The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-20
A BROKEN COMMAND
OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTIAN SAB
BATH AND ITS DISSERTATION.
SAVANNAH DEFILES THE DAY.
DIR. JOHDAN's VIGOROUS CRITICISM
OF CONDITIONS HERE.

Christian Clubs and That of the
Jews-Sunday Liquor Selling Is
Sounding the Death KneIl of the
Liquor Tranc-Sunday Hunters
and Fishermen Beyond the Pale OF
Hope.
A sermon against Sabbath desecra-
ton, filled with comment and allusion
that gave its criticisms "a local habi-
tation and a name" was preached by
Rev. DR.. John D. Jordan, at the First
Baptist Church last night.
Nor was the sermon the only inter-
esting feature of the service. AS the
offertory Mr.. Grafton G. Baker, of the
Frank Daniels Company, sang 1.-The
Palms" 1t was not the first time that
Mr.. Bakers fine tenor, clear and strong
as Ginning bell, has been heard in
Savannah, but it was never heard to
better advantage. The sweet old song
he sang offered far better opportuni-
ties than the part he plays in Miss
Simplicity" relatively unimportant in
the light of his abilities, and the con-
gregation that filled the church enjoy
ed musical treat.
DR.. Jordan's text was from Exodus,
xx:S and 8: six days shalt thou
labor and do all thy work" "Remem-
Der the Sabbath day to keep it holy"
Mr.. Jordan began his discourse with
a discussion of the dual character of
the divine exhortation, pointing out
that the exhortation to labor was made
equally prominent with that to wor-
ship. For a man to fail in either"
he said, sis to rob and dishonor both
himself and God. Work is worship,
and the mechanic at his bench, the
merchant behind his counter, the very
Judge on the bench who remembers in
his daily vocation the command of the
Most High is rendering a homage meet
and acceptable-not less so than the
more formal acts of worship of the
Sabbath Day"
Observance's Golden Mean.
DIR. Jordan criticized and condemned
both the Puritan Sabbath and it's
sporting anti-type, declaring that be-
tween these two extremes lay the
golden mean of proper and reverent
observance of the day. Sunday he
said, should be the most pleasant and
enjoyable day of the seven, offering
opportunities for home companionship
and for friendly intercourse denied by
the busy rush and whirl of the other
six.
II think" he continued, 1.-THE
churches and religious people have
gone to an extreme in trying to have
too many services on Sunday and
some of them, too many during the
week. Services four or five times dur
ing the week and then four or five
times on Sunday is an intemperance
that tends to weakness rather than a
wisdom that tends to strength. 1t is
taking stimulantS where we ought to
take nourishment. 1t destroys the
statelinesS, grandeur and a certain
power that should pervade worship and
the life in touch and harmony with
God"
Turning from the discussion of his
subject ACCIDENTALLY to it's practical,
local aspects, illustrated in the light
of recent happenings, DR.. Jordan con-
tinued:
Sunday Bicycle Races.
Much had been said In the papers
about proposed Sunday bicycle race
The Ministerial Association of the city
interposed an objection. They felt COM
PEELED to speak. The gentleman in
charge said he was willing to give up
the idea of Sunday races in Savannah
forever, if only he could avoid finan-
cial loss from obligations assumed In
preparation for the race. We begged
MIN to change his time to Monday
night, and we would urge the people
of the city to attend so as to save him
financial loss, and I hope the people
will do so.
I'VE were under no obligations to
do this; it seemed to us the best thing
to do and keep out of the courts. The
gentleman in charge said that he did
not wish to offend the conscience of
the best people of our city, but after
what had taken place this summer at
the Casino in the way of vaudeville
and balloon aScensionS, without a pro-
test, he had reason not to expect a
protest against Sunday bicycle racing.
l hope the recent action against the
Sunday races will serve as a note of
warning to the Casino people and that
they will be equally as considerable of
the public conscience. When men are
willing to desecrate the Sabbath and
debauch humanity for money it is
time for somebody, yea, for all people,
to protest.
The Wide Open Saloon.
MANY saloons in Savannah run wide
open on Sunday in defiance of law and
religion. These are the class of saloon
men that are striking terror to the
paving the way for local option and
prohibition to cover the land The
wholesale whiskey men see the end If
these low-down GROCERIES and Sunday
saloons are not stopped. An outraged
public must assert it's right to protec-
ton sooner or later. 1 try to be tenn
perate in discussing intemperance
Mark what l tell you, the saloon men,
who sell on Sunday in defiance to the
law of the land and the law of God,
are ringing the death kneI to their
business.
Good Citizens Set the Pace.
People who fish and hunt on Sunday
are guilty of a great wrong. When we
hear of the most ignorant and vicious
doing so, we are not much surprised,
but when we hear of men who claim
first standing in the community doing
so we are amazed
There are two lessons that we
Christian people ought to learn from
the Israelites. On their religious holi-
day they kept it as a holy Sabbath,
everything was closed and quiet. We
make perfect bedlam and debauch
out of Christmas. Broughton street is
fit for any heather bedlam on Christ
mas eve.
las l come to my study on Satur-
day, the Israelite's Sabbath, I find
their club at Jones and Bull closed AS
l go to and from services on Sunday
l find the Gentle clubs wide open. sa-
loon and all, they say. How can we
expect Israel to receive our Christ so
long as we dishonor Him and His Holy
Day? Cannot we, for the sake of the