New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-08
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
GOLF ON SUNDAY.

GUIDANCE TO MEN
To the Editor Of The tribune
Sir: You have already devoted considerable
space In your issues Of June 10 and s 10 the ques
ton OF Sunday amusements and you may be weary
OF the discussion. No doubt your readers will sur
vve II they never know what ! think about the
matter, and yet would like to have a hearing II
my communication is not too long
Men differ widely as TO the nature and extent Of
the obligations which imposed upon them by
the Fourth Commandment but think all will
agree that God hallowed the whole OF the seventh
day. not part
The Rev Dr. Houghton. Of the Church Of the
Transhguration. report says. thinks that people
who WORK six days IN the week and have no time
except Sunday for recreation justified in
playing golf Sunday afternoon. provided they
attend faithfully 10 their religious duties during
the morning hours. II the doctor were asked by a
company OF amateur comedians TO throw open his
church on Sunday or any other day for the per-
formsnce Of a favorite play he would refuse. No
matter how unexceptonabe the play might be- and
matter II the company composed of the
elite OF the city and had object IN view except
TO entertain weary working people or TO aid the
fund Of approved charity. the doctors answer
would be Mo- He would say that the edhce
has been consecrated 10 the worship OF Almighty
God Il should not opened for anltisements Of any
kind and in saying he would voice the senti-
ments Of majority OF the men and women who in
dulge In Sunday golf playing. ! would like TO ask
DR. Houshtor which s the boiler. a place set
apart by fallibe men for a sacred time
made holy by God Himself II the doctor would
object 10 the PROCLAMATION NJ holy place, how can
he excuse the PROCLAMATION ~ holy time?
To the Bible reader who is unprejudiced and SIN
cerey searching for the truth. l think IL must he
clear that God intended TO enforce the observance
OF the seventh day by His own example as well as
by express command. He said Remember the
Sabbath day 70 keep Il holy for (because) In six
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and
all that in them is. and rested the seventh day.
The man who spends any part OF Sunday in recres-
ton sets naught a positive command and ignores
an example which is just as imperative as the COM
mand The apoogists for Sunday amusements
say that they have no time for recreation during
the week and that recreation on Sunday IL not ex-
pressly forbidden. 1 suggest that IT is forbidden
by Gods example He rested the entire day
As to the six days incessant labor. whose fault
is It that It Is incessant. that no time is allowed
for recreation? How is It that the work Of some
is severe and exhausing ana that OF others
comparatively light and pleasant? Why are some
poorly paid and others literally compensated?
Why are not all men paid for hye DAYS %9 I,E
and inequality are the fruit Of mans selhs
and greed Of mans inhumanity TO man surey,
God is not at fault because men refuse to observe
the Golden Rule Unless we show that our
Maker is severe and unjust in His dealings with
the reins into our own hands and making rules to
suit ourselves The who cannot see kindness
in the Fourth Commandment mlsunderstands his
Maker and is blind 10 his paramount interests
Some who ignore the obligations of the Fourth
Commandment may have overlooked me Goncl1 ~
words Of the Third. The plain implication or the
language is that love TO God Is the handspring OF
obedience and that II men disregard the THIRD
Fourth or any other Commandment II Is not pc
cause the Commandments are out OF the way. nut
because love 10 God IL wanting on the human SIDE
This Interpretation is confirmed by words which
fell centuries later from our Saviours lips, VIZ ;
them he IL is that oveth ma And again, IL ye
love me keep my commandments.
II is a fatal mistake 70 infer. as some 90, from
the general non-observance OF the day OF resi- nat
vlolators are right because they are many ana the
advocates OF the day wrong because they are rev
Men very commonly lean to the opinion that what
everybody does and what everybody says must De
not a whit behind our antsdluvian ancestors. They
followed b!ndly in each others footsteps In their
own estimation they wise and Moan was a
fool These people who saw Noah hard at Work on
the Ark married and given in marriage I'M
concernedy, as II nothing unusual was likely 10
happen until the day that Noah was smut IN, "nen
The hood came and destroyed them all There were
no exceptions, because all were alike out OF the
way There was no safety in numbers.
There is more 70 be said, but rest here am
an old man, past eighty. Multiplying ~ by o. /
find that not less than 4.l60 Sabbaths have already
been nut 10 my debit Some of them | improved
after a fashion and others I profaned Many or
YOUR readers not old as am. have been taught
bv experience that "our blessings brighten as they
before they are gone that his Saboaths are oless-
ings IN disguise and greets them Accordingly
AN OLD SABBATH BREAKER.
July !, 1899.