THE JEWISH SUNDAY MOVEMENT.
The movement to which we alluded in REVIEW, Vol. xxxii, No. 24, namely, a plea from prominent Israelites to abandon the Sabbath in favor of Sunday, is attracting considerable attention throughout the country. The following from the Evening Bulletin will be of interest to the reader. The movement is no less significant than unlooked for: A contributor to the Israelite, published at Cincinnati, begins his communication as follows: “In order, then, that we may have a day of rest, a real Sabbath, which can be observed by all Israel, we propose to adopt that day which is set apart by hundreds of millions, nay, the whole civilized world, for physical rest and the worship of God. Let our prayers and thanksgivings with theirs ascend to his throne on the same day, the SUNDAY.” The writer who makes this proposition, so repugnant to the ears of a people for many centuries jealous of the slightest variation from the established customs, declares that he has been “selected as the spokesman of a party, respectable in number, respectable in intellect, fully persuaded of the correctness of their views, and fully determined to discuss the subject in all its bearings.” The selection is manifestly a fortunate one; for the temper of the article and its logic are remarkable for candor, clearness, and moderation. The old Hebrew word, Shabbath, which lies at the bottom of this controversy, is declared to mean simply rest. Cease from labor, and devote to the service of God—this is the literal and spiritual meaning of the word Shabbath, or Sabbath. * How does the fourth commandment read? Does it say on this or that particular day, specifying it by name, Saturday, thou shalt rest, and it shall be your Sabbath henceforward and forevermore? No. Such are the commands of man, but not of the Almighty. The selection of Saturday by Moses is explained as being most suitable and convenient for the Hebrews at that era. The institution, it is presumed, answered all purposes throughout the past, until within the last half century, when it became obsolete. During this period they have been virtually without any Sabbath, or day of rest. Those who most bitterly oppose the proposed reformation are scarcely observing even the day which they recognize as Sabbath. The result is that they are becoming lax, and so, fast tending to utter irreligion, apostasy, and the total destruction of the Jewish faith. Even now their offspring display perfect indifference to religion. The question is accordingly asked: “Do you not perceive the influence of nineteen centuries on the observances and forms of our religion? And can all the past, present, and future, exert no influence upon you? You cannot stand still and be passive even if you desire to be so. The irresistible movement of progress, the law of nature and nature’s God, will propel you on to that inevitable necessity which we so earnestly beseech you to adopt. Any day we set apart as a day of rest, to worship God in spirit and in truth, is acceptable to him. We select Sunday because, in the fear of God, with reverence for his great name and an eye to his glory, it is more convenient, observed as it is by millions, because it can be hallowed, while ours, as at present arranged, is an utter impossibility.” Having further argued this matter, the writer attacks with vigor the intolerant and persecuting temper which has been displayed by his fellow-religionists. It created the Christian church. Jesus was a Jew, a great man, a second Moses, who desired to purify faith and correct the vices of their church, and people, nothing more nor less. “But, as a prophet is never appreciated in his own country, he was crucified and made a martyr of, and his disciples made him a God. ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.’ We sowed the wind and we have reaped the whirlwind. Our vices, follies, irreligion, and cruelty, created that church which has been our scourge and oppressor through countless ages.” It is proposed to call a grand religious council who can settle this Sabbath question definitely; either adopting Sunday for all, or dividing those wishing Sunday and those retaining Saturday as the Sabbath. These views will naturally create excitement, and probably lead to no immediate results; but they indicate the dissemination of a spirit of inquiry which must eventually break down the wall of partition between the Israelites and other religionists.—Evening Bulletin.