|
Philadelphia.—The second anniversary School Fund
Ball took place on the 29th of February, at the Museum building, in
South Ninth Street. We were there for a short time during the evening,
and found a numerous company assembled, intently waiting for the arrival
of the Hon. Henry Clay, who had promised to honour the occasion with his
presence. He made his appearance about half-past nine, and was received
by a committee, and conducted into the hall, where the company was
ranged on both sides to receive him. On his entrance, the band struck up
a patriotic tune, we believe the Star-Spangled Banner, which soon was
changed to Hail Columbia. After Mr. Clay had walked walked round the
room a short time, he was conducted to a seat expressly prepared for
him, while the company passed several times before him; at ten o’clock
he again left, accompanied by most of the persons who had come with him.
The ball was conducted under the management of Messrs. John D. Jackson,
Chairman, Alfred T. Jones, Treasurer, David Van Beil, Secretary, and B.
Blum, J. Langsdorff, <<58>>M. Nathans, Theo. Pincus, M. H. De Young, Joseph
Levi, Sol. Isaacs, S. Sternberger, S. M. Klosser, S. Gans, Mayer Gans,
H. Pincus, S. Frank, Isaac Nathans, L. Shloss, and L. S. Elkus. The
amount received was $837.50; that expended 467.05; balance 370.45. The
whole sum accruing to the fund was 427.15, which has been deposited to
the credit of the trustees, in the Pennsylvania Life Insurance Office.
Mr. John D. Jackson was to have been floor-manager; but was compelled to
be absent on account of the sickness of his eldest daughter. Mr. Jones
discharged the duties thereupon thrown upon lime so unexpectedly, with
due care for the success of the evening’s entertainment.
Meeting at Philadelphia in Behalf of Education.—On
Sunday the 19th of March, a meeting was held of the Israelites of
Philadelphia, to hear the report of the ball committee; after the
presentation of which, the meeting resolved to call in the amounts
subscribed at various times for the establishment of a school,
preparatory to an adjourned meeting to be held on the 1st Sunday in May,
(the 7th,) when the subject will be more fully discussed, and perhaps
initiatory steps taken to organise some system, which will ultimately
lead to the erection of a school for a general and religious training. A
resolution was offered by the Editor of this magazine, to form forthwith
an education society; but it was withdrawn for the present, as the
agitation of the question appealed premature at the moment.
Sunday Laws in Pennsylvania.—We regret to see that
a petition from some parties in Chester and Lancaster County, asking for
certain changes in the law relating to Sunday, hats met with an
unfavourable reception by the House of Representatives of this State. We
are not acquainted with the nature of the petition, and were only
informed of its existence at all, froth a communication in the North
American of this city, which contains the subjoined report of the
committee on Vice and Immorality, a singular committee, by the by, to
judge of the rights of conscience. The petition probably demands
the repeal of the penal clause for working on Sunday, and this is
refused upon the old plea, as our readers will observe. We do not mean
to offer any comment now; but only wait a suitable time to express our
views.
Mr. Redick, from the Committee on Vice and
Immorality, to whom was referred a petition from inhabitants of Chester
and Lancaster Counties, asking for certain changes in the law relating
to the Sabbath, reported:
That they have given the subject that careful
consideration which its importance demands, and are of opinion, that the
petitioners mistake the character and bearing of the laws relating to
the Sabbath. That while we agree with the petitioners that it is not
within the power of legislative bodies to enact penal laws compelling
the observance of religious ceremonies, and also agree that such laws
are contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of the State,
<<59>>and a gross
violation of the rights of conscience, we cannot see that the laws
relating to the Sabbath partake in the slightest degree of that
character. Nor can the law which sets apart one day in seven for man to
rest from his weekly labour and worship his Creator, be a violation of
the rights of conscience, inasmuch as that express portion of time was
divinely imposed, and made perpetual in its obligations by the Creator,
who placed the conscience in every man as His vicegerent, to reprove or
else excuse in things pertaining to morality, and who also made the
Sabbath for man. The committee believe, moreover, that to grant the
request of the petitioners, “leaving all persons at liberty to observe
such days as may seem to them best,” would be in effect to abolish the
Sabbath; without the privilege of which that knowledge and virtue cannot
be diffused which is necessary to the purity and permanency of our free
institutions, which might well cause every enlightened patriot, and
especially every Christian, to tremble.
The labouring portion of the community would also
be deprived of those waymarks of their lives to which many can look back
upon, and forward to, with delight, being weekly refreshed thereby, are
thus cheered on through life, who, were it abolished, might be doomed to
toil on in perpetual gloom, dragging out a miserable life of ignorance
and vice, comparatively shortened for want of those periods of rest so
wisely arranged by our Creator, who knew the wants of the human frame.
The committee believe, that as ours is emphatically a Christian
Commonwealth, there can be no difficulty in fixing the day in which it
shall not be lawful to disturb the devotion, moral instruction and rest
of the people, by unnecessary secular business, inasmuch as the
resurrection of the great founder of our Christian religion is
the event commemorated by the observance of the first day, and the
command requiring a specific day of the week is a positive precept
The change of the day from the seventh to the first
does not interfere with its unchangeable obligations, but is a most
appropriate commemoration of that event, which, together with the
example of the Apostles and early Christians, and the countenance
of the Redeemer after his resurrection, has fixed the Lord’s day to be
the Christian Sabbath beyond a doubt. The committee feel
satisfied that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to enforce a
cessation from all secular employment, amusements, and public vices, on
that day, with suitable penalties; but as regards the observance of
religious ceremonies, that belongs to the conscience, and is beyond the
jurisdiction of civil laws. The committee further believe that there can
be no loss to temporal pursuits from the rest of man and beast on the
Sabbath day. We know that any spring which is continued long on a strain
loses much of its elasticity; much more so is it with animal nature when
it is deprived of its proper time of rest, it loses its capability of
endurance. This familiar principle is equally applicable to man and
beast. As the committee can see no possible benefit that could accrue,
but incalculable injury and, wrong, therefore,
“Resolved, That it is inexpedient and would be
wrong to grant the request of the petitioners, and that the committee be
discharged from the further consideration of the subject.”
And on motion, the said resolution was read the
second time, considered and adopted.
|
