Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-20
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Earnest Discussion Of the Matter
by Northern Presbyterians,
OUR SABBATH IN PERIL,
In Many Of the Larger Cities II
is AIriady Nearly Lost.
AMERICAN LIBERTY IN DANGER.
'For OF This the American Sabbath
Has Been Both the Foundation and
the Protection"--strong Resolu-
ti0ns Adopted.

MINNEAPOLIS. MINI, May ls.--sun-
day observance was the question which
took up the major part of the Presbyte-
rian Assembly's time to-day. Most OF the
long afternoons session was devoted 10
an earnest and often excited discussion
of the report of the special committee on
Sabbath observance. In tho end, the COM
mittee's eight resolutions were adopted,
with slight amendments, and two were
added. In the discussion, the Sunday
street car, the Sunday train and railroad
excursion, the Sunday newspaper. the
Sunday-working Presbyterian. and every
other form OF activity which Is not In
harmony with the literal meaning OF the
Fourth Commandment were condemned.
Indignant comments were made when
another special committee reported that
it had not been able to keep Congress and
the President from granting the Roman
Catholics permission 20 erect chapel on
the West Point Military Academy re-
seryation.
EARNEST SPEECHES.
In the debate on the Sabbath resolu-
! lions almost every speaker gave evidence
of being imbued with the feeling express
| ed I'm the words OF the committee-"The
American Christian Sabbath Is In immi-
nent peril In fact, in many OF our large
cities and in other parts OF our land. 1t
is already nearly lost. This means that
American liberty and American institu-
lions are In peril, for of these the Ameri-
| can Sabbath has been both the foundation
and the protection.'
An attempt to get the phrase Chris
tian Sabbath" substituted for the phrase
"American Sabbath" in the resolutions
was defeated.
RESOLUTIONS AS ADOPTED.
AS adopted, the resolutions deprecate
| the secuarsng OF the Sabbath. urge
| members and young people of the church
| To realize the Importance of Sabbath OBJ
| servance: legislatures and Congress are
urged 10 protect the American Sabbath.
| the American Sabbath Union and the .Wo-
mems National Sabbath Alliance are COM
mended; every pastor is recommended to
| preach on Sabbath observance on some
| Sabbath of next October. and take a coli
| lection for the Sabbath Union; the Board
| OF Publication IS requested to prepare,
and Sabbath school superintendent TO
| use, a specific Sabbath-observance Leaf
| let and sympathy Is expressed Win 3OO,.
| 900 of Americans who because OF Sab
| bath Dissertation. are compelled to do Sc
| cular work on the sabbath
| GItSlutHl AltR4lAi'9 afNNh'ADh - -
| spectfully called TO the fact that en-
| ployeex Of the post-office and many other
| departments Of the government are COM
| PEELED to work on Sunday.
APPEAL FOR FUNDS
| MINNEAPOLIS. MINI, May 19.-The
| moderator Of the General Assembly issues
| the following appeal TO all Presbyterian
| churches I'm the United States:
| 'Inasmuch as all the boards OF our
| Church have closed the year without any
| indebtedness. save the Freedmens Board,
| |. Robert r. sample moderator OF tho
1 General Assembly. In session az MIN
| neapolis. Mimi. do hereby appeal to all
| Presbyterian churches throughout inc
| United States To make an Offering for
| this cause on Sabbath. May Asst, and re-
port the same TO me by telegram Monday
| morning. This appeal Is made that, for
| the first time I'm twenty-five years, our
| assembly may conclude its sessions free
from the burden Of debt, which amounts
| to $4,000.
| (signoO ROBERT F. SAMPLE.
Moderator"