Putnam patriot., 1908-11-06

Transportation for the immense grain and other products of the West. Then railroads began to be added to the steamboat and canal boat facilities for transportation, between the East and West and North and South, the United States assisting by donations of public lands and loans of capital. Now this country has more miles Of railroad than all Europe combined, and It's in- ventiens have been the wonder of the tions besides making our own country the most wealthy and prosperous in all history. The increase of our pro- ductive and assisting forces has gone on multiplying, and no doubt will go on uneeasingly.
 With all the changes of population and the forces and means and methods mployed to keep our enormous pros perity, there has been one draw back they all combine to destroy the saneti- " of the Lords Day, nationally. It k no more respected nationally than when 1t was adopted under the Roman government, If the command Is still binding, that: "Thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son nor thy daugh' ter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor the strang- CT that Is within thy gates"
 To comply with this command, all the forces that. are making this country great, vii. have to cease their activity on the first day of the week. That will cause railroads, trolley lines, telegraph and telephone lines, Sunday papers, and all else that compels one quarter of the population to do labor on Sun day and violate one of the Ten Com mandments--to cease so doing
 Becaus. the nation does not keep Sunday holy that does not prevent the individual from so keeping 1t. They are not responsible for what the nation does or allows any more than the Apos- ties were responsible for what the Ro- man nation did or allowed-provided they give no countenance 10 or abet the transgrcssion.
 Men cannot honor God by keeping Sunday by eompulsion. They must obey Him in faith and love. For his moral and phy ysical well-being, to cease to labor one day in seven will prove a | hl..ss,,., as .x..,,, .x.,.1lsSs man of autba- rity admit, and hence every effort should be put forth to have all men cease .o labor on Sunday for his person. al benefit. Failing to do so is fruit ful cause leading to misdoing, and that with other acts and permissions of the law making power, our prisons, insane institutions, and poor-houses are main ly filled up by weak humanity. To make clear where the responsibility for most of this sad state of things rests is not only heniiicent service but a | Christian duty, and those engaged in such work should be commended and encouraged.
 Another question is, What Is labors That is mol an easy question to answer. One draws one line; another draws \ different line. To work in unison men l must he agreed on the main principles on which they are to act together. The observance of sunday as religious in- i stiIutten Is not a subject for secular newsparee to define, especially where there are 50 many differences about il among authorized Christian teachers. We are not unwilling 10 say, however, that through Gods Providence, the first day of the weck-called Sunday has been settled upon as day of nst wherein people are to meet together in Christian fellowship 10 worship Goeiiin the beauty of holiness and to strength en each other in their Christian faith.