The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-27

the first Sunday Philip appeared in his
pulpit he would naturally denounce the
saloon again. But when he finally re-
covered sufficiently to preach he de-
termined that for awhile he would say
nothing in the way of sermons against
the whisky evil. He had great hor-
ror of seeming to ride hobby, of be-
ing man of one idea and making peo-
pie tired of him because he harped on
one string. He had uttered his de-
nunciation, and he would wait a little
before he spoke again. The whisky
power was not the only bad thing in
Milton that needed to be attacked
There were other things which must
be said. And so Philip limped into his
pulpit the tNird Sunday of the month
and preached on a general theme, t.
the disappointment Of great crowd
almost as large as the last one he had
faced. And yet his very appearance
stitution he had held up to public con-
demnation on that occasion. His knee
wound proved very stubborn, and he
limped badly. That in itself spoke
elOquently of the dastardly attempt on
his life. His face was pale, and he
| had grown thin. His shoulder was
stiff, and the enforced quietness of his
delivery contrasted strangely with his
customary fiery appearance on the
platform. Altogether that first Sun
| day of his temperance in his pulpit
L ,fv,e,f
loon than anything he could have spo-
| ken or written.
When the first Sunday in the next
| month came on, Philip was more like
his old self. He had gathered strength
| enough to go around two Sunday after
| Moons and note for himself the desc
| Grafton Of the day as it went on reck-
| lessly. AS he saw 1t all 1t seemed to
him that the church in Milton was
practically doing nothing to stop the
| evil. All the ministers complained of
the difficulty Of getting an evening con-
gregation. Yet hundreds of young
| people walked past all the churches
| every Sunday night, bent on pleasure,
| going to the theaters or concerts or
parties, which seemed to have no trou-
BILE in attracting the crowd. Espe-
cially was this true of the foreign
population, the working element con-
nected with the mills. 1t was a COM
mon occurrence for dog fights, cock
fights and shooting matches of various
kinds to be going on in the tenement
district on Sunday, and the police
seemed powerless or careless in the
matter.
All this burned into Philip like
molten metal, and when he faced his
people on the Sunday which was be-
coming a noted Sunday for them he
quivered with the earnestness and
thrill which always come to a sensitive
mon which must be preached and a
message which the people must hear
for their lives.
He took for a text Christ's words
''The Sabbath was made for man." and
at once defined its meaning as special
day.
1.-THE true meaning Of our modern
Sunday may be summed up in two
words-rest and worship. Under the
head of rest may be gathered what
ever is needful for the proper and
healthful recuperation of ones physic-
al and mental powers, always regard
ing not simply our own ease and com
fort, but also the same right to rest on
the part of the remainder Of the com
munity. Under the head of worship
may be gathered all those facts which
either through distinct religious serv
ice or work or thought, tend to bring
men into closer and dearer relation to
spiritual life, to teach men larger
sweeter truths of existence and of Goo
and leave them better fitted to take ur
the duties Of everyday business.
snow, it is plain to me that if Chris
were here today and pastor of Calvary
church he would feel compelled to say
some very plain words about the desc
Grafton of Sunday in Milton. Take
for example, the opening of the fruit
stands and cigar stores and meat mar
kets every Sunday morning. What IL
the one reason why these places are
open this very minute while I an
speaking? There is only one reason
SO that the owners of the places may
sell their goods and make money
They are not satisfied with what they
can make six days In the week. Theil
greed seizes on the one day which
ought to be used for the rest and wor
ship men need and turns that also into
a day of merchandise. Do we neet
terrible Selfishness of the human
heart?
"Or take the case of the saloons
What right have they to open theil
doors in direct contradiction to tht
town ordinance fOrbidding it? AND
yet this ordinance is held by them IL
such contempt that this very morning
as came to this church passed more
than half dozen Of these sections OF
hell, wide open to any poor SHINING
soul that might be enticed therein
Citizens Of Milton, where does the re
sponsibility rest for this violation OF
law? Does it rest with the churche:
and the preachers to see that the few
Sunday laws we have are enforced by
them, while the business men and the
police lazily dodge the issue and care
not how the matter goes, saying it il
none of their business?
"But suppose you say the saloon!
are beyond your power. That does mo-
release you from doing what is In you
power, easily, to prevent this day from
being trampled under foot and made
like every other day in its scramble
after money and pleasure. Who owl
these fruit stands and cigar stores
and meat markets and who patronizt