The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
Sabbath Observance.
nr No Washinrton Hefald

Editor The Washington Herald:
There are certain physical facts bear
ing upon the Deealogue that possess in
terest 20 every thoughtful and intelligent
mind. apart from the religious force OF
thus saith the Lord" We may analyze
every one of these ten commands se..ol-
ars agree were brought down from
Mount Sinai. and IL will be discovered
that Il fills a special need in organized
communities.
So well is this understood that intelli-
gent lawmakers find no other basic force
for the Jurisprudence that to-day we call
law and self-government Pleadings Of
agnostics and inhdels in courts OF law
find their starting point from the deliv-
erance OF Jehovah on Mount Sinai
This applies with special emphasis TO
the Fourth Commandment. Infidel France
concluded that one day in seven was not
the proper proportion. and the substitu-
ton of one III ten was followed by the
guillotine.
The microscope reveals the edge OF
razor as formed by the INTERVENING OF a
mass of fine points; a razor used seven
days in the week will show these points
changed in their position 10 straight
lines giving a dull edge.
A lad from the North went TO Louisi-
ana and became sugar planter. His
nelghbors frankly declared he would have
10 grind and make sugar continuously. as
they did, until the CROP was or He re-
fused "a case of "Puritanical Sunday no
tiOns'D, shut down all work for twenty
six hours, and came out with a larger
crcp and more building work than the
place had ever known. and hands and
teams In better condition than those OF
his neighbors.
Physical rest Is the smaller part Of
Sunday needs. Even mental rest is in
sufficient. Natures demands for
healthy exercise OF our best powers and
green old age are not only that the
hard grind cease, but the inner-spirit
man leave the scene Of toll and care. and
rise 70 higher realms of thought and en-
joyment. a foretaste OF the future rest
and peace We all dare 20 look forward 10.
There is no way 10 attain this so well as
that which the poet described:
In holy dnties let the day
In holy pleasures pass away.
How sweet the Sabbath thus to spend
In hope Of one that ne'er shall end
The most intelligent minds Of our time
agree that the Bible. Of all books, Is the
most elevating. restful. and delightful 10
re-create Us and break far apart the
grind OF the weeks. This and religious
literature viii take US into the atmos-
phere We need. A recent appeal for this
sort Of Sabbath observance was signed
by many prominent citizens, taking In all
creeds and classes. They have called a
citizens mass meeting for Wednesday
evening at the New York Avenue Pres
byterian Church, where Mr.. Justice Har-
Ian VIII preside. and prominent speakers
viii address the audience upon the grow
ing tendency existing 70 ignore these
plain facts in the direction Of human
needs, and urge a compliance that ~ill
uplift our humanity in all It's parts
The writer believes. with many others.
that the continuity OF thought upon cur
rent events and topics Is as harmful 20
the mental organism as the ceaseless
whirr OF machinery seven days in the
week is physically. On this ground. We
submit that II is unwise TO go through
the news columns Of a daily on Sunday.
taking IN the usual grist OF crimes and
casualties. marital infidelities. separations
and suicides. and what paper. without
such sensations. would find a market?
Newspapers. like other merchandise. are
made and marketed for profit. We can
have no quarrel with those who choose
20 do IL. There are many. however. who
desire very properly, 10 know why this
matter was not touched upon in the re-
cent and well-written appeal" in which
the recitation of about all others rem
dered this especially conspicuous by its
absence.
Many years OF training in newspaper
work does justify the statement that
reputable editors do not claim to know
Il ALL" and fairly consider and comment
on the views Of their readers along with
those that these columns entertain.
J. Il gCHENCK