Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

CHEISIIAN NATION.Volume 18.T h e GhFistiao JationWEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 189S.P. O. Box 2633, Njiw Yokk.John W. Pritchard, - Editob and Manaoeb.Associate Editors:Rev. W. J. Ooleman,Eev. 0- D. Trumbull, D. D.,Prof. J. M. Coleman.Department Editors :Department of Missions, Rev. F. M. Foster.Sabbath School Lesson, Eev. 0. D. Trumbull, D.D.Primary S. S. Lesson, Grace Hamilton George.Prayermeeting lopic, Eev. T. H. Acheson.Christian Endeavor, Eev. T. Holmes Walker.The Week in Review, Prof. J. M. Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet S. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Eev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Corner:Mrs. Rev. E J. George, Mrs. M. 8. Gibson,Beaver Fall"), Pa.New Castle, Pa.A CHBISTIAN GOVEENOR'S VETO.The Eepublican Legislature of Pennsylvaniapassed an Act lowering the fine for Sabbathdesecration from $25 to $4, but the State'sOhristian governor, Eobert Pattison, has vetoedit. All the papers of Pittsburgh, publishingeditions on the Sabbath, join in abuairghim for his veto, but the abuse of those whoseek to make money by violating the Lord'sDay is an honor.The original Act of 1794 provides " That .. . if any person shall do or perform anyworldly employment or business whatever onthe Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday>works of necessity and charity only excepted,. . . and be convicted thereof, every suchperson so offending shall for every such offenseforfeit and pay $4," or suffer six days' imprisonment.But the third section of the Act of1855, " presumably passed in deference to thewishes of the people of Allegheny County, provicesfor an increase in this penalty from $4 to$25 for the violation of the Act iu AlleghenyOounty," The new bill proposes to repeal tl isspecial act and to reduce the penalty from 125to $4 in Allegheny County."It is not urged in behalf of this repealing act," saysGov. Pattison, "that the aot of 1794 is an unwiS3 one,for, obviously, if that were the case, its general repea'should be sought. TJpon the contrary it is concededto be a wholesome Sunday regulation and ae snch hasbean affirmed and reaffirmed by the lower and highestoourts of the State repeatedly. The highest authorityhas declared that in the enactment of this law by thelegislature ' their controlling object was to protect thecommunity against vice and immorality. This theyattempted to do by declaring illegal all worldly laborand business except works of necessity and charity." It was placed upon the statute books, and hasbeen continued there in recogmtion of a sound publicsentiment. The instincts of a moral and law-abidingpeople find it as much needed today as when firstwritten into the laws a hundred years ago. No populardemand is made for its repeal. It is broad, liberaland flexible.Therefore its penalties should be sufficientto secure its observance and enforcement inorder to preserve and secure the salutary objects forwhich it was enacted."For thirty-eight years the penalty of $25 for its violationhas been in force in Allegheny county, duringwhioh time the population there has increased from159,182 to 559,959, the increase being largely in citiesand other centres of population. It is the unconcealedobject of this repealing clause to weaken itsenforcement among this population and to render itsviolation more easy and less expensive. The ofier ofa premium for the violation of the law is, indeed, anovel proposition." I am of the opinion that if the increased penaltyhas had the effect to secure the better observance andstricter enforcement of the law the effort of sound legislationshould rather be to make the penalty generalthan to impair the effectiveness of the law in a particularcommunity. Most wholesome statutes arewholly destroyed by a failure to provide proper penalties." After very delit erate examination of this bill andliberal indulgence to all of the considerations wbichhave been advanced in its favor, I am strengthenedin my conclusion that its approval would be a stepbackward and an encouragement toward the violat'oaot a reasonable statute, and I therefore decline toapprove the bill."It is sometimes heard said on the streets, andoccasionally it is even boldly printed in papers,that President Cleveland is betterthan his (theDemocratic) party ; but here is a Democraticgovernor who is better than even the Eepublicanparty of the Keystone State, or of AlleghenyCounty at least. Let us, however, losesight of the comparative moral quality of politicalparties, for, as a party, neither of thesetwo has any fixed principles of morality. Thepoint at issue in Allegheny Oounty is not as tothe wisdom and duty of keeping the Sabbathholy, but as to how much a man must pay whodesires to violate it. The Eepublican legislatureof Pennsylvania and the Eepublicanpapers of Allegheny County admit as a matterof right that the Sabbath should be observedas a day of rest ; but they are not like Jefferson,they would not rather be right than somethingelse. In fact they are so shameless thatthey deliberately appeal for such a reductionof the fine that they may be able to afford theiriaiquity!" AgaiQst Jehovah and his Christ,With one consent they say' Let us asunder break their bandsAnd cast their cords away.' "" Woe unto them! for they have gone in theway of Cain, and ran greedily after the errorof Balaam for reward." They are as " ragingwaves of the sea, foaming out their own shame."When Eepublican law-makers and editors ofPennsylvania for greed will lend themselves tobe greasers for the devil's chariot wheels, it isnot possible to further humiliate them in theeyes of respectable people. But if it were,surely the sight of a Christian Democrat governor,veto-lash in hand, standing. Colossuslike,before them, ought to do it.EEVIVAL OF PSALMODY.In previous issues we have referred to theEev. Dr. Meredith's bitter complaint againstthe errancy of hymnology, and to EvangelistMoody's expressed desire that Christians every.where might get back to the singing of thePsalms alone in worship. Add to these thefollowing editorial note in last week's issue ofThe Christian Inquirer (Baptist) of this city,edited by Dr. MacArthur and others :The psalms bear the impres* of divinity. Howcomes it that they hold snch a plaoe in the assembliesof Christian people the world over? No other poetrycan be compared with them. There is found in themsuch material for devotion, such delineation of humaiiexperience, suoh expression of spiritual longing thatthey voice at once the life and hope of God's peoplein every age. These Psalnis are simple in structureand exquisite in expression, but there is in themabove all a spirituality which makes them precious toevery saint. So, now, after trying thousands ofhymns of human composition. Christians everywhereare coming back to tell the story of their lives andthe aspirations of their hearts in these ancient odes.They are rehearsed more generally in the churches ofevery name than ever before, and long as earth en:dures they will be regarded as a priceless treasure.COVENANTEES AND JUEY DUTY.The following item appeared in a resent issueof the Pittsburgh Evening Telegraph:John T. Morton, a juror in quarter sessions conrt,was excused yesterday by Judge McClung with a reprimand.Morton is a Eeformed Presbyterian, andas such is not in accord with the government of theUnited States, and told the court he had conscientiousscruples about serving on a jury. Judge McClungexcused him, and advised him to move into some othercountry whose Constitution and laws would moreclearly conform to the requirements of his ohurch.There was an editorial in the same issue inwhich it was said that "it is not likely that theman will act on the hint (to leave thecountry),because if he is not ashamed to make such astatement . . . he will have assuranceenough to stay where he is not appreciated orunderstood."In tlie same issue Eev. W. J. Coleman addresseda card to the Editor. This card wewill publish in full in a later issue, for it is avaluable document, but just now we will waitto reproduce but a portion of it, as follows :This putting of men on the jury lists who are knownto have scruples about serving and tho attempt to in.timidate them in the court room has in it the spirit oflhe persecutor. It cannot but have in it the direct intentionto lead them to violate their convictiona andto lead them into inconsistent position sand with someit is only too sucoessful. Moral courage is not socommon an article in our land that the courts shonldlend their power to break it down. If Judge McClungwould consult his Bible on this subject he wonld learathat men who refused to join in anything that dishonoredGod were those who held back God's wrath fromfalling on a disobedient people. If he read modem'history he would learn that its historians, as BancroftiMacaulay and Carlyle, freely acknowledge that thefathers of these same Covenanters, the men who refusedto become a part of the ungodly government ofthe Stuarts when even the Puritan fathers had ceasedto resist, were those who kept alive the spark thatkindled the firesof religious liberty for Britain andAmerica.The writer had an experience about a yearand a half ago, the relating of which might behelpful to others under similar circumstances.I was called to serve on the jury in the Oity ofBrooklyn. In response to the call I asked to