The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
THE AMERICAN SUNDAY.
Rev. Ed #. Cook Suggests Some
Changes i'm Its Observance.


Changes in Its Observance.
The subject of Rev. Ed. f. Cooks SER
mon at Wesley Monumental Church yes
terday was Abuse of the American Sun
day" His text was taken from jeremiah
1927.
After discussing the warning of the text
and showing how fully it was carried out
by reason of continued disobedience Mr..
Cook said:
''Disobedience means disaster and ruin.
I am fully persuaded that unless we keep
Sunday as an institution of American civ
ilization, the home, society and the ma
ton are doomed.
I'VE recognize the divine authority of
this institution, but do not act according
ly. We do not fully appreciate Sunday as
an American institution, fundamental to
our national success and indispensable to
our domestic and social well-being.
"There is a growing conviction that for
the common good the weekly rest-day
must be preserved. Through the thought
lessness of many, the ignorance of others
and the direct antagonism of the vicious
classes, there is real danger threatening
this one of the strongest pillars upon
which our republic rests. In the first an
nual report of the Sabbath alliance of
Scotland, printed forty years ago, the
following suggestive words occur:
1T cannot be too much borne in mind
that unlike other moral institutions, the
Sabbath cannot be well observed by any
unless 1t be observed by the community at
large. So long as society keeps the Sab
bath individuals may violate it without
materially disturbing the sacred peace.
But should society cease to regard the
day, it win not long be in the power of in
dividuals, however well inclined, 10 enjoy
its rest This statement is true, and yet,
in spite of this fact as true now as then,
the American people are being drawn
away from respect for and the proper OBJ
servance of this sacred day."
Many influences. said the preacher OPP
crate to demoralize conscience on this sub
ject. Often discussing the evils of Phari-
sale excuses and the other extreme of TOO
great liberty of conscience and conduct, he
mentioned, as an influence hurtful 10 the
proper observance of Sunday, the Sunday
newspapers.
MIR. Cook spoke earnestly of the
magnificent mission of the press,
declaring it to be the greatest educative
force in America, moulding public sent-
al. The greater the pity, he
announced, that newspapers are is
sued Sunday; for the in
iluence of the Sunday paper can be only
hurtfu to the proper observance of Sun
day as a day of rest and worship.
Three thousand and six hundred
people, he figured up, are de-
prived of Sunday rest and privi-
leges in the United States on account of
the work on the Sunday newspapers. The
paper is read on Sunday and usually, Mr..
Cook continued, occupies hours that
ought to be spent by GodIfearing people
in worship. Many old and young are kept
from the house of God who might other
wise come. Joseph Cook disclosed the
real situation when he said
There are young men that wake up on
Sunday morning with no idea of how they
shall pass the day. They spend it reading
the newspaper. The class of people that
stay away from church is constantly In
creasing, and the Sunday newspaper is the
guide, philosopher and friend of that class.
Do you expect the pulpit to compete with
a horse race, or a prize fight. or a Sun
day theatrical performance, or a Sunday
newspaper, by employing their methods?
Sunday papers make it more and more dir
ficult> for the churches to reach the
masses. and it will become increasingly
difficult If you allow the Sabbath to be
still further secularized.
However good and wise may be the ed
itorial utterance," said Mr.. Cook land
though 1t may stand for the common good,
the general character of the news items
in a Sunday paper, detailing the crimes of
humanity, is not edifying reading for a
people who propose to praise God and
hallow His day. The excuse given for
this dissertation of the Sabbath Is, the
people demand it. They want entertain
ment and news, and need it as an ad-
vertising medium. This demand comes
from class of people who have no re-
spect for the Sabbath of the Lord and.
therefore, have not the highest good
OF the nation a heart. The country would
not suffer IL the demand for the Sunday
paper was ignored. England has survived
centuries and prospered in trade without
the Sunday newspaper. Victor Lawson
has demonstrated in the history of the
Chicago Record that the Sunday edition
is not a necessity.
''If the press would throw away the
Sunday paper and stand for one rest day
In seven, l do not feel that a financial
success would be diminished. but am conf
dent that ere long this sacred day would
become a guarantee of rest, peace and
blessing to rich and poor. For the rescue
OF the American Sunday from the folIes
Of reckless Dissertation our hope lies In the
education of public sentiment and such
conscience as will lead to CONSTANT prac-
tice. In this effort no power is equal TO
the daily press. if It would only. dispense
with the Sunday edition."
Mr. Cook announced that he would con-
tinue the discussion OF this subject next
Sunday showing the evil influence of Sab
bath dissertation as spracticed by corpora
tons that control highways Of travel and
merchandise. .4-e1 s4ea 4