The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-17


might in time learn to initiate, of
right living and rightthirking, they see
manners and morals not much better
than their own, the law set at defiance
or evaded, and corruption and dis
honesty even in high places. and
among those who dare 10 claim the
name OF "Christian."
The impossibility of enforcing the
observance OF Sunday by laws has
been already proven. Corporations
or individuals find means to evade
them when there is any pecuniary ben
eft to be reaped from it; and even
those who disapprove of Sunday ex-
cursions and amusements of all kinds
take no steps to see that the law re-
garding them is carried out; and thus,
by their silence, give tacit consent to
the transgression of them. There
has been 50 much talk of late about
the necessity OF the working class
having recreation upon the only day
in the seven which they can spare
from actual labor, that it over-powers
tile gentle rernonst1 ances of those
who suggest that Sunday excursion
lists and those who attend exlibi-
tions and violent sports are general
ly more weary on Sunday night than
at the close of any day of work. Nor
is the habit of spending Sunday large
ly in sleep, or in lounging at home, or
in entertaining company, or in reading
frivolous books, or in games of chance
as it is spent by such a great num-
Der of persons who have no excuse of
dali labor to plead-a whit more to
be commended than the ruder recre-
ations of the mass of the population.
It is possibly even more blameworthy,
since they can plead no ignorance in
the matter, as they have all been in
structed with regard to such Things,
and know themselves in the wrong.
1t may be asked, then, since the law
is powerless to effect any change for
the better, in what way reform can
be brougt about? The remedy which
the Bishop suggests, and which natu-
rally occurs to every right thinking
man or woman, is very simple one.
The Bishop calls it "witness-bearing."
Let every Christian see that his ex-
ample is in conformity with the true
spirit of Christian teaching. This
does not mean Gle is to observe the
day with Pharisaic or Puritanic strict
ness, making it a day Of solemn
gloom; but by the new light shed
upon it through the Gospel he can
easily see how to so regulate his af-
fairs, his household and his own con-
duct that it will prove a day of true
rest and refreshment of soul. AS par
ents can be with their children more
on Sunday, they can, with but little
effort, make it the l1appiest day of
the week to them, instead Of its being:
as it too often is now, regarded with
indifference, if not with positive dis
like Servants, too, should come in
for tteir share of consideration, by
their work being decreased instead OF
increased is likely to be the case
and by their being given a reasonable
opportunity to attend church and to
rest
There is another aspect of the ques-
ton which, is often overlooked, that
is that the Sabbath, or Sunday, is not
ours to do with as we choose. "The
seventh day is the Sabbath Of the
Lord thy God," and whether we elect
to observe the last day of the week.
or the first, as ''holy day. one in
seven belongs to God, and we cannot
honestly defraud Him of it. If it is
absolutely necessary for us to do
many things by which we now desc
crate Sunday, why should not we take
part of our own six days to do them
in? The prophet asked: 'Wil1 man
rob God?" And the answer made by
our present attitude towards Sum-
DAY. is a most ernphatic reply in the
a. native.