Year: 1859

when we remember, too, that their influences must
on that account be moral and elevating rather than
the contrary, cannot but feel that they are more
OF public blessing than public evil as the iib-
eral, unobseryant and thOughtless sometimes rash.
lytdeclare.


If, then, there is no serious objection against the
institution In moral point of view, there is still
less cause for complaint in regard to the financial
and pecuniary considerations involved in the sub
Iect. These itinerant professors of the soothing
art exact no forced contributions for their bewtcE-
ments, either from the delighted millions or from
parslmoniOus units, who generally have more
money In their pockets than music in their souls.


under all the aspects of the case, therefore, view
ing 1t IN Its historical, Scientific, Aesthetic Moral
Humanitarian, Pecuniary,-and even Sanitary
relations, conceive that the course of this body
should be that of a ''wise moderation and master
y inactivity" We believe that we should act from
dictates of sound Conservatism, and that we
should, therefore, maintain in all its integrity and
force that long established and well orqan-ized psti-
tutlon,-that its melliiuous strains NAV charm the
ears ot thousands now unborn, as well as of the
greater thousands who rivet their ewes upon
the humble occupant of their own curbstones who
periodically brings such music to their otherwise
dull abodes.


Therefore, Resolued, That the committee be dis
charged from further consideration of the subject


SABBATARLAN REFORM


Last night meeting held in ;he Methodist
Church. (St. Johns,) Liberty street, to take meas
ures to prevent the desecration of the Sabbath
The meeting was respectable in point of numbers
quite filling the main body of the church. AL
though the call for the meeting extended to mem
bers OF all religious denominations it was observed
that the majority of those in attendance were Pres
bpyterians. The meeting was organized by Mr.
6oidsoorough Grlthth being called to the chair.
Rev.. Cyrus Dickson offered a PRAYER, after
which Mr.. Jonathan Cross, by invitation from
the Chair, stated the object of the meeting
He mentioned the fact that in other large cities
a. mad nIatin -
and said that great good had resulted from their
labOrs. One had been formed some wears ago in
this city, but had been allowed to 90 down. He
did not, however, doubt that while it lasted much
good had been effected by it. He laid the principal
responsibility for the frequency of Sabbath break
ing upon the ''foreign element" In foreign coun-
tries he said, the Sabbath was regarded more as a
day of pleasure than of worship, and when foreign
ers came to America they introduced their vain
and Goddess amusements Mr.. Cross concluded
his remarks by stating that from actual observa-
ton, he was prepared to say that not
less than 800 places of traffic, lager beer
saloons and cigar-shops, kept open on
Sunday to entice the youth of our city and send
them to the devil. The police records would show
that there was as much crime perpetrated on Sun
day as on any other two days in the week. and he
submitted that Christians should take some definite
steps in the matter. He asked in conclusion, if
there law to aid the society in its purposes?


Upon. call from Mr.. Cross and others, Mr.
Ridgey arose and stated that there were both





not only close drinking houses, but houses of all
kinds of traffic.


A gentleman present suggested that in accom-
pllshing the work before the meeting, it would be
best to set about it right-begin at the beginning
Let each man examine himself, and before attempt
ing to prescribe for an evil in the entire public
know whether he free from any DELINQUENCY on
his own part. 1t is easy he said, to see the mote
in brothers eve, and not discover the beam in our
own. He thought that Christians were great deal
to blame for the desecratiOn of the Sabbath, and
called upon those present to reflect upon the sin
they often committed, in leaving their servants at
home, to work, while they were at church.


Rev. Cyrus Dickson thought the question involv-
ed issues important to ALL He traced the outlawrv
which has marked the history of the CITY for some
time past, to an habitual dissertation Of the Sab
bath That it had injured us in a business point of
view undoubted. He thought he did not ey-
aggerate when he said that people in other cities
looked upon live man from Baltimore as a sort
of wonder They to think it hardly possible
for man to live in the city three months and have
no bones broken. Abiding to the custom of the
ancients, when man was slain by violence between
two Cities to send out surveyors and measure the
distance at which the corpse lay from the gates of
each and for the inhabitants of the place to which
1t was in closest proximity to go out and offer up
sacrifice, and swear that it was bv the hands of
none of them that he died, Mr.. Dickson asked if
our city, through its Mayor and officials could 90
out, and over the ashes and blood of red heifer
swear that they had nothing to do with the deaths



for some time past?


Rev. Mr.. Brauns succeeded Mr. Dickson. He ex-
planned the origin and working of a similar associa-
tlon IN New York, and was of the opinion that a
reform society of the kind would do much good in
this city He also laid the chief blame for the great
desecration of the Sabbath upon foreigners and
thought when it came to washing out the Fourth
Commandment with flood of lager beer it was
time to act firmly. We should say to foreigners
"when you come to this country we welcome YOU
but you must obey the laws and reverence the holy
Sabbath day, which we and our fathers have OBJ
served" In conclusion. he advised mildness but
withal frmness in the measure.


At this stage Mr.. Jonathan Cross moved to form
the association by the election of President and
Directors.


Before the question put one or two gentle
men made remarks, and were followed by Rev An
drew b. Cross, who said that to observe the Sab
bath was grand characteristic of the American
people, and the question now before the meeting
an American question. He thought the alarm
ing increase in the desecration of the Sabbath was
chiefly owing to the ''German eement-lager beer
and infdelity." These three things come in and
conspire to drive out Christianity. He thought
the present was the time to stem the current-how
he cared not, so that it was done.


Mr.. kldwell replied to the remarks of Mr.. Cross.
He could not but differ from him. The question
was not an American question, but question of
God and the promotion of Gods works. There
was no need of a crusade against anv particular
class of persons, be they from the banks of the
Shannon or the Rhine. Sensation. What was
the fault of many, should not be ascribed to ONE
lie thought the ball once set in motion would
the people to Just sense of the sinfulneSs of
their course, and make public officers hitherto ne
glectful of their duties more faithful in future


Mr.. Cross retorted, saying that he didn't mean
to introduce political question. The gentleman
mistook his meaning. He intended to sav-Tthe
speaker was here interrupted by cries of 'Ques-
tion! Question:"


Mr.. Dickson said that he hoped the gentleman
would leave Oft any attempt to explain. He also





The Chairman stood up, but didn't seem to know
exactly what to do


Mr.. Cross kept the floor and when silence was re-
stored, said he would like to be heard. No obec-
ti0n being made, he proceeded to say that when he
first arose to speak he had only two ideas on the
subject, which were-that the one hand Ameri-
cans as nation were eminently a Sabbath observ-
ing people and had been so when his forefathers
were foreigners-while the other hand Europe
ans were just the reverse He would not designedlv
introduce into meeting like the present any politi-
cal discussion, and begged that he be rightly under
stood.


One or two gentlemen then arose and after speak
ing some minutes urged the meeting to proceed to
business. They prevailed upon Mr.. Jonathan Cross
to withdraw his motion to elect President and Di-
rectors


motion that the meeting should at once pro-
ceed to edo something" was made and adopted-
After which another motion was made and adopted
that committee of ten persons should be appointed
to report at an adjourned meeting as to what that
Something" should be.


Before putting the question the Chairman of the
meeting expressed wish that he be allowed some
time to make his appointments, which was assented
to.


young gentleman here arose and stated that
he was "sinner," and would like to say a few
words. He entered into discussion of the benefits
likely to result from the organization of the asSo-
cation, and stated that although some of the
brethren might be astonished by his bodness, the
Sabbath was as much a secular institution as an
ordinance of God. The speaker then branched off
from the subject and was interrupted. An
elderly gentleman "begged the brother to desist,"
and finding it impossible to proceed, he at length
did desist, the chairman promising him that he
should have leave to proceed after the question
taken: Whether he availed himself Of the permis-
sion thus given not, what happened after the
question was taken, our Reporter did not stay to
learn, but following the example of the majority,
took his departure as soon as the vote upon the
resolution was announced.