The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-11-18


the Sabbath to the inconvenience Of the
population. a farmer who will culti-
vate his land continuously, and use
every complement known to science,
will assuredly fail II he does not obey
the law OF nature which requires IT to
rest and receive the benefit OF the sun
and air.
In comparing the nations Of the
globe, those which maintain the Sab
bath and those which do not, It is ap-
parent that the former are the most
advanced in every line OF thought. If
for instance we look at China, a nation
which was great in the days when
Babylon was at its zenith, a nation
| whose people work three hundred and
sixty six days in leap year. and we note
people whose land is the Garden Of
Eden in every natural respect and yet
whose inhabitants are farther behind
In science, political economy, and prac-
teal educa tion than those of any land
where the Sabbath is kept.
Individually the keeping Of the Sab
bath holy (wholly) affords an oppor-
tunity to rest from the ordinary labor
and cares of life and to clean up and
hold up ones head and affiliate with
ones neighbor and gather from him
experiences which may prove valuable.
There is an element in society which
does not know what is for their own
benefit and these should be compelled
to keep the Sabbath. We compel all
children to attend school, notwithstand-
ing some parents fail to see the utility
of such instruction and would rather
have them employed earning money,
for the reason that they will be citizens
eventually and educated citizens are
better than uneducated ones.
During the ages prior to the discovery
of letters men had learned from exper-
fence much that was valuable and when
record began to be made of these
things the spread of this accumulated
wisdom was rapid. Some of it we find
in the Bible and more of it in the writ
ings of historians of other countries
than of those in the vicinity of Judea.
In the Bible however we find some
salutary laws which have proven so
valuable that they are embodied in the
constitutions of all civilized countries,
one of which is thou shalt keep the
Sabbath day holy. To construe this
law and endeavor to discover the in
tent of the law-maker has afforded
bases for arguments during time i'm
memorial. Ii is no wonder therefore
that there are such diverse opinions as
to the manner i'm which the Sabbath
should be kept, although it is admitted
by the intelligent of all nations that
the observance of it is beneficial to the
race. Napoleon, in his greatness, would
set aside every tenth day as a day of
rest, but it would not work for the rea-
son that experience had taught men
that the seventh day was for some
occult reason the proper part of a mans
life to devote to rest.
1t is admitted that the teachings in
culcated during infancy go far to bias
mems thoughts in any line, witness
the blue laws" enacted in almost every
country. When travel has added to
mems experience they look on such
laws with horror and can not under
stand why they We're enacted by fore
fathers whose wisdom they otherwise
respected 1t is essential for the welfare
of mankind that the Sabbath should
be kept but 1t does not follow that men
should be dictated to as to how IL
should be kept, other than refralning
from the customary labor. While each
individual can keep II as he pleases he
is as much entitled TO do so without
being disturbed by others as he de-
mands in his daily avocations. one
great reason for the law is that 1t is
one of the bulwarks the laborer has
against the master who otherwise
would, In his cupidity, compel contin-
uous labor. Therefore the law can be
called the poor mans friend. and should
be champoned by him.
JAS. w. GIRVIN.