The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-30

1t has taken long time for the true significance
OF the resolutions regarding Sabbath observance
adopted by the recent Presbyterian convention at
Minneapolis to filter through the public conscious
ness But day by day and week by week within n
very short time those resolutions have been made
the subject of much discussion in newspapers and
magazines. There is a surprising diversity of views
shown IN considering the subject; but on the whole
the disposition is decidedly against the acceptance
OF the principles laid down by the general assembly
That body declared for these three propositions:
u That the conception of the Sabbath which
lnhlbs travel for business pleasure or the dis
charge of any social function and which treats it as
day solely for rest and divine worship is isaDDear
ing in our large cities.
~ That congress and the state legislatures
should be called to prevent all anti Sabbath egs
atlon and to safeguard the distinctively religious
idea of the Sabbath
81 That the disappearance of this understand
ing of Sabbath observance means that American lib
erty and American institutions are in peril because
the religious understanding of the Sabbath has been
"both the foundation and the protection" of both
All Americans recognize the Sabbath as a dav of
rest Its observance such is we'll nigh universal
among us. That understanding of the Sabbath at
least is in no danger of disappearing. No manual
labor is performed on the Sabbath and the laws of
perhaps every state in the Union prohibit I'LL forms of
toll on that day except such may be regarded as
understanding of the Sabbath is far from being
universally recognized among the American DeODle
however 1t is doubtful if it was ever so recognized
outside the New England communities or that it
ever will be- While the Sabbath is observed as day
OF rest 1t is also looked day of recreation:
and those who labor steadily during the other SIX
days unless they accept the religious view of Sun
day, are apparently determined to get as much Of
personal enjoyment out of the day as possible
IF tha form :
american Christian Sabbath" "Christian Sabbath
is sturdily objected to by many writer's who have
considered the question. They insist that it is mere
religious arrogance to claim that the Puritan the
Fresbyterlan the Hebrew or any other special I'M
destarting of the proper way in which to celebrate
the Sabbath is the dstinctivey Christian or Amer,
can understanding of it. There is moreover a GEN
eral disposition to scott the proposition of the A.
sembly that the idea of the American Sabbath Hes
at the foundation of American institutions ar AmeI
can liberty 1t is pointed out that this notion of the
SABBATH was prevalent among the American Puri-
ans and among them alone long before the liberation
OF the American colonies seriously thought of
and among the British Puritans before America Voc
regarded as fitting abiding place for others than
criminals, outcasts and crown officials Regarding
the subject from the standpoint of prevention of
all recreation essential to the Christian under
standing OF the Sabbath, the disposition is lust as
strenuous to treat the idea inimical individual
liberty and as being mere despotism in itself.
1t is to be observed that travel for purely busi
ness ends on Sunday is being rapidly discontinued
so far as possible. Some time ago the railroads Of
the country took such departure in this direction
as has cut off the Sunday train quite generally This
has been done more in Difference to the idea of Civ
ing rest to employees and others than from any con-
sideraton of religious preference or prejudice Yet
Presbyterians and others admit that, as a day of
purely religious observance Sunday is dropping out
of existence entirely in American life Apparently
not all the legislatures all the Presbyterian pulpits
in the land will be powerful enough during this gen.
Grafton at least, to re-esabliSh it. Not all the kings
horses and all the kings men, will ever prevent the
mass of the American people FROM seeking and secu-
ing decent and reasonable personal enjoyment on
Sunday. They are evidently willing to assume all
the resulting risk of the destruction of American lib
erty and American institutions.