The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-28
er good of the people is really their de-
A DAY TO BE KEPT HOLY.
heV. j. A. Smith on the sunday OBJ
serVance Question.


The Sunday concert question was dis
cussed also by Rev. j. A. Smith of the
Epworth Methodist Church, who took as
his subject THE Christian Sabbath, the
Mark of a Superior Civilization" His
text he drew from Exodus xxiii:2;
Thou shalt follow a multitude to do
evil"
Rev. Mr. Smith prefaced his sermon by
remarking that "Vox populi is not always
Vox del. NO one he said, recognized
this fact more than did Moses when he
received the tablets of the law upon Mount
Sinai The wisdom of ages has not been
able to improve upon these laws; prohibit
tive in their nature, they anticipate the
happy success and welfare of mankind
The keeping of these laws prefigured a
stable, and solid form of civilization.
In using these words, 'Ihou snak not
run to do evil God virtually says that ii
is much safer to be numbered with the
minority than with the majority. Dare
to appear singular; singularity if in the
right can never be criminal. Multitude
in the Hebrew means one in an exalted
position Thou shalt not run after evil
because one in an exalted position de-
sires that it be done.
"a great man has said that people and
individual which disregard the law of
God has already got Ichabod written on
their escutcheon. The natural tendency
of man is to get away from every force
which seeks to limit or circumscribe his
perverted ideas of liberty"
Mr.. Smith then stated that while there
might be some division of sentiment re-
garoirg the Sabbath, the LAWS of the land
recognize the fact that the day now set
apart is a day to be kept holy. 1t has
been stated, he continued, that If there
was sufficient sentiment manifested in
favor of a series Of Sunday concerts City
Council will arrange for them BY setting
aside a fund for that purpose. There are
two sides to this questi n, and the church
of God ought to create such a vigorous,
healthy, and aggressive sentiment against
it that those that pride their official
heads would not dare to pass an ord
nance so distasteful to the majority of
the law-abiding citizens of the place
Already it is a matter of the deepest
concern to those engaged in Sunday-school
work as to the best method of reaching
those children that desecrate the Sabbath.
Just as certain as Sunday concerts were
allowed in the park there would be a fall
ing off in the attendance a the Sunday
school, so that a greater evil would be
worked upon the future citizens of Sa-
vannah. than would be the pleasure and
benefit that would accrue to those that
would attend the concerts.
THE Sabbath being a holy day, set
apart for meditation and worship, its
sanctity and keeping is demanded by the
highest form of civilization. A civiliza-
ton which has become contaminated, and
is prey to all forms of popular vice has
been made possible by the Introduction
of innovations that at first. on the sur
face, appeared to be harmless
In his remarks after the sermon Mr..
Smith said that the matter of Sunday
school attendance is now one of the
gravest questions in church work, and
is so recognized by all ministers. 1--WE
cannot afford TO have any interference,
in the form of profane attractions that
will serve further TO weaken our in
auence with the children" he said, land
these Sunday concerts would unquestion-
ably do us much harm. l think l voice
the sentiment of the majority of the
ministers of this city when l say that
we shall do everything in our power to
prevent their being giVen''