The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-06
SABBATH OBSERVANCE
SHOULD BE RATIONAL.
Father Cofey Urges Respect for the
Lords Day. hut Would Not Make
1t Time of sorrow.

The Reverend !. r. Coffey preached yes
terday at St Johns Catholic Church on
The Observance OF the Sabbath He
said in part:
Remember that thou keep holy the Sab
bath Day. Six days shalt thou labor and
shalt do all my YORK: nut IN 'ne seventh
day is the Sabbath OF tine Lord thy God
Then thou shalt do no work on it.-ESod
XN, &
IN the Mosaic Law God set aside the
seventh day Of Tie week for his service,
because it was on that day ne rested from
the work of creation. The Jews then. as
row. interpreted the law literally. doing
no work Of any kind on the Sabbath. Jesus
Christ perfected the law.
From the beginning God demanded wor-
ship All peoples at all times and III all
countries have paid homage 20 supreme
Setns on certain fixed days OF the year
Nature herself has dictated this course
OF US God has demanded strict service.
Inc Christian christi Church saEs We must give
serve two-masters at once. yet we often
try to do 50; We often try to give God a
little and the world a great deal OF our
precious time on Sunday, with fatal results
as FAR as God is concerned. In our large
cities the great business interests ignore
the .e.,. existence of God altogether.
They tell US there is no remedy for this
state Of affairs. We answer boldly that
there is solution. If they want to apply
=. treat men as human beings, not as
beasts Of burden This system of getting
II making anarchists Of hundreds of our
"orkinsmen. Would It not be a saner
anu anu safer policy 10 give men some rest on
sunday. even II our finances suffer some
detriment?
We cannot fix our minds on things spir-
, II, when they are wholly occupied with
tIs.' 81, worldly Who are the men who
rise up in rebellion against law and order ?
ere they not men who have long since re-
bounced God and religion? The history OF
the w Srifed Of S od pFGEes this So upon
pinsss Of all civilized communities
rom this follows the obligation OF the
cessation Of work and labor on Sundays
and certain festivals. This rest from labor
10 not to be understood as mere idleness:
i NUN iess must II be an occasion OF SPEND
ing ins,,1 money d and vicious excess. as many
would desire 1t TO be: but It should be res,
from labor consecrated by religion
feposs united with. religious observance
1 nsgs o us to forget for while the bust
thoughts to heavenly things and to the
Eo lsp which We SO strictly owe TO the
I. th, Deity. It Is this. above all which
q r1st sanctioned by Gods great law OF
inc ancient covenant Remember thou keep
world by his own mysterious resi- after the
creation OF man.
~ Is true. sometimes, work is necessary
be done. But there is no reason why bnsi-
ness should be carried on generally on sur
day; People could get shaved Just as well
Purchase al
groceries and meat could me made on sat
urday. instead Of Sunday Much OF the raj
Loal tt2Ilc could be stopped On Sunday
without detriment to anybody. and with
ployes. ei''-
The movement now on foot among the
outchsrs ana gFocers 10 close on SUNDAYS is
to be highly commended and supported b.
all right-mirced and patriotic leaders in
0 our city Ely churches Many who hitherto have
his day will by this action be enabled TO do
DO favor an out and out Blue Sun
gay Most emphaticaIly. no. The Chris
tan SUNDAY was never intended 10 be what
n fns turn pgTfa bs 1a5 it True religion does
and mourning. On the contrary. il has con-
secrated it to joy and happiness.
True religion lifts man up from the
eaTeS and Tsp sprr1ws Of life to blessed com
Lords Day properly. it is true We must
give reasonable service to God and We
must not set that service aside for any
recreation is permissible on Sunday is an
outrage on common sense
There are religious leaders to-day who
would bar all amusemer from the day of
drive him from the open playground under
heavens beautiful canopy. to the NASTY
street corner or reeking barroom or worse
still into the dcns of vice ~
IN our large cities il is noted fa,+ that
our young people have their choice betwesn
the open fields on Sunday and the number
LEGS vicious resorts provided for their pas
Tine, time by the h1onr element. No right
making a choice for them ID
With the enforcement of .bIua I,us.
there would be no choice. Theaters and
think the day is dawning nigh in ths wes.
when we will have thoroughly f.hristtsr,
and sensible observance of the Lords Dav-"