The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-06-24
THE ANDERSON INTELLIGENCE CER.

3. 4. 4
+ + 90 The Sabbath wan made fors. man
i because he needs it for che cultivation
OF his spiritual nature. 70 base the
Lobligation OF Sabbath observance aim.
1 lpiy on mans need OF bodily rest is IS
place man on sleyel With the brnts
ersaiion. Han iss over and above
eserything else aispisituai being and
unless he develops spiritually ne fails
!;tci develop along che lines of true
manhood. He has d soal, he has
been built for communion With God.
and unless he fads God ha misses she
Very purpose Of his creation. Me==
the Sabbath is the souls great oppor-
suniiy. IL has. been given TO us by
she Creator with . special view to our
religious cultivation. It is true that
religion is intended to go through the
whole Sssk, to enter into every duty
and every pastime, but we all know
he= secular sSS;;ugs drive religion into
g corner and how the soul cleayes to
the dust. But the Sabbath gives the
religious nature it's opportunity. The
cessation from toll, the preaching OF
the Gospel, the atmosphere Of peace,
the ihanence es united worship, ali
tend to call out the religious nature
and encourage it to revel in its native
element.
My friends, this is serious cues
ton. Tho loss Of the Sabbath means
Infinitely moro than the loss Of ply.
steal rest Gay. Itmeans the dethrone-
ment Of God and the lass Of the sn:.;-
Elal nature. The words Of the Great
Te.caer may well oome home TO us
here with startling force. e.What
shall it profit . man if he gains the
whole world and lose his soul?" And
mo man, let it ever be remembered,
can save his soul and at the same
time deliberately violate the Fourth
Commandment. he must have, sea.
son for prayer and meditation and
Worship or he will have atrophy on the
spiritual aide Of his nature. Just as
The body will weaken il you have no
regular meals. 30 your soul will lose
its vitality il you neglect set oppor.
tnnities for communion with God.
No man san be true to himself who
neglects the cultivation Of his spiri-
ltual nature. Oar very life is rooted.
in God and true living consists in re-.
ecgniaing this. And for this We need
the Sabbath. It Is a necessity Of our
| spiritual nature. A recognition Of
this great truth is Of special impor.
tance at time like this, when many
are seeking for the maximum Of pleas,
1re and the: minimum of worship.
The tendency Of the times is unques.
tiouably to transform Sunday from a
Hholy day" to a holiday" toemploy
It as far as possible in amusement and
self fsindulgence. In many parts Of
the country the golf links are simply
crowded with players, ana boys who
oughtlto be in Sunday school are
Eclamorins for employment. Society
Ifunctions are multiplying fast. Cheap
lexcIraion trains, With their worry
and excitement, demoralizes for the
tmofroW work thousands whose only
iemJOyment seems to consist not in
gazing ON nature, bit in eating and
drinking especially drinking. This
enjoyment 0f what is merely physical
at5the sacrifice Of all that Is spiri-
tuai is ominoue, for il threatens the
degradation Of the people and in
wolves ultimately the abolition Of Sun
day asa period Of quiet rest and q
season for spiritual communion. In
the face Of this the duty OF every
right-.ainking man is surely clear.
And now, before closing, must
speak very plainly on another phase
OF this question, via. the right OF the
State 70 legislate on che Sunday. And
here Imay say that ] believe that the
improvement Of the Sabbath must be
sought through the Improvement Of
man rather than the improvement Of
man through the Improvement Of the
Sabbath. Let men be taught their
true dignity as spiritual beings and
they viii Welcome the Sabbath as q
great physical and spiritual boon.
Questions Of Sunday observance will
then settle themaelves. And yet The
State has 8 duty to perform here. II
man needs che Sabbath then the State
is under moral obligations to protect
the Sabbath for the same reason that
IL ia itntfarS N, nr.al obl;1at;nne ~ 4 .,,>