The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
LET THE DAY BE OBSERVED!
DIR. EDWARD THOMsON's PLEA FOR
SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

bath Observance, a. Opposed 20 the
Continental European. Is It's End
and Aim--No Necessity for work on
the sabbath, Except in Rare IN
stances-Tbe Railways and Cow
ernment Mail service Attacked.
Rev. Edward Thomson Of Atlanta, de-
iivered three lectures In Savannah yes
terday on the subject. in general, Of Sun
day observance. In the morning he spoke
at the Independent Presbyterian Church.
in the afternoon at the Y. 81 c. A, and
at night at Trinity.
An outline OF the work he is attempt
ing was given in the Morning News yes
terdsy. DR.. Thomson is general manager
of the Sunday League Of America, the
efforts Of which are being steadily and
consistently directed towards a more COM
plete Observance Of the Sabbath. a ces-
sation Of worldly employment on that
day, producing the minimum of necessary
labor and the entire absence of unneces-
sary frivolity.
I'VE want to preserve said Dr
Thomson 70 a reporter of the Morning
News. the true ideal Of American Sab
bdtA OJrtt Fdt1Nts a. NAllS1tu 70 AitE EbH-
ception of the manner in which the day
should be observed that obtains in France
and in other countries on the continent of
Europe We are not striving TO accom-
piish the impossible, nor do We propose TO
jeopardize the success OF our cause by
submitting propositions or making de-
mands that the enlightened condolences Of
good people do not approve.
'Stil We are in earnest and we have
don't want to strain al a gnat. but at the
same time we are equally averse to swal-
lowing camel. We have no object on 10
the OK being taken out Of the ditch on the
Sabbath day. but We respectfully submit
that the OK should not be pushed into the
ditch with this Interior motive in pros
pect."
Al the morning service at the Independ-
ent Presbyterian Church DR.. Thomson
discussed the philosophy Of Sunday OBJ
serysnce." TIE primal and controlling
principle of the discourse, as announced
by the speaker was that man needs at
least one day of rest in seven for his own
weil-being, in order that he may attain
10 the full stature of his manhood Sta
tistics show" he said, that the man who
enjoys to the full this regular day of rest
lives longer than his brother to whom IL
is denied. Statistics show also that the
man with the Sabbath is a more effec-
tive producer, that he accompllshes more
In the six days Of his labor than does the
other man in seven. Then, too. the man
who has day of rest in the week reaches
a higher plane of intellectual develop
ment and culture than does he who lacks
this advantage. DR.. Thomson instanced
in this connection the cases of the United
States ana Portugal, the former with the
old traditionary Sabbath, the latter with
its Sabbath of bull fights and other secu-
lar amusements and pursuits. He ascrib-
ed the difference in the Intellectual aver
age of the people of the two countries to
the difference in their manner Of Sunday
Observance.
MAN needs a day in the week in which
to Think said Dr. Thomson. THE la
borer, WHO all the week follows his trade
has but little time 10 mediate on the
great problems of life. The people need
day in the week for the cultivation of
. the family relations, for this country is
based on the Anglo-Saxon conception of
the sanctity of the family ties. Such ties
must be cultivated in order to reach their
full perfection, and perfection Is not pos
sible when the father of the family IS at
work, the eldest boy playing a game OF
base ball or watching others play II and
the mother and the other children on the
regular weekly excursion to some place
of amusement. Lastly, man needs in this
life time for preparation for the life 10
reEne, an opportunity to At himself for
the great reunion with his loved ones
and hts Maker IN the nome beyond the
stars"
To every one of these ends, DR. Thorn
son forcibly contende1. the observance OF
the Sabbath day, in peace and quietness
and with a cessation Of all worldly and
secular pursuits, whether of business or
amusement directly contributed. So he
said, that man may attain to full
strength. physically intellectually, social
" and morally, The Observance of the
Sabbath day in the manner In which he
thinks II should be observed, is not only
advisable, but essential
Ihe contrasting cases of Spain and Eng
land during the last four centuries were
exhibited by DIR. Thomson 10 illustrate the
force of his argument and explain its
meaning. Four centuries ago Spain was
at the zenith of her power Her nayies
sailed on every sea and her colonies had
been planted on every foreign shore
over thousand isles her flag foafed ami
was respected and the world trenbled at
the mention Of her name. At the same
time England had but begun TO enter up-
on the career which has brought her TO the
front rank among the great Powers Of the
world. Since that time as England has
advanced, Spain has retrograded. and the
conditions and relalve importance Of the
two countries have been more than re-
versed. Another triumph. said Dr. Thorn
son, for true Sabbath observance
II was tne same Win Rome, said DR.
Thomson. If. when Christianity was
FIRST introduced into that great empire. the
people had not COMPOUNDED the holy-day
OF the fathers with the holiday Of heath
endom, IL might be that the imperial
standard would wave to-day, ard that
Rome might still hold the position she
held at the dawn of the present era. II
this country desires to retain the position
In the councils Of the nations to which IL
has already attained and to advance stil
higher IN power. authority and capacity
for good, IL must hold steadfastly to the
beliefs and the manner of Sabbath obsery-
ance of the Anglo-Saxou people"
In the afternoon DR.. Thomson spoke at
the Young Mems Christian Association
Of the necessity Of union and of concert
ed effort among all good people, II it was
hoped 70 accomplish any great end God
rules through man, and He expects man
10 live and act in accordance with His
law.
II Is often said that THE voice of the
people Is the voice Of Cod" but II is Just