The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-31
AsTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THE FAIR AND THE SABBATH.

THE FAIR AND THE SABBATH.
The people of the city of Portland, confident of re.
ceiving the national financial assistance essential to
the success of the Lewis and Clark fair have deter
med to settle among themselves question that should
have arisen Shall the fair be open on Sunday
If the fair open at all it certainly should be open
on Sunday
There is always something doing in the Oregon
metropolis to agitate the public mind and we have
idea this Sundayopening bubble will soon burst,
Just as other similar bubbles have burst At the
present time however the controversy is being mer
ry waged and the argument is yet to be won by one
side or the other
Sunday is day of recreation and rest and prayer
It is day of prayer for those who make up the
chureh-going element it is day of recreation and
rest for those who have no particular religious scru-
Piles and who sometimes attend church but more fire.
quently spend the Sabbath in quest of quiet mental
entertainment Each of the two classes is entitled
to due consideration 1t would be Just as reasonable
for the nonchurch going element to say the churches
should not be open during the fair as for the church
goes to insist that the fair should be closed on Sun
day
This does not imply that the work of the churches
is to be discredited in any way Religion has made
the world-has blazed the way for civilization Since
Charles Marel drove back the Moors at the battle of
Tours Christianity has directed the march of civil
ization and its relation to enlightenment has not
since been changed The churches are powerful
factors for all that is good in this world and we'll
nigh indispensable in preparing us for the next.
1t is not clear that the fair is thrust at religion
as would appear from the agitation now in full
swing in Portland Quite to the contrary it is pri-
marily intended a great agtator. Should it prove
to be anything else, it would be dismal failure The
demand then that the fair be closed on the Sabbath
is itself direct blow at education, and as such will
doubtless be guored by the gentlemen in authority
actuated, Of course, by desire to elevate the moral
tone of the community. They believe implicitly that
the average man and woman will accomplish morel
for their own mental advancement by spending the
Sabbath at church than by viewing the attractions
of exposition Of the wares Of the nations of the
earth, or by assembling at the sideshOws for vaude
vile or other entertainment. On the other hand there
Is very considerable element that cngs to an Oppo-
site opinion or else is so Indifferent as to give but
little heed to religious advancement. Closing the
fair on the Sabbath would not bring this last named
element to the churches, but rather would send it
strolng about the streets Of the city out into the
country or down to the shore to seek such enter
tainment as one would naturally expect. to eniov
when visiting an exposition city Practically. Sun
would accomplish little for religion to
say nothing of the theoretical error of one class pro-
scribng against the legitimate amusement sought by
another.
Those fair visitors who are church-goers will attend
church on Sunday, whether or not the exposition
gates are kept open; and, no matter what the de-
cision reached by the fair management, the other
element will remain away from the house of worshjp
Sunday closing of the fair will merely keep down the
number of visitors to Portland-for the reputation
IF which we need, should the decision be against
Sabbath closing have no fear.
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AVERAGE LIFE rs LONGER.