The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-01
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Rev. F. O. Ballard Outlines a Rather
Unique Line of Thought.

Rev. Frank o. Ballard, pastor Of Memoir
ial Presbyterian Church. preached last
night on Sunday observance. his topic be-
ing What is IL to Keep the Sabbath His
discourse was more of a talk to young peo-
pie and was part. of a series Of short SER
mons he is preaching to the younger men,
bers of his congregation.
One view which Mr.. Ballard takes of the
Sabbath is that 1t is the calling of a truce
in the struggle of existence, in the inter-
est Of the overtaxed body, the aspiring
it reverently? ?" he asked, 1.-The Sabbath is
one of Gods happiest thoughts. Beautiful
as the world is, its glory fades and the
Sabbath is to make us think of the glory
that never fades"
Mr.. Ballard estimates that in twenty
eight years, each man, each woman has
suggested that four years is the length of
a college course and if improved In a college
will do not a little TO set the stamp or
academic culture on the mind. What an
inefaceable signature of refinement then
might a course Of four years Of Sabbaths,
well improved, set upon the finer nature OF
even the crudest and coarsest day iaborer,,
said the pastor. "Four years of intentional
and resolute forgetting of the world and its
wickedness. Four years complete turning
away from the commonplace and the vui-
gar. Four years communing with God d.
rectly and also through His word and His
works. Getting better acquainted with the
souls high friend and as a child of inn
mortality, learning to plume the wings for
those celestial atmospheres where angels
are and all the joys and fellowships OF
heaven. Four years In the company OF
prophets, apostles and Jesus Christ. Four
years familiarity with the best book In the
world and those books which help US un-
derstand and appreciate the best book:
Four years of resolute obliviousness toward
those daily littlenesses and
which cramp and vex us, and in place
thereof four years consideration Of the pres
the redeemer of it and all the generous
and catholic sympathies such consideration
would inevitably b~reed-taking us away
from our provincialism and molelike blind
ness. Four years discipline for the spirit
which ever struggles within wishing to free
itself from the chrysalis of the body and to
be at home in the bright upper realm OF
the divine fellowship. Certainly a college
coure of Sabbaths ought to be the prepare
tory school for heaven. How 1t would help
would trim the nickering light, tighten the
slack saddle girth, fit closer the armour,
sharpen the sword Of the spirit. Or II we
spend 1t as the brute spends it. grazing
in an idle pasture, doing in a musty stall;
If, still worse, we fill 1t with the chan OF
vanity or devote 1t to the hot deiirium OF
Sabbath, still plotting our little plots for
gain and by our choice of topics and habits
of reflection only grow more lusty, worldly
In these fragments of holy time-oh, what
shall we say in answer when asked to give
an account of our stewardship Of oppor-
tunity?"
Mr.. Ballard lamented the fact that society
receptions and other social functions are
given on Sunday, and then he spoke of the
Sunday theater and in this connection he
referred to an actors appeal to the clergy
to assist in suppressing Sunday theatrical
performances. In this appeal the actor de-
clared that "the Sunday theatrical perform
ance is such a radical wrong, so demoraliz-
ing not only to actors but to the community
in which the performance is given, that I
should think 1t would be the first point of
attack"