Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-11

no account For instance. there is re-
 corded in the Book of Exodus what
 we commonly know as the Ten Com
 mandments. one of which is -Remem
 Der the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
 Now. to my mind. there are but two
 sides to this subject. one of which is
 positive and the other reiative-there
 is no negative.
 In regard to the positive side, God
 has said: Remember the Sabbath day,
 to keep it holy" that is, as the dietion-
 ary will tell you, characterized by
 holiness free from sin and perfect in
 righteousness and purity: set apart for
 tile service of God or for sacred uses.
 I would make just one other refer
 ence to this positive side of the argu-
 ment: Jesus Christ has said '"The Sab
 bath was made for man. not man for
 the Sabbath CMk. 2:37) Gentlemen.
 is 1t necessary to make any comme ment
 on that statement? Do you not see the
 difference?
 In speaking of the relative side of
 the subject I would like to say: Dur
 ing the year just closed there were
 1,04f.570 immigrants landed in this
 country These foreigners. as you
 know. come from almost every countr,-
 on the face of the earth and are fast
 getting control of all branches of fn-
 dustry and politics. They usually come
 from countries that have little or no
 respect for Sunday as a day of rest
 and worship: in fact many of them
 are entirely ignorant of the first prin-
 ciples of Christianity: and having been
 accustomed to liberal observance, CT
 none at all. they are naturally some
 what surprised to notice the differenC after they arrive here. and they want
 to know why. They are told. of course,
 that this is Christian country, that
 we do not believe it is right to work
 on Sunday, that We devote that day to the religious exercises of our various
 churches. and spend the time in re-
 ligious meditations and teaching.
 works of mercy. charity. etc. That is
 what they are probably told, but when
 they see our legislators making laws
 to controvert this very idea they are
 very quick to notice it. with the result
 that they soon fall into the accustom
 ed ways of their homeland. entirely ig- noring our own customs and manners
 Tn other words. they bring their GUS
 toms and habits with them, and retain them.
 There is still another phase of this
 relative side of the subject: This ma tion is founded on the principles oi Christianity: each state is founded or the same principles. The persona pursuits and pleasures of the individ- ual are subservient to the need of the nation, and if this country needs any thing at the present time it is higher moral plane of living. and it cannot start with better class of people thar those who would observe the Lords day as such. or it cannot start in 2 better way than by closer observ- ance of that day Webster has said: If the United States secularized hei sacred day she would not endure z hundred years
 Now. as you know. there are certain forces at work to liberalize our Sun r. hot -rrra day of the present time is driftins away from the standard originally maintained. and it will continue tc develop and grow worse just so Ions as a liberal observance is permitted Is that the kind of a Sunday yot erted in such a manner as will dis coura ge things of this kind? Dr Beecher has said: A world without a Sabbath would be like man with out a smile. like a summer without flowers. like a homestead without 2 garden. It is the joyous day of the whole week.
 Do We want more liberal observ- ance of the Sabbath day? Grea changes take place from one genera tion to another. and it is good that such should be ordinarily but when il comes to a question of a more libera
 Sunday law I maintain that it is the duty of every American citizen to put
 his foot down emphatically and sa, No. If you do not, where is it going to end?
 I ask you. gentlemen, what is tht logical outcome of a more liberal Sun day? Is it going to make the people better? Will they have more consid- eration and respect for themselves ol each other or will it develop into 2 free-for-al1. every man for himself ex- istence? On the other hand. with 2 strict observance. will not the ten dency be toward a higher plane oi living. a moral uplifting. mora of { brotherhood of mankind. or a quieter more orderly, considerate. thoughtfp and unselfsh existence? The highes manifestation of goodness and tn, lowest type Of badness represent the difference between a strict observanJt and Q liberal observance.
 Gentlemen, I beg of you to preserve not only your personal self respect bu the self respect of your state. Do no mistake the noise of a few hundred for the wishes of as many thousands Respectfully yours.
 c WIT SON