The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-20
THE PENSACOLA JOURNAL, TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE 1911

orders and shipping goodsH Where
would you draw the liner
Is Sunday a holy day or holiday?
What is the final authority on this
question that 1t may be settled once
for all?
Perhaps the Jews would say, The
law of Moses" The ceremonial Sab
bath OF the wilderness. Holy would al
ways be spelled with big n. I sym
always be speIt wit ha big III" I SYM
pathize with Jewish feeling about the
Sabbath as they have seen their day
Ignored and have been unable to help
themselves
The Roman Catholics would say
The church is final authority" The
church says that if you attend mass
and perform certain duties you may do
as you please the rest Of the day.
Others would perhaps say, 1.-THE
Scriptures are final authority" But not
all citizens of the world admit this.
1t Is a sealed book to the unspirttual-
Others still might say, "Jesus's ex-
ample is final authority" But many
do not admit the lordship of Jesus"
What is common ground? What Is
the last word? think that 1t is in the
universal. fundamental need in man of
Just such a day. A day of cessation
Of all material and secular employ
ment. A giving of self to those fine
feelings and high thoughts that come
alone from communion with the Great
Invisible. This Is the primeval Sab
bath given for man. Wherever II has
been abolished 1t has produced weakly,
immoral people. France is an exam
pie. 1t was not long after Napoleon
made every tenth day a Sabbath that
the French revolution drenched that
land of pleasure in blood.
But some one will say, What Is a
proper Observance"
This opens a question Of wide inter
probation? Each man is left free in
America to use it as he sees fit, just SO
long as he does not interfere with the
worship of others. l will conf1ne my
self In conclusion to the reasons why
l believe all law abiding, peace-loVing,
highly respectable citizens should OPP
pose Sunday baseball.
Sunday baseball is a lack of respect
for the rest Of the state of which Pen
sacola is q part. 1t is ruthless disre-
gard of the sentiment which has been
building and is yet strong in favor of
this day No set Of men have a moral
right to step in and take over a day
held/sacred by the nation and make of
1t a holiday.
Sunday baseball is not in accord with
Jewish ideas of a Sabbath.
Sunday baseball is not according to
New Testament ideals and teachings
regarding the day. 1t Is taking an IN
fair, an unwarranted advantage of the
protestant Chris tians and those who
reverence the day in the city.
Sunday baseball is an offense and an
insult to cultivated Christian feeling
everywhere.
Sunday baseball is a dishonor to
Christ and a distinct loss and injury
to His bride, the church. I believe He
would use the whip of cords on 1t, II
here. Sunday baseball means the
coarsening of the community,
Just such impiety tends to hasten
then corruption and decline Of a ma
ton. AS gladiatorial combats helped
the fall of Rome, and bull fighting on
Sunday paved the way for the doom of
Spain, so our cities with a policy like
that of Pensacola on baseball will
prove a leak in the integrity and honor
of this republic
Wherever Sunday has been right
eously observed 1t has produced a
healthier and saner people than where
1t is ignored.
God has promised to make those ride
upon the high places of the earth who
make the Sabbath a delight not doing
their own ways.
Finally, believe that Sunday base
ball is unconstitutional. 1t is a tacit
violation Of the rights to worship and
an interference with public services. !
brand 1t therefore as a wicked pre-
sumption, as un-American and as I'M
Christian. I do so upon the ancient
authority Of right over wrong.
I believe that the preceptors of a
people should speak out and that
silence Is sometimes a crime. Leaders
who are worthy of the place should
try to be right and lead right, and not
frivolously yield to every clamor of the
mob, as Aaron did when he made a
golden calf
think the greatest need of Pensa
cola is righteous lawmakers and lead