The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-27
SABBATH is FOR MAN
HON. POPE BARROW'S ARDENT AD-
VOCACY OF SUNDAY CONCERTS.
SCRIPTURES APPROVE THEM.
so sHR. BARROW UNDERTAKES TO
SHOW BY QUOTATION.

The Question of Free, Municipal
ON Sunday Afternoons Discussed
with Freedom and Vigor-sfr.
Barrow Says They Would Be In
strumentaI I'm Leading Young Men
and Women of Savannah to a
More Innocent Choice in the Mat
ter of Amusements-The Sabbath
Made for Man and Not Man for
the Sabbath.
Hon. Pope Barrow is of that large and
growing number of the people of Savannah
who regard with favor the suggestion of
Mayor Myers that the band concerts. at
the expense and under the direction of
the city government, should be given in
the Park Extension every Sunday after
noon
To Morning News reporter Mr.. Bar
row gave out a characteristic interview
on this subject yesterday, which he
handles with a vigor and freedom that
none of the other advocates of free Sun
day concerts have yet displayed. Prob
ably it is not too much to say it is this
freedom and vigor of expression. and not
any material difference Of opinion, that
distinguishes Mr.. Barrow from many Of
the thinking and conservative citizens of
Savannah.
Mayor Myers may be Jew" said Mr.
Barrow, but he Is certainly not Phar-
isee. If he had been Mayor of Jerusalem
in the days of our Saviour and had recon-
mended public free music for the people on
Sabbath afternoons, the Pharisees would
have denounced him, but our Saviour
would have commended him. No one can
read the New Testament and doubt this.
Il am in favor of Sunday afternoon
music in the park. 1t is a work of benev-
olence and charity Its tendency is GER
tainly to keep young people away from
evil. Many a young man and young wo-
man would go to listen to the music, who
otherwise would be at some place where
bad company and vicious tendencies would
prevail
There are resorts which are frequented
by the young people of all cities, which
do not have wholesome influence. Any
thing which will keep the young people
away from such places is step in the
right direction.
'As for Sunday, I am not one OF those
who believe that il ought to be made a
day of penance. l think 1t ought to be
made day of rest. The old blue laws of
Connecticut and the old laws regarding
the Jewish Sabbath, as they were inter-
preted by those who sat in the seats of
the rulers among the Jews, were too
strict.
Il was thinking about this thing to-day,
of Mayor Myers suggestion, and not hav-
ing Bible in my Office sent down into
the office of my friend, Mr.. Samuel
Adams, and asked him to lend me one.
He did so, and I turned to the chap
ter and verse which I had in mind. He
had marked it. 1t is the second chapter
of Mark, 9th verse, and Is in these
words:
land He said unto them, the Sab
bath was made for man and not man for
the Sabbath
'I looked farther in Mr.. Adams Bible
and found another instance in which the
Pharisees had condemned the Savior for
acts of benevolence on the Sabbath day.
1t was in Luke. 18th chapter, 18th verse,
and these are the words:
" The Lord then answered him and said
Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of
you on the Sabbath loose HIS OK or ass
from the stall and lead him away to
watering?' This rebuke was given to
them because they attacked him for
having cured a crippled woman on the
Sabbath"
Mr.. Barrow did not draw from his last
quotation from the Scriptures and his
commentary uron 1t what seems to be
the obvious deduction-that there can be
no greater moral offense in curing a
perverted tendency towards amusement,
than there is in Strengthening a crooked
limb When the suggs st on was made
to him, however. he gave it ready assent.
Did 1t Well-Chawley Gotrox-I think
it's delightful to have nothing to do.
Dolly Dimples-And you do it so we'll,
Charlie.-Ohio State Journal