Sabbath Intelligence

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 19, 1858

Sabbath Intelligence.

"The Society for promoting the due observance of the Lord's day" formed in England in 1831, is still active in its endeavors to accomplish that end. The following instance is only one of the many of its endeavors: A Mr. Sheepshank having left to the nation a valuable collection of pictures, in his deed of Gift expressed his desire that they should be open for inspection on Sunday. The officious Sunday Society immediately memorialized the Government on the subject, setting forth the evils of such a course, &c. The Government answered that though they felt anxious to meet the wishes of that gentleman, they did not intend to open it on Sunday. How much they were influenced in this decision by the voice of 600,000 petitioners, is not said. The Society's main business for the past two years has been to oppose the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Vice-Chancellor finally expressed his opinion that if the Palace was opened and money received for admission on Sunday, the charter would be forfeited. Hereupon the directors, determined not to be foiled, issued tickets to the shareholders, giving them admission on Sunday afternoon—free. The subject has excited much public discussion, in which one Mr. Baxter Langley has boldly opposed the Society on the ground that the seventh day is the only divinely appointed Sabbath. Although this gentleman and those who take their stand with him would not probably contend for the perpetuity of the primitive institution, their frequent declarations may be the means of opening some eyes to the fact that there is no divinity in Sunday-keeping.

A Jew was recently prosecuted in Cincinnati for delivering ice upon Sunday. He plead that he conscientiously observed the seventh day, and had no scruples against working on Sunday. The Judge in his charge declared that the "defendant's conscientiously observing Saturday was all humbug;" and the Jew was fined $5 and costs.

The Sunday laws passed by the legislature of California, have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of that State.