Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-01-10
THE CRUC|F|X|0N
OF PHILIP STRONG.
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Author "In His Steps Do" "Maom Kirk "Roe
Hardy's Days." Etc

people on the Sunday which was be-
coming a noted Sunday for them he
Quivered with the earneStness and
thrill which always come 10 a sensitive
man when he feels sure he has ser
mon which must be preached and a
message which the people must hear
for their lives.
He took for u text Christ's words.
..The Sabbath was made for man." and
at once defined its meaning as a special
day.
"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 10 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 10 bring
| men into closer and dearer relation TO
spiritual life, TO teach men larger,
sweeter truths Of existence and Of God
and leave them better fitted to take up
the duties Of everyday business.
Now. it Is plain to me that If Christ
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 Is
the one reason why these places are
open this very minute while ! am
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. Their
greed sezes 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 need
any other fact to convince us Of the
terrible selfshness Of the human
heart?
"Or take the case Of the saloons
What right have they to open their
doors in direct contradiction to the
town ordinance forbidding it? And
yet this ordinance Is held by them in
such contempt that this very morning
as came to this church | passed more
than half Il 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.
sponsbiity rest for this violation OF
law? Does it rest with the churches
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 1t Is
none Of their business?
But suppose you say the saloons
are beyond your power. That does not
release you from doing what Is in your
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 own
these fruit stands and cigar stores
and meat markets and who patronize
them: Is it not true that church
members encourage all these places by
purchasing of them on the Lords dayI
| have been told by one Of these fruit
dealers with whom have talked lately
that among his best customers on Sun-
day are some Of the most respected
members of this church. 1t has also
been told me that in the summer time
the heaviest patronage Of the Sunday
Ice cream business is from the church
members Of Milton. OF what value Is
it that we place on our ordinance rules
forbidding the sale Of these things
covered by the law? How far are we
responsible for our example for en-
couraging the breaking Of the day on
the part Of those who would find 1t
Improbable to keep their business 60
ing If we did not purchase Of them on
this day?
ut is possible there are very many
ing who are ready to eXclaim: This is
intolerable bigotry and puritanical mar
rowness. This is not the attitude Christ
would take on this question. He was
too large minded. He was too far ad-
vanced in thought to make the day to
mean anything Of that sort
"Eut let us consider what Is meant
by the Sunday of our modern life as
Christ would view it. There is no dis
putting the fact that the age is ma
terial, mercantile. money making. For
six eager. rushing days it is absorbed
In the pursuit of money or fame or
pleasure. Then God strikes the note Of
his silence in among the clashing
sounds of earth's Babel and calls man.
kind to make day unlike the other
days 1t is his merciful thoughtfulness
for the race which has created this
special day for men. Is it too much to
ask that on this one day men think
Of something else besides politics,
stocks. business, amusement? Is God
grudging the man the pleasure Of life
| when here he gives the man six days
| for labor and then asks for only one
day specially set apart for him? The
objection TO very many things COM
monty mentioned by the pulpit as
| harmful to Sunday is not an objection
necessarily based on the harmfulness
fact that these things are repetitions
of the working day and so are distract
ing to the observance of the Sunday
as n day of rest and worship. undis-
turbed by the things that have already
for six days crowded the thought of
| men. Let me Illustrate.