The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-19
SAYS WHAT RICHMOND
NEEDS IS A NEHEMIAH
Rev. j. III. Light breaches On an Old
Time Custer Law in
Action.
IN VIRGINIA AS IN JUDAH
Pastor of Central Methodist Church
Draws ParalicI-How the Foreigner
Destroys the Sabbath of the
Native.

IAN Old-Time Custer Law in Ac-
-tion" was the subject of the sermon
preached by Rev. j. II. Light, ID. D.,
pastor of Central Methodist Church.
Dr. Light said in part;
II read you an extract from an old
book. 1t dates back 10 the time of
the Hebrew Renaissance. soon after
the restoration from the seventy years
captivity In Babylon. 1t might have
been taken from the news columns OF
the other days Richmond virginian:
In those days ! saw in Judah tNir-
ginia) some mon treading wine presses
on the Sa bbath and In bringing in
grain and lading asses Greight cars)
Herewith, as also wine, grapes and
figs and all manner OF burdens which
they brought into Jerusalem erich
mond) on the Sa bbath day, and tes-
tif1ed against them. There dweit
men of Tyre (foreigners) also therein.
who brought in fish and all manner of
wares. and sold on the Sabbath unto
the children of Judah (Virginia) and
in Jerusalem (Richmond). Then
commended with the mobiles tthe luxury
loving and iatitudnarian natiyes) of
Judah tNirginia}, and said unto them.
What evil thing is this that We do and
profane the Sabbath day? Did not
your fathers thus, and did not our
God bring all this evil upon us and
upon this city? Yet ye bring more
wrath upon Israel (America) by pro-
flaming the Sabbath. And It came to
pass that Il commanded that
the doors lof the city gatesl should
be shut and that no more bur
dens be brought in on the Sabbath
day. So the merchants and sellers of
all kinds of wares lodged without
Jerusalem lRichmond) once or twice
Then I testified against them and said
II ye do so again I will lay
hands on you. From that time forth
came they no more on the Sabbath.
And I commanded the Leyites toffi-
cers) that they should purify them
selves. and come and keep the gates
ito sanctify the Sabbath day
The Fourth Commandment
Il have read you this passage from
the book OF Nehemiah because 1t Is
so prolific of suggestion for the situa-
ton in which we now find ourselves
In Richmond and Virginia.
In the first place, the Sabbath,
whether the Jewish seventh day or the
Christian first day. has always had TO
fight for Its existence as holy day.
The fourth commandment was not set
1t was set forth to protect a holy
day already established and always
threatened by the combined forces of
greed for money. of lust for pleasure
of religious indifference and political
opportunism.
in the second place. we flnd that
our Hebrew brethren had as little re-
gard for their own sabbath In the
days of Nehemiah as they now have
1 g.. L. IL a.
|, of His Honor. Mayor Ainslie. 1t is
not question of the day--seventh day
or first day-it is simply question of
making money by the regular pursuit
of trade. There Is a great parade OF
conscience. 1t isn't question of in
reference with eonscience--it is a
question OF interference with trade.
Same then In Jerusalem as today in
Richmond,
In the third place. the iuxury-ioving
members OF Jerusalem society must
have their luxuries, so-called neces-
sities--same as now They must have
their fresh fish markets open, be-
cause 1t was difficult to keep fish
fresh over the Sabbath. The young
fellows of the city must have their
feet washed or their sandals busted,
the same as their successors In Rich
mond must have their shoes shined
on the Sabbath. The Independent
Order OF Thirst Quenchers q. o. T.
Qs.) must have their wine on the
Sabbath day. The prominent young
dudes and the pert young misses OF
Jerusalem must have their cigars and
soda water and ice-cream. or what
ever took the place of these pleasing
Injuries of today-the same then. as
now, And who was this long-faced.
hard-visaged old puritan, Nehemiah.
with his indigo legislation. trying to
butt into" the pleasures and diversions
Of polite society? Out upon him,
Away with him Pelt him with beer
bottles Drown him with pop. Smother
him with ice-cream. He's nothing
but an old preacher any way. What
does he know of the needs of the
elite?
The Man From Tyre.
Again. there is a noticeable sugges-
ton of the activity of the foreigner