The labor world., 1899-05-20

MINNEAPOLIS, May l9.-Sunday OBJ
scryance was the question that took the
major part Of the Presbyterian assem-
bly's time today. Most of the forenoon
session was devoted to an earnest and
often excited discussion of the report OF
the special committee on Sabbath OBJ
servance In the end the committees
eight resolutions were adopted, with
slight amendments, and two more were
added. In the discussion, the Sunday
street car, the Sunday train and railroad
excursion, The Sunday newspaper, the
Sunday working Presbyterian, and every
form of activity that Is not in harmony
with the literal meaning OF the fourth
commandment, was condemned. Those
that desired a sensation had to get along
with this talk and the indignant COM
ments that were made when another spec
ial committee reported that 1t had not
been able to keep congress and the pres
ident from granting the Roman Catholics
permission 10 erect a chapel on the West
Point military academy reservation were
numerous
In the debate on the Sabbath resolu-
tions almost every speaker gave evil
dence of being imbued with the feeling
expressed in the words of the committee:
''rhe American Christian Sabbath is in
Imminent peril; in fact, in many of our
larger cities and In other parts of our
land it is already nearly lost. This
means that American liberty and Ameri-
can Institutions are in peril, for of these
the American Sabbath has been both the
foundation and the protection
DR.. Hathaway, secretary of the Ameri-
and Alexander Dixon Of Scranton, Pa. !;
Elder John Gilchrist Of Boston, DR.. r. B.
Wright of Austin, Tex, and many others
spoke in favor of literal observance Of the
fourth commandment. Rev. Frederick A.
Doane of California testified that he
never rode in street car on Sunday, and
that he stopped over Sunday on his way
10 the assembly. d. w. Glass of Balti-
more deplored Sabbath violation by Pres
byterians and remarked that President
Cowen of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
which discriminates in favor Of Sunday
travel, is a Presbyterian. On the Other
hand, it was pointed out that many down
town churches would have to be closed If
church members never rode to church.
An attempt to get the phrase "Chris-
tian Sabbath substituted for the phrase
"American Sabbath in the resolutions
was defeated.
AS adopted, the amendments deprecate
the secularizing of the Sabbath, urge
off oh, rob
to realize the Importance of Sabbath OBJ.
servance legislatures and congress are
urged to protect the American Sabbath,
the American Sabbath union and the
Women's National Sabbath alliance are
commended, every pastor is recommend
ed to preach on Sabbath observance on
some Sabbath of next October and to
take up a collection for the Sabbath
union, the board of publication Is re-
quested to prepare, and Sabbath school
superintendents to use, a specific Sab
bath observance leaflet. Sympathy is ex-
pressed with 100000 Americans that, be-
cause of Sabbath desecration, are COM
PEELED to do secular work on the Sab
bath. President McKinley's attention is
respectfully called to the fact that en-
ployes of the postoffice and many other
departments of the government are COM
PEELED to work on Sunday.
The McGlffert case, contrary to expec-
tations, was not reached today. 1t is
likely to come up through The reading of
Dr. McGiffert's letter tomorrow morn
ing.
DR.. Sample, the moderator, was pre-
sented with another gavel, DR.. Radcliffe
presenting it. It is made of wood from
the old Jerusalem Theological seminary
of Cannonsburg and from the old MILAN
college building, and was given by JEFF
ferson college friends of The moderator.
Tonight the commissioners attended a
great public Sabbath observance meeting
in Westminster church.
The various auxiliary boards, societies
and committees are holding numerous
meetings during the assembly. Among
others, the Woman's Board of Home Mis-
sions held it's Goth annual convention in
Wesley church today.
st. Louis, Cincinnati, Topeka, San An
the places that are desirous of having
the next assembly, but it is understood
that st. Louis will withdraw, because it
wishes 10 have the convention in 1908,
when the Louisiana purchase centennial
is to be celebrated.
The moderator of the general assembly
issues the following appeal to all Presby-
terlan churches in the United States:
"Inasmucll as all the boards of our
church have closed the year without any
save the Freedman's board,
I, Robert II. Sample, moderator of the
general assembly in session at Minneap
oils, do hereby appeal to all Presbyterian
churches throughout the United States
to make am Offering for this cause on the
Sabbath Of May q, and report the same
to me by telegram Monday morning. This
appeal is made, that for the first time in
25 years, our assembly may conclude IFS
sessions free from the burden of debt
which amounts to $4,000.
ROBERT +. SAMPLE,
Moderator"