A Christian Convention on Sunday-Keeping.
A CONVENTION of all the religious denominations of Detroit, Mich., has lately been held for the purpose of discussing points which they consider of vital importance to their religious prosperity. The sixth topic proposed for consideration was, “What can be done to arrest the growing desecration of the Sabbath?” The report says that the discussion of this subject was opened by a gentlemen urging that “at the next election a Common Council be chosen to give us a Sunday law to enforce the observance of the Sabbath day.” Mr. Fiske thought a great deal of the trouble lay in the demoralizing practices of church-members attending to secular duties, reading secular newspapers or books on the Sabbath, instead of making it a day of rest, and in training up their children and families in the way they should go. Mr. Phelps and Mr. Hickey advocated the disuse of street-cars, and the refusal to buy papers on Sunday, the latter preferring to take care of the newsboys, so that they would not be obliged to sell newspapers on Sunday. Mr. Scott declared it a shame that the Sabbath was not better observed. Men who break the Sabbath find little to restrain them from committing other crimes. Mr. McCorkle said the determination should be made not to vote for a man for any office except he be a man of principle who would stand up against the evil-doers in this respect. Mr. Zug said it was useless to talk about votes and official influence, so long as men were received into the church who disregarded the Sabbath, as many were so received; referring to different trades and classes, as masters and owners of vessels, loading and unloading along the decks on the Sabbath. Any of these men on making application would be received into the church.