Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-07
PEOPLES PULPIT.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

To the Editor.-There was put into
my hands a few days ago, for my per-
usal, clipping from a weekly local
paper containing, a statement anent
Sunday baseball attributed to the
Rev. Thomas B. Gregory, in which he
holds that the man who wishes to
play baseball on Sundays has as, much
right to do so as the man who so
wishes has to attend divine services
in some church. Without going into
the question as to whether it is right
or;twrong, seeing that the reverend
gentleman has already stated 1t is i'm
possible to say either ut is right" or
1T is wrong" I,wish to say something
for the Christians view Of this form
of Sabbath dissertation The Rev. MIR.
Gregory in summing up his views
says, The question and the only
question is, Is this a free country, a
country in which it is allowable for one
to follow his own inclination so long as
in doing SO he does not prevent other
people from following their inclina-
tions?" To me and to all Jealous
Christians there is more than one
question to be, decided upon in this
matter, and the first and most i'm
portant is this: do we respect the
law written upon the tablet Of stone
on Mount Sinai and engraven on the
hearts of all true followers of Christ,
viz: Remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy?" Again he says, eff this
is a free country then it follows as the
night the day, that one has right to
do what he pleases on any day Of the
week so long as he does not interfere
with the rights Of other people,"
1t is surprising what perverted
views of American freedom" some
otherwise intelligent men have, One
evening, some years ago, / was pass
ing Main street store. where I saw
hurley policeman holding an intoxi-
Gated man inside the. doorway Of the
store until the patrol wagon
the house of correction. The prisoner
rallied at his captor and appealed to
the bystanders, questioning the right
of the policeman to detain him, in the
very same terms used by this later
champion of freedom, rs this a free
country?"
Free? Yes, we admit it is free, but
not free for EVERY man to do as he
may choose Not free in the sense
self as the Rev. Mr.. Gregory would
have us believe; else what does it
matter to us that the Lord says "Thou
shalt" or Thou shalt not?"
I fear that the spirit Of utter dis
obedience to the laws of God and man
which Is the first principle of anarchy
has crept into the church and that
many protesting Christians are merely
nominally so and like Peter follow
ing afar off" Oh, that they like Peter
could have their eyes opened and serve
Him first, last and all the time.
/ do not know to what particular
branch of the Christian church the
Rev. Mr.. Gregory belongs, but l thank
God that / am under the pastorate OF
a man who has his convictions and
the courage of his convictions enough
to make public protest in the pulpit
as was done by the Rev. A. E. Craig
against this latest dissertation of the
Lords day.
l would urge upon those of my fell
low citizens who deplore the present
condition of affairs in the city, to take
this matter into their hearts and con-
sciences, talk about it, pray about It
and last of all vote against it if op
portunity affords. Then we shall be
! able to have a peaceful, quiet Sunday
such as all good citizens enjoy and de-
mand.
Thanking, you, for giving space in
your valuable paper for these remarks
l am, yours truly,
Member of the First Methodist
Episcopal church.