(B.)

General Union for the Observance of the Christian Sabbath.

In the earlier days of this country, the sanctity of the people was such, particularly in New England, that the observance of the Sabbath was easily provided for by legis‐ lation. But this did not continue. Gradually, public opinion became less and less religious. At length the laws could not be enforced. And finally, it was found that there remained only the various moral means which might be used, to save the Sabbath from utter disregard and annihilation.

Now it was that the friends of the Sabbath began to inquire what could be done. They conversed and prayed. Ministers preached on the subject, and laymen bore testimony to the excellence of the institution. Ecclesiastical bodies passed resolutions, recommending more strict attention to it, and in some places local societies of one description or another, were formed to promote its greater sanctification.

In May, 1828, a convention of ministers and distinguished laymen from different parts of the country, convened at New York for the purpose, formed a Society, under the name of "The General Union for the Observance of the Christian Sabbath." The object was to secure in this way the co-operation of all the friends of the Sabbath throughout the country, in one combined effort to raise the sanctity of the day, and cause it, among Christians at least, to be better observed.

Of this Convention, S. V. S. Wilder, Esq. was the Chairman, John Stearns, M. D. Secretary, and the Rev. John M'Dowell, D. D. Assistant Secretary. The Rev. Dr. Proudfit opened the meeting with prayer.

At an adjourned meeting, the way having been prepared, Samuel Miles Hopkins, Esq. moved the formation of the Union, and a committee, previously appointed, reported a Constitution, which was adopted. The first, second, third and sixth articles of the Constitution are as follows:

"1. This Society shall be denominated "The General Union for promoting the Observance of the Christian Sabbath."

"2. It shall consist, indiscriminately, of the friends of morality and religion of all denominations, who may choose

to combine their influence for the promotion of this interesting object."

"3. As the weapons of the Christian warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, the means employed by this Society for effecting their design, shall be exclusively the influence of personal example, of moral suasion, with arguments drawn from the oracles of God, from the existing laws of our country, and appeals to the consciences and hearts of men."

"6. Any person may become a member of the Union, by subscribing the Constitution, and signing the following pledge: viz.

"We whose names are undersigned, do hereby acknowledge our obligation to. keep the Sabbath according to the Scriptures; and we pledge ourselves to each other and to the Christian public, to refrain from all secular employments on that day, from travelling in steam-boats, stages; or canalboats or otherwise, except in cases of necessity or mercy, and to aim at discharging the duties connected with that -sacred day; and also, that we will, as circumstances admit, encourage and give a preference to those lines of conveyances, whose owners do not employ them on the Sabbath."

Thus the Union was formed, the first officers of which were, the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, LL. D. President; John Stearns, M. D. Recording Secretary; Rev. Matthias Bruen, Corresponding Secretary, and Arthur Tappan, Esq., Treasurer.

The Convention, before they dissolved, prepared an address to the people of the United States on the subject of the Sabbath, setting forth its importance in a civil as well as in a religious point of view, explaining the object of the Union, and inviting the. co-operation of every friend of his country.

The officers of the Union, including the President and Vice Presidents, the Corresponding Secretary, the Recording Secretary, and the Treasurer, together with twentyfour Managers, are called à Board of Directors, of whom eight form a quorum; and the business of the Society is conducted by an Executive Committee, of not less than five, nor more than nine, elected annually by this board. The Board have power to fill vacancies in the list of officers generally, or in the Executive Committee.

The present officers, according to the Third Report of the Union, are, the Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, Pres

ident; Mr. Lewis Tappan, Corresponding Secretray; Knowles Taylor, Recording Secretary, and Arthur Tappan, Esq., Treasurer.

The funds of the Union have been small, and hence, in part at least, its operations have been embarrassed. It has failed also to obtain a permanent general agent, which may be one cause why it has been less efficient than it otherwise would have been.

The Society, notwithstanding, has been instrumental of good. It is to be hoped, too, that it will yet be carried forward, and accomplish the object for which it was formed. From the correspondence it has opened, many who otherwise might have thought less of the subject, have had their attention particularly called to the duty of observing the Sabbath; and it has been found, that men of high standing among all denominations in all parts of the country, are disposed to co-operate with the Union, and favor its objects. In this connexion it is proper to notice the plan so extensively adopted in 1828-9, of memorializing Congress in relation to Sunday mails.

The violation of the Sabbath, by opening the mails, &c. was not required by law, till 1810. Then a law was passed, making it the duty of Post Masters, as officers of the government of the United States, to deliver letters as well on the Sabbath as on other days.

It was therefore, the repeal of this law only, that was asked for in the petitions; and for this, the number of memorials in all, presented to the two Houses of Congress, was 467. These were from all parts of the country, and had appended to them the names of many thousands, from among some of the most enlightened, virtuous, and distinguished men in the nation.

The memorials, it is true, were not granted; but the circumstance of their having been presented simultaneously and voluntarily, and by such men, shows how great and powerful must have been the sensation felt, and that not a little good. must have been done in making the effort, though an abortive one.

In the failure of these means, the plan of voluntary association, by way of giving a pledge to observe the Sabbath has been proposed, and by the recommendation of the General Association of Massachusetts, particularly, attempted to some extent. Many ministers and churches, however, are still lamentably remiss on the subject, and as to

any great palpable improvement in the community at large, every thing almost in this country remains to be done.

The number of Auxiliaries to the General Union are twenty-six; namely, four in Massachusetts, one in Vermont, three in Connecticut, five in New-York, two in New Jersey, seven in Pennsylvania, one in Virginia, one in Tennessee, and two in Ohio.

The remarks which have been made are nearly true also, in relation to other countries, though it deserves to be stated, that in Great Britain particularly, as well as in this .country, the work of reform has commenced, and for aught known to the contrary, is now in a prosperous state of advancement. A Society has been formed in London, the object of which is, to diffuse information on the subject of observing the Sabbath, as widely as possible, by opening a correspondence to that effect throughout the British empire: The Society contemplates also, the better observance of the Sabbath in the metropolis, and in England, generally.

The Bishop of London has called the attention of his clergy to the awful profanation of the Sabbath. A petition has been sent to Parliament, and favorably received from 14,000 bakers in London and the suburbs, praying, that the law, which now allows dinners to be baked on the Sabbath, within a certain distance, might be altered. Not less than 45,000 copies of newspapers are circulated in London on the Sabbath, and read probably by 250,000 people.

The Auxiliaries of the London Society are not known, though the subordinate Associations in different parts of the country are several.

(a.) The sect of Baptists called Sabbatarians, observe the seventh day of the week, instead of the first, as the Sabbath. The first church connected with this denomination in the United States, was formed in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1671. They are principally confined to that State. A few years since there were about 1,000 communicants in Rhode Island. There are in this country about 2,000 professors of religion united in an annual conference. The whole population may amount to 10,000. In 1668 there were a few churches of this denomination in England.

(c.) The following is an act passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts, 1792, and is still in force.

"Whereas the observance of the Lord's day is highly promotive of the welfare of a community, by affording necessary sea

sons for relaxation from labor and the cares of business; for moral reflection and conversation on the duties of life, and the frequent errors of human conduct; for public and private worship of the Maker, Governor, and Judge of the world; and for those acts of charity which support and adorn a Christian society: And whereas some thoughtless and irreligious persons, inattentive to the duties and benefits of the Lord's day, profane the same, by unnecessarily pursuing their worldly business and recreations on that day, to their own great damage, as members of a Christian society; to the disturbance of well-disposed persons, and to the great damage of the community, by producing dissipation of manners and immoralities of life.

"Sect. 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That no person or persons whatsoever, shall keep open his, her, or their shop, ware-house, or work-house, nor shall upon land or water, do any manner of labor, business or work, (works of necessity and charity only excepted) nor be present at any concert of music, dancing, or any public diversion, show, or entertainment, nor use any sport, game, play or recreation, on the Lord's day, or any part thereof, upon penalty of a sum not exceeding twenty shillings, nor less than ten shillings, for every offence."

"Sect. 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no traveller, drover, waggoner, teamster, or any of their servants, shall travel on the Lord's day, or any part thereof (except from necessity or charity,) upon a penalty of a sum not exceeding twenty shillings, nor less than ten shillings."

"Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That no vintner, retailer of strong liquors, innholder, or other person keeping a house of public entertainment, shall entertain or suffer any of the inhabitants of the respective towns where they dwell, or others not being travellers, strangers, or lodgers in such houses, to abide and remain in their houses, yards, orchards, or fields, drinking or spending their time, either idly or at play, or doing any secular business on the Lord's day, or any part thereof, on penalty of ten shillings, payable by such vintner, retailer, or innholder, or person keeping such house of entertainment, for each person so entertained or suffered; and every person so drinking, or abiding (except as aforesaid) shall pay a fine not exceeding ten shillings, nor less than five shillings; and every such licensed person, upon any conviction after the first, shall pay a fine of twenty shillings, and having been three times convicted, shall be debarred from renewing his license forever after.”

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(C.)

Tract Societies.

The "London Religious Tract Society" is the parent of all Tract Societies, and was instituted at London, in the year 1799. The first article of its Constitution is: "That this Society be denominated 'The Religious Tract Society;' the object of which is, the circulation of small reli