Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-12
OBSERVATION OF The SABBATH.


a question which has been dis t
cussed for centuries. i
The Scriptures record that the I
day was instituted by the Creator
who, after the six days work of
creation crested on the seventh
day. and that he "blessed the
seventh day and sanctifed it."
If the conservation of the Sab
bath is coeval with the Creation
it must have been with the pur-
pose of celebrating the compile
ton of the work Of creation. It
is remarkable that between the
creation and the Exodus there is
no record of the observation of
the Sabbath. Itseems probable,
however, that the Jews never
wholly lost sight of it.. After
their deliverance from Egyptian
bondage Moses gives this as
special reason for the observation
of the day, which from Sinai they
had been commanded 10 re1nem-
Der to keep holy.
The prevalent conception of
the chief characteristic of this
Jewish institution is the prohibi-
ton of work. Concerning this
an eminent Christian scholar
says: "The prohibition of work
is only subsidiary to the positive
idea of joyful rest and recreation.
The Apostolic writings are al
most silent on the subject of the
Sabbath. They give no rules for
its observation, never denounce
its violation, and never include
Sabbath breakers" in their list
of offenders. From its begin.
ming the Christian church has OBJ.
served the first day of the week,
or Sunday, as day for meeting
together to break bread, to give
and to receive instruction, to take
offerings for charitable purposes
and for meditation and prayer.
Scripture says very little concern
ing this day. It appears to have
been chosen by the Apostles be-
cause it was believed to have been
the day of Christ's resurrection,
1t is quite certain that for two
hundred years it was kept dis
tinct from the Jewish Sabbath.
During these first two centuries
of its life the Christian church
did not make any prohibition oi
nor record any protest against
any work or occupation on the
Lords Day.
After the conversion to Chris.
tianity of the Emperor Constan-
tine he issued several edicts pro-
hibiting the pursuit of many oc.
cupations and forms of pleasure
on the Lords Day. Gradually
this day assumed the character.
istics and place Of the Jewish
Sabbath.
The sect of Pharisees had in
vented many prohibitions respect.
ing the Sabbath Of which there
is no trace in the original institu
ton of the day. These were ar
bitrary and fantastical. The
Pharisaical spirit dies hard
Many of these arbitrary condi-
tions passed over and became in
corporated with the observance.
of the Lords Day, or Sunday
Thus it occurred that a day O
joyful rest and recreation, di-
vinely instituted to meet the re
quirements of mans physical ane
spiritual life comes to us burden
ed with harsh, irregular condi
tiOns.
The Puritans excel1ed the Jew
ish sect in adding "burdens toe
grevious to be borne'' to the OBJ
servation of "frst day." A mai
might not kiss his wife, nigh
not whistle, nor visit friends, no
engage in any recreation no.
amusement whatever on that day
It's hours must be given "to th'
services of the public sanctuary
to reading the scriptures, to medi
tation and to prayer. -
The Creator gave the Sabbatl
for man; these would give man t.
the Sabbath as formulated b,
themselves.
Protestants are accustomed tt
depreciate the manner in which
Catholics observe Sunday, but o
truth it seems to be mere in ac
cord with the Sabbatica1 idea an,
purpose. There is wide differ
n