
up for the approaching battle.
Should Sunday bal! be experimental
with. DR.. Sooy predicted that the oppo-
siticn would see that the laws were en-
forced against players. spectators and
officials. II need be. He counted pub
lie sentiment everything in the matter,
however, and he knew that with public
sentiment against the games. their at
tempt must result in disastrous failure
to the promoters. Throughout his re-
marks. Dr.. Sooy held the closest atten-
ton OF his congregation. and the SER
mons effect was evident.