SABBATH DESECRATION.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2576, 20 May 1871, Page 2

SABBATH DESECRATION.

To the Editor, Sir, —Your contemporary appears to have had the lion’s share of correspondence on the above subject, but as your paper finds its way into the houses of the people, and the question being one of social interest, I prefer to use your columns, and if you will allow me, would remark, that one point seems to have escaped the notice of the various writers in the Daily Time s, although briefly alluded to in Mr Smelley’s letter, —I refer to the golden rule—“ That we should do unto others as we would that others should do unto us.” Now, Sir, 1 would like to a«k any of the advocates of Harbor Company’s, oroiherpleasure excursions, whether there is one a nuiig their number who if requested by their employers to give up the whole or any portion of the Sabbath to attend to the duties of their usual occupations, would be willing to do so ? Would they not rather think it a very great hardship, and, in all probability, say No 1— the Sabbath is my day—l cannot work on Sundays -six d lys labor is quite enough Then why in the name of humanity should they wish engineers, stokers, seamen, coachmen, cabmen, and others to give up their Sabbath for the purpose of indulging them in pleasure ? Surely, Sir, if we must get fresh air on Sundays, there is abundance of it iu and around our suburbs, and plenty of beautiful scenery to he had for the trouble of a short walk. There is no necessity to take long fatiguing journeys, or be the means of causing any fellow-creature to sacrilice his pria’ileges to suit us. Mark you, while companies or individuals hold out pleasure baits, lam thauiful and proud to say there arc employers here, who, though they may not think any harm iu Sunday labor themselves, ignore the idea of wishing their employees to work. Let uj

one ami all strive to adopt the uni don rule of “doing unto others ns we would that others fhould do unto us,” then may wo hope that the pearl of d ys will be rightly esteemed by all classes, and we thall have healthier bodies, more cheerful minds and hrppier homes. I think it best to leave the doctrinal points of the Sabbath to abler hands, but would observe, in conclusion, that the word -Sabbath distinctly denotes Rest, and that a day of rest is not a mere Jewish ordinance,_ hut one of universal obligation lb was instituted in Paradise, .and appo'ntcd to be observed by the first progenitors of our race ; and while the -lows have always held the seventh day as being correct, Christians have observed the first day of the week for the purpose of commemorating a gie itcr work than that of the Creation,—viz", the redemption of mankind i and as we live under the Cl iistian dispensation, there surely need not he any division of opinion as to which day should be observed. Apologising for trespassing so far upon your space, I am, Sir, yours, <tc. An Employe?.