The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-23
SABBATH AND ANARCHY
RELATIONSHIP DISCUSSED BY THE
REV. n. v. HUNTER.
History Proves, He Says. that Nations
that Respect the Day of Worship
Are Best Governed.

The Rev. r. v. Hunter. pastor OF the
Seventh Presbyterian Church. preached 10
a large congregation yesterday morning on
the subject of sabbath Dissertation and
Anarchism." He said in part:
Said John Bright, one of Englands
greatest commoners. The stability n
character of our country and the advance
ment of our race depends very largely upon
the mode in which the day of rest, which
seems to have been especially adopted to
the needs of mankind. shall be used and
observed
1.-THE civil Sabbath is simply a day of
rest. For the state TO refuse to protect
the Sabbath is to allow the hum of ma
chinery, the rattle of business to proceed
to the annoyance of those who desire to
worship. The Christian has the same rights
Of protection In his public worship under
our Constitution that the merchant or the
mechanic has in the prosecution Of his
business. The Supreme Courts have ever
held that this is a Christian Nation. The
taking of oaths, chaplaincies n thanks
giving and all these things are proof of
that point. Hence We nave a right TO
claim protection from our civil govern
ment; while on the other hand religion
is a thing apart from the state. The law
OF our land may enforce it's civil Sabbath
only. This is fair. The keeping or the
bookkeeping of the civil Sabbath affects the
individual. the family, society and the
state and becomes, therefore. a proper
subject for legislation. If it can be proved
that the observance of civil Sabbath is of
advantage to the health. education, assists
in checking crime, elevates the home and
strengthens the state then it must be ad-
mitted tnat the state has the right TO en-
force the civil Sabbath. 1t must do this
as a part of Its legitimate work.
Let the issue be well understood. 1t
is not for the Christian Sabbath that we
are pleading with the police authorities and
the State officers. We are pleading for the
civil Sabbath. We mean by the civil Sab
bath that the people must do nothing on
that day which will interfere with those
who do want to worship God, just as the
individual must do nothing which will
fere with you in your legitimate trade or
profession through the week. We claim
that this is perfectly consistent with the
highest and truest liberty and will result
in the better health, better education and
in a better condition of society than to
ignore this day. III this can be proved then
we have established the right of the state
to enforce the civil Sabbath.
1T is necessary that we have a true
conception of liberty. We must understand
that liberty in the highest and best sense
does not mean license for the individual TO
do as he pleases. True liberty is touched
dl every punt Will just llliildllOIS. II ID
not unbridled license. Too many of our
own people and too many of foreigners
coming to this country mistake the mean
ing of liberty. Some take it to mean the
privilege to be just as one pleaseS without
reference to the character of our govern
ment, the rights of others are the perma-
nency of our institutions. Anarchy will burn
homes, take lives and trample upon JUS
tice. In such a country real estate and
life are worth but little. Nnere there is
no regard for law, for the rights of others,
there is no safety.
w accept educational laws as consist
ent with liberty. Sunday is a means of
education, hence consistent with liberty.
Society has the right to check anything
which will demoralize it. 1t has been
demonstrated that where there is no Sab
bath every sin and Grim is practiced.
Drunkenness, gambling and dishonesty are
rampant. Property is at the mercy of the
mob. Virtue is unrecogniZed and nell and
bedlam are turned loose.
History proves that nations with a Sab
bath have had the purest morals and best
government. Sabbath laws are consistent
with liberty. Just now our Nation and
the world are inquiring what can we do to
| stamp out anarchism. We must teach and
enforce respect for national, civil and di-
vine law. Anarchism despises all Of these"