The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-31

the part OF the remainder or the conf
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 God
and leave them better fitted to take up
the duties of everyday business.
Nov, 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
spcakingf 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 sciZes on the one day which
ought to be used for the rest and wor-
ship men need and turns that also into
day of merchandise. DO we need
any other fact to convince us of the
terrible seltishness 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
vet 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 cnticcd therein.
Citizens of Milton, where does the re
SpOnsibility 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 stor,S
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 day?
have been told by one of these fruit
dealers with whom have talked lately
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-
couraglng 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?
at is possible there are very many
persons here In this house this morn
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
But let us consider what Is meant
by the Sunday of our modern life as
Christ would view it. There is no dis
outing 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 clashng
sounds of carths Babel and calls man
kind to make day unlike the other
days. 1t is his mercful 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
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
OF the things themselves, but upon the
fact that these things are repetitions
Of the working day and so are distract
ing to the observance of the Sunday
as a day of rest and worship, undis-
turbed 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
newspaper train. Now, there may not
be anything in the contents of the.
sunday papers that is any worse than
can be found in any weekday edition.