The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-21
THEIR VIEWS OF THE MATTERS
Sunday Observance Discussed by Owosso
Pastors Last Sunday.

Sunday Observance Discussed by Owossc
Pastors Last Sunday.
The following synopses of the SER
mons delivered in Owosso pulpits Sun.
day give fair outline of the method
the different pastors followed in treat
ing the matter of Sunday observance:
Rev. Carlos II. Hanks.
At the Congregational church the
pastor, Rev. Carlos II. Hanks, preached
a sermon characterized by his usual
drectness and brevity, yet breadth of
of treatment The text was John 20,
81, "Be not faithless but believing"
and the subject, ''The Duty of the
Hour" The following is very brief
synopsis:
What did you do with yesterday !?
What are you going to do with tomor-
rows What shall we do with the first
day of the week, commonly called Sun
day? All our days belong to God.
We should do with Sunday as we ought
to do with everything else, use it in the
best way to develop the highest type of
manhood and womanhood. Use it for
our best culture, for our true profit,
Use every day in this manner. All
time is sacred trust and we must not
abuse it. Our nature demands the Sab
bath--the rest day. The law of our
nature is the will of God. He COM
mands us to keep the Sabbath, and his
is in perfect harmony with
the law of our nature. Man has a
spiritual side as truly as material
side, and it must have refreshment.
More than we think we are dependent
upon routine, association, and habit.
Man must have times and places for
spiritual refreshment or worship. Man
needs the Sabbath, must have it. 1t is
our duty not only to hold to this day
but to use it, use all our days for our
true interests. This is God's purpose
and we believe man will do it. This is
Gods world and he is in it, He is not
going to be defeated. "Be not faith.
less but believing" Victory is ours.
HE shall reign"
"The Saloon or the Sabbath-- Whicha"
Sunday evening, Rev. @. V. Northrop
of the Baptist church preached on 'The
Saloon or the Sabbath, which," taking
his text from Neh. 13:1S-"What evil
thing is this that we do, and profane the
Sabbath day." and Elk. 20S-"Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
Sabbath desecration in America, said
Mr.. Northrop, finds its source, strength,
and development in the institution which
is peculiarly American-the saloon. The
rum traffic threatens not only the de-
of the Sabbath, but of all the
benign institutions with which it is asso-
ciated. The antagonism between the
saloon and the Sabbath has grown 30
fierce through the years that all fair mind
ed people believe that the one or the 9TH
err must give way.
The saloon knows no politics, no party,
no Sunday, no God. Beer, open defiance
and brutality is it's trinity. The Sabbath
is divine institution, given of God to
meet the necessities of our bodies, our
brains and our hearts, 1t is the oasis in
life's pilgrimage across the desert from
the cradle to the grave. 1t is lifes resur-
rection day.
The contest between the saloon and the
Sabbath is plain, if we consider their re-
spective missions. The saloon exists for
Generalization of everything that is sa-
cred in human life. It's purpose is not
only the violation of the laws of man but
utter disregard for the laws of God. It's
atmosphere is foul, its breath is poisonous
and its purpose is simply diabolical.
Whereas the mission of the Sabbath is to
relieve man from care and anxious toll,
to sanctify his life, and turn his thoughts
from time to God and eternity, it would
be difficult in our seventy-fve millions of
men to choose another million who rep
resent 80 much that is low, mean, lawless
and devilish as is represented in the
bloated bodies, bleared eyes, callous con-
sciences and criminal conduct of those
who stand as defenders of the American
saloon.
Rev. Northrop made an appeal to his
people to make Sunday home day. If
one would make his home sanctuary of
respect, obedience and love, tie source of
purest joy and devotion, let him properly
regard Gods day. Ifparents are disobe-
dent to God in the proclamation of the
Sabbath, they have little hope to believe
that their law and commandments will
be kept by the children.
Dr. John Sweet.
Isaiah 5S:13:-I thou turn away thy
foot from the Sabbath from doing thy
pleasure on my holy day; and call the