Evening star., 1908-01-13
SABBATH As A DAY OF REST
BETTER OBSERVANCE TOPIC
FOR SERMONS YESTERDAY.

W
cordance with a plan arranged by the
pastors OF the city. designating them
selves committee on Sunda. rest"
Sabbath observance was made the general
topic Of the sermons yesterday. In many
cases the pastors directed attention TO
the large amount of Sunday work In this
city and maintained that respect for the
first day of the week is waning.
An appeal for a Sunday law for the
District was the keynote of several OF
the sermons.
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. chairman
of the committee on Sunday rest, preach
ed at both morning and evening services
at the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. He asserts that Sunday Is not
set apart for money making. nor for
pleasure nor for sloth. but to save men
from decay and paralysis.
THE nation Is made and saved by its
Sabbaths." the speaker added. I'VE have
here distinctive Sabbath. The Sabbath
is as much an American institution as the
ballot box or the public school.
should strike for efficient legislation. The
working man wants it. humanity needs II.
the public must have it
Appeal by Father Mackin.
Rev. Father Mackin. pastor of St. Paul $
Catholic Church made a strong appeal
for more reverent observance Of Sunday
at the 10 o'clock mass yesterday.
Let me say to you that there can be
no Christian home when the Sunday is
not kept sacred. Our Protestant breth-
rem are setting US an example worthy OF
imitation. Those who are church MEM
bers are remarkable for their strict OBJ
servance of the Lords day. and now they
are banded together to prevent as far as
possible its PROCLAMATION. In this we can
all agree and must take common cause
against the common foe"
DR.. c. Ernest Smith, rector Of st. Thom-
as Episcopal Church. asked his congre-
cation to accept the idea OF his text.
Sabbath was made for man and not
man for Sabbath"
At the First Babtist Church Rev. Charles
F. Winbigler criticised certain residents
Of this city for holding dinner parties re-
ceptfons, card parties and the like Sun
day. and the government and individual
corporations for compelling men and
women to work Sunday.
Rev. Samuel HI. Woodrow pastor OF the
First Congregational Church, declared:
Man was not made for the purpose OF
keepi ng the Sabbath. but the Sabbath
was made to minister to mans physical
intellectual and spiritual needs"
Rev. John Van Schaick. jr.. pastor OF
the Church OF Our Father. Universalist
| took up the topic at the vesper service
declaring that there Is need in the Dis
trict, not for more law. but for the en-
forcement Of existing law.
1.-THE plain. unvarnished fact is that
every clerk in the government service Is
| day." he declared. Enforce this law
and give them a few hours of daylight or
a week day and then the ground will be
cleared for a wiser observance OF Sun
day.
At Church Of Epiphany.
Rev. DR.. Randolph H. McKim. rector OF
| the Church of the Epiphany. preached or
Sunday observance yesterday morning. as.
| serting that Washington has virtually nc
Sunday law. He disclaimed any desire to
resurrect the Puritan Sabbath" or to
establish a pharisaic attitude of society
but called attention to amusements and
society functions which take place Sun.
day. and to work done by contractors and
the government on that day.
IF these customs continue unchecked u
he said. I'VE shall soon have no Sunday al
ALL
He asked his congregation not to expe1d
Its zeal in deploring the sins Of others
but to find out its own sins.
''The people who are destroying ou.
Sunday he said, "are chiefly the rich
| the socially prominent and influential
Dinner parties, formal luncheons, teas
receptions, at homes even bridge whist
said the minister. Some church people are
found in these diversions in apparent OBJ
livion Of the fact that they are violating
| their confirmation vows and bringing re-
proach on the Christian name. helping the
enemies Of Christ In their assault on the
Lords day. and weakening the founda.
| tions of our national virtue.
Sunday lectures and Sunday theatri.
Gals. In which the religious side of mans
nature finds no recognition and receives
no nutrition. are popular. To all this mus,
be added habit OF Sunday travel The
| business man works In balancing his
| books or rearranging his stock, and his
clerks are called upon to help.
| The law student or the medical stu.
| dent poring over his books, denying his
mind the rest ordained by his Creator
| vainly imagines. in defiance Of the wis.
dom and the decree Of Almighty God, tina,
ne will accomplish more by working seven
days In the week than by working six
| Then there is Sunday self-induleence o,
self-imposed tasks which help to rob the
| iaborer of his rest day. FORGOTTEN is the
| reason of the Mosaic law that thy man.
servant and thy maidservant may rest as
| we'll as thou -
LET every Christian man answer to hi,
| own conscience whether his manner al
OBSERVING the day is in accord with thai
| command" -"
One Day in Seven.
At the Mount Pleasant Congregationay
Il r.