Bishop W. F. Mallalieu, LL.D., Advisory Committee. In New Jersey, Idaho, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and in spots throughout the country there has been an improvement in Sunday. legislation and a better enforcement of of Sunday laws, at least spasms of reform. While we mention these and thank God for every sign of advance on the part of His people and good citizens we still must recognize the materialistic trend of modern life. A still wider and mightier religious and civic revival is greatly needed, in municipal and national life. (3). The devotees of pleasure who, in this pleasure-seeking age, make everything subservient to their own temporary gratification, even though thereby their irreverance degrade and debauch a venerable and hallowed institution. (4). Lukewarm, indifferent and worldly men and women, (sometimes church members) whose unscriptural beliefs, teachings and practices on the Lord's day, whose careless and inconsistent lives during the week, often bringing their trade, their feasts, their card, dancing and theatrical parties into the early hours of Sunday morning, rather than making Saturday afternoon a time of rest for employer and employee, and Saturday evening a time of preparation for sacred hours. (5). Last of all we mention TO GETHER THE SABBATHLESS IMMIGRANT and the DEGENERATE NATIVE. Some lay the whole blame on the foreigner, who, we must admit is partly responsible, and cry out against his admission into this land of opportunity. The foreigner has been one of America's greatest blessings, and even in his worst form, he does not account for a large amount of our Sunday secularism. He often. sets us an example in church attendance, reverence and industry. A DEGENERATION in many instances, of the NATIVE STOCK, children of Puritan and Pilgrim forefathers, is a graver question to-day than that of immigration. Startling illustrations of this are not uncommon in rural New England. The work which the League is doing in such regions is exceedingly important. Over against all secularSunday izing theories and in the Home and face of prevailing tendenChurch. cies, we would emphasize for Rest, to steal a dollar is a less offense than to steal a day that enwraps both, the rights of God and the most sacred rights of man." Modern Sunday. While the day is a day of The worship, it was also "made Economic for man," in accordance with the demands of his being. It is revealed not merely in theology, but also in anthropology, archæology, biology, sociology, and all the wisdom compacted into science, art, literature, philosophy, economics, æsthetics and ethics. If we cannot restrain the irresponsible foreigner, and the degenerate native, by means of encyclicals, resolutions and preachments, we can, perhaps, convince him that America. is the land of the greatest opportunity and privilege, largely because it has preserved and held inviolate the highest ideals of Pilgrim and Puritan of whatever name and age. If we cannot convince the workingman with an argument from scripture, as to the eternal value of one day in seven, we can point to his own body "fearfully and wonderfully made," which is nature's endorsement of the fourth commandment. We can show him that he must surely suffer if he violate a fundamental law in the constitution of man, both humane and humanitarian. If the man of business cannot be reached by an appeal to "remember. the Sabbath day" of the fathers, he may heed the financial argument which proves that seven days' trade and secularities in the week DO NOT PAY, but are dangerous and destructive. If the voter and law-maker cannot be induced to side with us on dogmatic grounds, they may be led to main cal Christianty. The man who defends by sturdy, strenuous strokes, proves his Christianity as well as the one who prays. Resolutions. In view of the facts and conditions which have been mentioned in this report we recommend in conclusion, the passage and publication of the following resolutions: (1). Resolved that this Body oppose any modification in the Lord's day laws of the New England States regarding commercial enterprises or public amusements. (2). Resolved that this Body petition the President-elect of the United States not to allow during his administration, baseball and other sports on Sunday, by the army and navy of the United States and to ex Rev. George A. Gordon, D.D., Advisory Committee. clude civilians from the same. tain an institution which has always been the bulwark of morals and good citizenship. Stay at If the patriot does not listen to the call of duty, incited by the patriotism of the prophets, he may be led to see that the Sabbath day has always been the citadel of Christian. civilization worthy his loyal defense. lf stay-at-homes from the Christian church cannot be Homes. reformed by an appeal to God's word, they may be shown that as members of society, they owe the church, society's most valuable asset, their presence and support, and he who forsakes the church, fails in his duty to society. They should also attend the Primaries and see that the best men are nominated, and then seek their election at the polls. This is not only common sense and patriotism, but also practi (3). Resolved that this Body petition the next Senate and the House of Representatives to enact a law like that of Switzerland which requires all individuals and corporations, engaged in interstate commerce, to give each of their employees who work on Sunday, a full twenty-fourhour rest day during the next six days, and to give every employee at least seventeen such days on the first day of the week during each year. (4). Resolved that this Body express its approval of the practice which is becoming more and more common on the part of mills and factories to make Saturday afternoon. a HALF-HOLIDAY, and also on the part of stores, to close, at as early an hour on Saturday evening as possible, in the interests of their clerks and of the general public, especially of the young. (5). Resolved that in response to the request of the International Federation of Sabbath Societies (head-quarters, Geneva, Switzerland) which has taken action and asks our co-operation together with that of the Lord's Day Alliance of Canada, and of other sympathetic societies, this Body respectfully request the international, national and local telegraphic unions to reduce the amount of work done on the Lord's day by telegraphers, to the lowest possible limit, either by raising rates for Sunday telegrams, or by some wise rules to secure the desired result. (6). Resolved that this Body deprecate political Conferences and public political meetings on the Lord's day, as they are not only disturbing, but lead to the un-American use of the day for registration and voting. (7) Resolved that this Body express our hearty endorsement of the position taken by the National Association of Registered DRUGGISTS at their last five national gatherings, commending the sales in all drug stores on the Lord's day, only of that which comes under the head of necessity and mercy. (8). Resolved that this Body respectfully urge upon the higher institutions of learning a consideration of the advantages of setting apart MONDAY as the weekly rest day, that Sunday may be kept free from temptations and inducements to prepare the regular lessons, during the formative period of youth. (9). Resolved that this Body express once more its disapproval of the SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, and advertising in its columns, whether it be a morning or evening edition, and again call the attention of Christian people to the advanced position taken by England and Canada forbidding its printing, circulation. and importation from the United States. At the same time we would commend those pis seeking a "cleaner press," and devoting more space to moral and religious movements in the Saturday and Monday editions. (10). Resolved that we heartily commend to the PASTORS of New England a frequent presentation of the claims of the day of rest and worship along natural, civic and economic lines, as related to and empha sized by the Scriptures. We specially recommend to them, all churches, W. C. T. Unions and young people's societies, in accordance with the annual call of federated societies in England, Scotland, Canada and the United States, and endorsed by several of the denominations in their national gatherings, that the LORD'S DAY WEEK, April 18 to 25, the first week after Easter, be observed as far as possible. (11). Resolved that we earnestly request the pastors and officers of the churches of different denominations to place this League, as some have done, on their list of worthy. benevolences, deserving an annual. or occasional collection or donation. We suggest that this gift may be made in some instances indirectly through the Sunday-school, young people's society, or in accord with some other established method. In conclusion we ask our many friends and members who will read this report, to join with our friends. across the sea in this beautiful collect: OUR LORD'S DAY. TUNE "AMERICA." Rev. HENRY OSTRUM. Our Lord's Day! 'tis of thee, Sweet day of liberty And worshiping; Type of the soul's repose, Thou treasure-house of prayer, Thou fount of praise; Forth on thy wings of Sweet Sabbath Day; All hope, and pray. white, Merge heaven into home, THE CITY PROBLEM IN BRIEF. JOSIAH STRONG. "The problem of the city is the greatest problem we have to-day. As the world advances it centers its advancement in the city." |