The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-18
FOR OBSERVANCE
 OF THE SABBATH
Synod Depl0res Tendency to Demand More Sunday
 AmusementS

-ht AAN iC1tiL 6tSSlOH Ol lIt 1IeS- byterian synod of Alabama held at Marion. resolutions were adopted bear ing upon the more general observance of the Sabbath. The resolutions em- braeed a special request that they be printed in the newspapers of the state and read as follows:
 Your committee on Sabbath ob- servance. being profoundly impressed with the importance of the subject re- ferred to them, have made special in- 1 quiry into the question and report as follows:
 We find that the observance of the Sabbath remains much the same as in former years. The enemies of the Sab bath are still abroad in the land, in and out of the church. irrespective of what the denomination may be. These enemies of the day as a day of rest are ever on. the alert, claiming the day for physical relaxation and pleasure.
 Because the millions of toi1ers are so overworked during the week they plead for baseball games, the open theatre, excursion trains, autoing, nov ing picture shows and shows of all sorts, anything but quiet for religious thought and reading. In addition to these millions of toilers who spend the whole day In recreation and pleasure there are still over 3.O0O,000 wage earn CTS in these United States who have no cessation of labor at all on the Lords day and in view of this fact your committee would suggest that the ef- forts of the Lords day alliance to se- cure Legislation for the release of these toillng millions deserve the hearty sympathy and liberal cooperation of all the Christian churches throughout our country.
 "But in this connection your commit tee regrets to have to say that their attention has been called to the baleful practice of some who preach the gos- pei in different denominations using the railroad trains to reach their ap- pointments at a distance of many miles on the Sabbath day Surely such cannot be justified as a case of emer- gency or work of necessity and such course on their part only results in nullifying their own and the church's appeal for the scriptural observance Of the Sabbath day.
 "Your committee would also call att tention to the growing influence of the Sunday newspaper against the sanctity of the day. It goes to the readers be- fore the Sabbath school shour and the church service and pre-empts the ser ices, while it leads others entirely from the house of God and its worship.
 "There are other lesser evil prac- tiees that are just as truly a desecration of the Lords day as any already men toned, which the time allotted to this report will not permit us to name. and we simply suggest that the desecration of Gods holy day, in any manner, shape or form, means rebellion against God and defiance of His authority, as well as detriment to mans highest inter- est
 Tn contrast, however, with what has been said your committee is glad to report some things of an encouraging aspect, such. for example, as clos ng the postoffice and delivery of mail in the principal cities, which together with other movements of wide in- fuence for the protection of our Sab bath indicates, we believe, something of growing sentiment in favor or the Sab bath day. And yet there is such dis regard for the Sabbath in ways which many consider unimportant, as to call for a positive pronouncement repeat edly on the part of the church courts presbyteries synods and the general as- sembly.
 We, therefore, recommend:
 q That as a synod we put our seal of disapproval upon all of what may be designated as popular forms or Sabbath dissertation, such as secular uses of the day, unnecessarily traVel: visiting, worldly amusements, habitual neglect of the sanctuary worship.
 "2. That the synod insist upon it's varl- ous presbyteries urging upon the ses- sions of their respective churches to bear faithful testiNony in the face of all foes to the fact that the observance of Gods day is universally binding and absolutely necessary for mans temporal and spiritual welfare
 a, That as a synod we call upon our people to continue their efforts and as Christian citizens use their in- flueDce to enforce all civil laws en- acted for the purpose of making the Sabbath a day of rest such as the clos ing of places of business. drug stores, soda fountains, cigar stands, ice cream parlors, baseball games. moving pie ture shows and all such like on the holy Sabbath, that the sancuty ol the uay may be preserved
 "A That this report be printed in the minutes of synod in full and that 1t be read from all the pulpits on the first Sa bbath in December or as soon there- after as possible.
 "5. That this report be published in our denominationai papers and that copies be presented 10 the daily papers of the state and the newspaper syndi- cate with the request that they publish the same. E. M ,rAi1
 "Stated Clerk synod of Alabama Pres byterian Church U. $.