The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-02-23

since, the following resolution was
passed: 1--WE believe all men should have
the privilege of this day, that they may
spend it with their families, or as they
desire, in rest or in worship, and we ask
laboring men elsewhere to avoid doing
that which requires others to labor on the
Sabbath
Movements are under way In our large
cities to close the theatres on Sunday,
Actors and clergymen are united in q
national organization, Of which organizs.
ton Bishop Potter of New York Is presi-
dent, called the factors Church AL
lance" one object of which is to prevent
Sunday theatricals. The BARRIERS in va
rious cities are working through their
unions to close all barber shops on the
Lords day. All these movements show
that working men need and desire the
Lords day for rest. Every well princi-
Piled, thoughtful, conscientious citizen
will second these efforts and will further
the cause of Sabbath observance. No
individual has right to act independent
~ and to selfishly set himself up in
opposition to the welfare of the ma iority.
The Sabbath should be observed not
alone as day of physical rest, but also as
DAY OF MORAL AND SPIRITUAL Gull
TURE.
Morals will not take good care of them
selves, they must be guarded and Gull
tured. A nations character and ;perma-
nence depends upon its moral condition.
A nation given over to irreverence,
blasphemy, and immortality will rot to
the core. A nation Of agnosrics and
atheists will decay and sink into immo-
rality and ruin. Patriotism, reverence
for God and all things holy, and sound
morals must be cultivated. Sabbath OBJ
servance ia bulWark of IN oral strength
to any nation. When France was be-
coming demoralized by unbeIief and Sab
bath dissertation, Plus TX, wrote: ssLose
not day, nor an hour, nor q moment :;
go and tell France that if she would be
saved, she must return to the sanctifica-
ton of the Lords day" Said Geo. Wash
lngton treason and experience both for
bid US TO expect that national morality
can prevail in exclusion of religious
principles" Says Blackstone, the great
law commentator. "a corruption of
morals generally follows PROCLAMATION
OF the Sabbath" The divine law, natu-
raj law, the examples of history, and the
words of the wise, ali unite Ia teaching
that in the wake of Sabbath dissertation
follow serious moral, social, and spiritual
evils.
The Lords day should be observed
especially as day Of religious training
and education. Says Senator Hoar: 81
believe thoroughly in day of rest,
which shall be largely devoted to the'con-
temptation Of divine themes, and to the
worship Of God and teaching his law, and
In protecting this observance against dis
tubances by secular labor, or other dis.
cords, by law.'
EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS THE SABBATH
FOR RELIGIOUS MEDITATION.
Bible study, private and public worship,
Christian activities, and general rest.
Such observance brings to every Chris
tian heart fresh blessings from heaven.
Gods people can afford no careIeg sness in
this matter. By example and precept
they must teach non-church-goers and
the ungodly the Importance and sanctity
ofthe Lords day. To the Christian the
Sabbath as . civil rest day is not suf-
hcient; it must be day of spiritual &C.
Invites, means Of grace.
The cosmopolitan character OF our
populaee Ia menace to the American,
Christian Sabbath. This Id very notice.
able in in New England. The Lords
day in New England used to be a
thoroughly Christian Sab bath. But con-
ditlons are changing. In our rural dis
1rlets the old families are disappearing
the fathers dying of and the young PEG.
pie going to the cities. The old home
steads and farm houses are being taken
by people Of foreign birth or extraction,
many OF whom are not only goddess, but
agnoafic and infidels. On the Lords day
We see indications OF labor and pleasure
seeking in our rural districts. In our
cities the populace Ia so conglomorate
and congested as to cause great restless
ness. The curse Of our cities 10 q low,
ungodly, vicious element. These people
spend the Sabbath In pleasure seeking
and carousing. American institutions
and the Christian Sabbath are threatened
by this degraded European horde. With
such people In our midst the American
Sabbath must be protected by law.
Americans themselves. descendants OF