Report on Sabbath Observance.

White Ribbon, Volume 9, Issue 97, 1 June 1903, Page 4

Report on Sabbath Observance.

In submittin ' a report on this matter, I cannot speak of much accomplished, but of encouragement on many sides Literature has been ordered by seven unions, but friends have personally written of the value of the papers sent. One of these is a monthly two leaved magazine, “ The Pearl of Days,” with beautiful illustrations, often giving ,i story of real life, taking up the question as it refers tc trade, and efforts made to rob the working man of the God given day <. i rest; also of victories won by the efforts of faithful servants of God, whether ministers, members of Parliament and others, or the secretary in London, Mr Charles Hill, to whose devoted energy much of such success is due. We cannot close our eyes to the fact that a great change has come over our nation, and that the Lord s Day is not cherished as it was. “ Things are too often dons on Sunday by professing Christians which constitute a scandal to religion, which scoffers and unbelievers mock at, and which dark skinned heathen stumble at when urged to believe in the God of the Christian and His book. No one can read the early chapters of Genesis in the light of the word 4 Remember ’ prefixed to the fourth commandment, and not see the universality of the obligation.” Obedience to God claims the observance of the day. The desecration of the day means the forgetting of God, leading to secular interests instead of spiritual. Satan robs us through the loss of that d ry. The lay’s re,t is of great importance for health. It has been asserted as to France, that one of the causes of the decline of the population is the want of Sabbath rest, there are hardly any old men artisans to be found there. “ In pleading for a strict and diligent observation of the Lord’s Day ” (to quote the pnraseology, 200 years old, of Sir Matthew Hale, the great Judge), I may express a doubt whether many realise how long and closely Sabbath observance has been interwoven with the English Constitution and national life. From Anglo-Saxon times to the present day there have been laws prohibiting Sunday labour, Sunday trading, Sunday amusements, and so on. “ What about Sunday bands, museums, cycling, golf, etc ? I would say in the summary form, avoid, dis-

courage, do your best to stop all these things. Is cycling wrong ? Beyond a doubt the cycling craze has led to an enormous development of Sunday desecration, pleasure taking the place of religion. If living beyond walking distance from church, it is better to cycle there than be absent or to go by train or ’bus. But if the distance is walkable, walk for example’s sake. A niton’s conscience may be clear, but he owes something to his neighbour s conscience. Surely the Apostle’s remark as to offending his brother by eating meat has an application here.’’ While rejoicing in every effort, and especially in every success in guarding this God-given day in our colony, we would, as a union, offer warm congratulations to our friends at Queenstown, for their prompt action and success in regard to the Sunday train proposed for their town in the past year. May the Christian women of New Zealand be faithful to their God. Marian M inchin, Supt. of Department for Sabbath Observance.