Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-07

profigacy, the irredeemable godlessness of
their ruler and his associates; and the holy
horror in which they held THE Book of
sports IS revealed by the fact that when
they came into power the common hangmen
in Cheapside and other usual places
were ordered to burn all copies of the
book which We're commanded TO be sur
rendered to them by those possessing them
With Charles dethroned and beheaded
there was ushered in the reaction against
lndiscriminate Sunday recreation that has
its effects both III England and this coun-
try to this day. For, however much strict
Sabbatarians may depore the circum-
stance that the lawmaker in England and
in America has practically ceased to regu-
late Sabbath recreation, and the tendency
to greater Hberalty OF views on this head
among all classes, 1t Is incontrovertfble
that Sunday amusements Of the present are
exceedingly tame when compared with
those peculiarly pursued on Sunday, under
churchiy sanction, during the reign of him
who is responsible for the King James YER
sion of Holy Writ.
In connection with the Sunday question,
| it is interesting to note that, just as it was
slow in cropping up after the institution of
Sunday. so its predecessor. the Sabbath
question did not disturb the peace. of mind
Of the ancient Jews until long after they
had been keeping the day holy aud resting
in accordance with a broad and liberal IN
depreciation of the fourth commandment.
BY the time of Christ, however, they had
become divided into different sects, largely
over the Sabbath question, and all sorts OF
hair-splitting regulations for the proper OBJ
seryance of the day had been instituted.
The scribes laboriously wrestling with
the clause enjoining rest, had drawn UP
set of rules In which thirty -saine kinds OF
activities were forbidden on the Sabbath
day 1t was a sin to tie or unite a knot.
To write two letters that they would
make a word was equally grievous in tho
sight of Jehovah The greatest amount or
food that could be carried without breaking
the commandment was-a fig! Only enough
water sufficient to moisten one eye could be
taken. Travelling and riding upon animals
were condemned. To have in a pocket any
thing useful on week days was breaking the
Sabbath day 1t was forbidden to take
loaf of bread from nefghbors house, to
extinguish fire. though the roof overhead
was in danger OF being destroyed: or to
give medical aid to any one unless life was
in danger beyond the shadow Of doubt.
Thus, Christ violated the Sabbath. In the
eyes Of the scribes and pharisee. when He
healed the sick on that day, and He was
equally sinful when He let His disciples
pluck corn to satisfy their hunger since
harvesting was under the BAN
There was one sect whose members We're
so fanaucal on the subject OF rest that they
maintained absolute motonlessness ON the
Sabbath. and the pharisees were 80 enam-
ored of their hair-spiitting Determinations
that when the besieging Romans began on
Sabbath to dig under the walls of Jerusa-
len they met with no opposition from the
pharisees, for it would have been work for
them to defend their homes And. once the
Romans had gained access TO the streets
the pharisees passiyely suffered themselves
to be put to the sword rather than break
the injunction of rest by so much as lifting
their little fingers in attempt to preserve
their own lives or the lives OF their helpless
women and children.
Not even the Puritans. houted as they
have been for their niceties were SO In
sistent on observing the commandment to
rest for whenever they CHANGED to be at
tackled In meeting by the redskins--which
was not infreQuent, by any means-they
were nothing loath to defend themselves
vigorously with biunderbuss and pike. Nor
have any OF us stood for such bigotry on
the Sunday question az diseased these dis
putants over the Sabbath day question OF
ancient Israel.
How did the Sunday question rise up to
displace the Sabbath question ? The an
swer Is found In the story of the institu-
ton OF Sunday itself.
A Tar AZ human records Of one sort or