The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-11
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
Ierse Comments on the Uniform Pray
err Meeting Topics of the Christian
EndeaVor Societies, the Baptist
Young Peoples Union, Etc, for April
19-"The Sacred Sabbath" Matt. II,
1-13.

The Bible deals with principles, and
men in every generation twist these
into rules. Thus in the fourth COM
mandment Jehovah laid down a great
principle, which was to obtain through
out the whole of human history. But
in the time of Jesus the ecclesiastical
lawyers had made of 1t innumerable
rules, governing all of a mans actions
on the Sabbath. These specific re-
quirements almost nullified the benefi-
cent purpose of the divine commando
ment So Jesus did not hesitate to go
directly against regulations! He dis
obeyed the ecclesiastical law, but He
kept the Sabbath. His answer to the
Mortified and self-righteous scribes and
pharisees reached the heart of the mat
ter, and is today the best interpreta-
ton of the law of a rest day: The Sab
bath was made for man. and not man
for the Sabbath"
The Sabbath is the best day and
should be put to the best USE 1t is a
perversion Of the spirit of the Mas
ter's words to plead that the Sabbath
was made for mans dissipation, idle
ness or worldly employment. 1t was
made for the best that is in man; for
his higher, spiritual self, and to keep
clear and definite the image of the d.
vine upon his spirit. The Sabbath Is
abused If 1t Is not used for the cultiva-
ton of our highest capabilities.
Christ found the Sabbath day Of
restraint and repression; He made it
day Of liberty and helpfuIness.
Times change, but principles remain.
The danger is that we SHALL fail to
adapt the principles to the changing
conditions. The Sunday question has
been beclOuded in many minds by the
nP N nc ha do In
the Old-fashiOned way. Now. what IS
wanted In this year, 1903. is not a Sab
bath kept as 1t was in the days of the
Pilgrim, Puritan and Quaker forefa-
theirs. but day kept in the spirit Of the
fourth commandment, and in the spirit
of the teachings Of Jesus. This Observ-
ance viii ssarily differ from that Of
our grandfathers, just as our clothes
and home, and transportation, and en-
tire civilization differ from theirs. We
should seek a twentieth century Sun
day, kept in accordance with the I'M
changing principle of the law of God as
enunciated on Mount Sinai, and as in
terpreted by the example and teachings
Of Jesus.
The Sabbath day is day for devo-
ton. 1t is the occasion when men
should stately give themselves to the
cultivation of the interests of the inner
life.
Because it is a holy day. Sunday
should not be a hard day. Into 1t
should be put whatever makes for
pure Joy, for brightness and for beau
ty. The Lord is scarcely acceptably
wOrshiped unless in "the beauty" Of
holiness.
That Sunday fails Of its first purpose
which does not bring to mems hearts
thoughts Of God. Primarily the day
is a memorial day 1t tells of the
goodness of God to the children Of
men. It's message is that we are His
children and that He is our Father
and our Lord. 1t declares that He
cared for US in the day of creation.
and that He cares for us still. For the
Christian Sabbath speaks of the resur-
rection as we'll as of the creation.
spirit should exercise on the Sabbath
day.
The difference between the Sabbath
and other days should be emphasized
by every means. For it IS a day
apart its meaning and its purpose
are different from the meaning and
purpose of other days. So even our
attire, which should be best on the
day that is best. as we'll as our en-
Payments, our reading. our conversa-
ton and our very thoughts, should
have different character on this day
that is dedicated to God.
One of the ancient religious rites OF
the American Indians was the placing
of dead mans possessions in his
grave. newspaper in Indian terri
tory declares that, on account of white
mems thievery, the Indians now place
money in the bank and put the certif-
cate of deposit in the coffin of the dead
Indian!