The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-11-13
Sabbath Observance

I'd vain, said: REMEMBER THE SABBATH DA
TO KEEP IT HOLY" 1t will be observed tia
the injunction to preserve the sanctity of the sal
eE bath is prefaced with the word remember. Ur
- der the law of Moses people were stoned to deaf
R for Decorating the Holy Day. The duty OF sal
bath observance not only has divine sanction, bu
$ it is a positive command of Almighty God. Ii
Exodus 81 l3 He says: Verify my sabbath y
= SHALL keep" Not We ought to- but We SHALL
or YE MUST keep my sabbath If this sabbatl
has ever been repealed we have no record of it il
the Bible On the other band Christ said: g
came not to destroy the law and the prophet, bu
to fulfill. God has decreed that one-seventh O.
our time shall be devoted to rest from the ordi
nary work of life. 1t is a physical necessity. L
has been demonstrated that we can do more worl
in six days than we can in seven, taking it the
year round. Fifty two days of the year devoted
to rest is an addition rather than subtraction
to human life. One celebrated merchant said
l should have been raving maniac long ago but
for the sabbath The brains the muscles, the
intellectual and the moral nature of cry out
Give me rest"
But the sabbath is not only day of rest from
our daily tolls, but day of consecrecated, and
halowed, as day of worship and religious in.
struction. In the ancient times this was carried
out even to the letter of the law; but today, even
here in Christian America, we have industries and
pleasure resorts that are trying to cut the heart
out of our Christian sabbath and leave it bleed
ing skeleton. AS a Christian people we should op
pose anything that would murder our sabbath be-
cause it is making war on Divine Government!
Sabbath and marriage are the two mighty
bulwarks OF our American civilization-the two
pillars of strength that support the social fabric
OF our great nation. Any nation is as strong So
clally, morally, and religiously as these two inst
tutlons, AS a nation we have not only tolerated a
disregard for the sacred institution of the sabbath
but, alas, have often encouraged same by patron
lzlng business enterprises on the Lords day. The
Lord said II We love me We will keep my COM
mandments. u Then if we love the Lord and if
sabbath observance is divine command we should
be religious enough to refrain from trafficing on
the Lords day.
- This community has just ssecshv great
est revival OF religion in many years. Perhaps.
every individual felt the influence of this meeting
We believe it has marked an epoch in the history
of our town. Many Of us declared for God and a
better life. We promised undivided love for, and
unqualified ALLEGIANCE to the cause of right in Col.
umbia. And as the divine injunction is, ''Have
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark
ness, but rather reprove them, it becomes orr dr.
ty to aggressively oppose the wrong, Rv dir
acts we either reprove or approve. Therefore lot
US create strong sentiment against evil and law.
lesness OF every kind. We believe every store in
Columbia ought to close on Sundays. Orr bovs
Will easily be placed in the way of temptation
when business houses are allowed to run wida
open on Sundays. 1t affords convenient nlace
Tor spending the time that should be devoted n
ehufch, Sunday schools and reading good ]itera.
ture' Let us, one and all, heartily co-onerate
with the pastor and with one another in the ron.
structive work Of the best interest of the con,n,
ney whether civic, morally, ethically religious or
otherwise '0"s'ous VI
righteous legislation is always helm and nov,
er hndrance to the general welfare of tho oo c
munity. VIC gull