The Sabbath Movement by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1858

The Sabbath Movement.

By Editor

A VIGOROUS effort is now in progress to stop business on the canals of this State on the Sabbath. The following petition is being widely circulated. We insert it with pleasure, and also the accompanying remarks by Rev. E. Latimer, who has labored much and efficiently for this object.—Northern Independent.

TO THE HONORABLE, THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

"The undersigned, inhabitants of the County of ———, believing that the desecration of the Sabbath is demoralizing in its effects, and tends greatly to increase crime, and the consequent expenses of the administration of criminal justice; and believing also that there is no exigency in the commercial business of the State requiring the transportation of goods on the canals or other thoroughfares in the State on that day, and that the interests of the State would be greatly promoted by suspending navigation on our canals on the Sabbath; we therefore pray your Honorable Body to pass a law instructing the Canal Board to close the locks on that day; and your Petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c."

Will those, who have circulated the petition send the same at once to Albany?

Will those who have received the petition, circulate it as soon as possible?

Will those who have not received the printed petition, copy it and circulate it as soon as possible, and send it to Dr. Wycoff, Chairman of the Sabbath Committee at Albany?

To petition is the way, and the only way to have the locks closed on the Sabbath.

We ask the united aid and efforts of all the friends of the Sabbath and the boatmen. We ask in behalf of the fourth commandment. We ask in behalf of more than 25,000 persons who need and long for the rest of the Sabbath. We ask in behalf of thousands of minors who are exposed to be ruined, as multitudes have been because they had no Sabbath on our State canals.

To justify the last painful statement, I appeal to our Criminal Courts—to Senate Documents, and to many prison confessions.

We ask in behalf of 909 miles of our canal navigation, that they may no longer be lines of darkness and moral death, but lines of light, and bands of peace and union, where virtuous life may be cultivated and heavenly hopes cherished.

We ask in behalf of 5,685 boats bearing the hundreds of millions of our produce and merchandise, that they may no longer carry a moral pestilence through the heart of the Empire State—but that they may rest on the Sabbath, and become floating Bethels of good to all. Such the lines of our canals and the fleet of boats may become, if the locks are closed on the Sabbath.

In view of all these considerations, we ask and implore the help of all, to circulate the petitions. In view of all the above considerations, we ask every philanthropist, every patriot, every legislator and every Christian to unite in all proper efforts, with prayer, to have this good and great work accomplished—which all say is right.

E. LATIMER. AGENT. Lima, Jan. 15th, 1858.