Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-29

sell their goods and make money.
They are not satisfied with what they
can make six days in the week. Their
greed scizes on the one day which
ought TO be used for the rect and wor-
ship men need and turns thai also into
day of merchandise. Do We need
any other fact to convince us of the
terrible selishness 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 a 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-
sponsibllity 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 it 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 dayf
| have been told by one of these fruit
dealers with whom have talked lately
that among his best customers on SUI
day are some Of the most respected
members of this church. 1t has also
been told mo 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
IL that we place on our ordinance rules
forbidding the sale OF these things
covered 10y the law2 How far are we
responsible for our example for en-
couraglng the breaking Of the day on
the part Of those who would lind II
Improbable to keep their business 90.
ing il we did not purchase Of them on
this day.
1T Is possible there are very many
persons here IN this house tlis morn
ing who are ready TO eNclaim: This Is
Intolerable bigotry and purltanleal mar
ruwnesS. This Is not the attitude Christ
would take on this question lie was
too large minded. He was too far al.
vanccd In thought TO make tine day TO
mean anything Of that sort
"But let us consider what is meant I
10y 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 OF l
pleasure. Then God strikes the note OF /
his silence IN among the ClashinG 1
sounds of Carth's Babel and calls man. /
kind to make a day unlike the Other /
days. II is his mcrciful thoughtfulneSs |
for the race which has created this /
special day Tor men. Is ii too much 10 4
ask that on this one day men think 4
of something else besides politics, /
stocks, business, amuScmcntf Il 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 4
objection TO very many things COM
monty mentioned by the pulpit as
harmful 10 Sunday Is not an objection |
based on the harmfulncss
of the things themselves, but upon the 1
fact that these things are repetitions
Of the working day and SO are distract
ING 60 the observance Of the Sunday
as a day Of rest and worship, undis-
turhed by the things that have already
for six days crowded the thought OF
men. Let me illustrate.
Take. for example. the case Of the
Sunday paper as 1t pours into Milton
every Sunday morning ON the special
train. Now, there may not
he anything in the contents Of the
Sunday papers that is any worse than
can be found in any weekday edition.
for the sake Of the illustra-
ton. that the matter found in the
Sunday paper is just like that in the
issue politics, locals, fash
lon, personals dramatic aud sporting
news. literary articles by well known
writer's. fatality, etc, anywhere from
90 10 40 pages-an amount Of reading
matter that win take the average man
A whole forenoon to read.
4 say. granted all this vast quantity
II material is harmless in itself to
moral life, yet here is the reason why
i seems to me Christ would, as l am
doing now. advise this church and
he people Of Milton TO avoid reading
he Sunday paper, because it forces
anon the thought Of the community tie
rery same things which have been
.rowdlng in upon IL all the week ana
81. q