132 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS 
prevailing here and elsewhere regarding the Jewish Sabbath. 
The day of rest from labor existed in Pagan nations long be- 
fore the time of Moses. Tnat is admitted by Hebrews them- 
selves. The over-zealous Puritans of Ontario should remem- 
ber the result of the abortive attempt they made here to pre- 
vent the city cars from running on Sunday. It is evident that 
the narrow views they entertained were not shared generally 
by their respective congregations 1. one may judge from the 
well-filled carriages on Sundays subsequently. During the 
agitation got up by a few of the clergy here, one of the city 
editors requested the Rabbi Wohlberg to furnish the public 
with a statement of Sabbath observance from a Hebrew stand- 
point. The Reverend Dr. informs us that Sabbath observance 
did not originate with the Jews, and that God’s ancient people 
were not Puritanic Sabbatarians: “It is a sad testimonial to 
our mental emancipation that the rightfulness or wrongfulness 
of running a street car on the Sabbath should be raised at the - 
threshold of the twentieth century. I doubt whether it could 
have been raised twenty centuries ago in the city of Jerusalem 
without arousing laughter and ridicule. Sabbath restrictions 
such as pester our lives had not yet been heard of. A day 
eagerly looked forward to, and sorrowfully parted with, rejoic- 
ing the spirit with healthful exercise and joyful sport. The 
Jew knows of no other real restriction on the day of rest, be- 
yond the prohibition of doing the servile work of the other six 
days. Custom and law even enjoin it upon him to rejoice on 
the seventh day. The Jew of to-day attends theatres and con- 
certs on the Sabbath, visits museums and libraries, sends his 
children to the dancing schools and parks. The Rabbi re- 
minds us of Luther’s'words: If anywhere the Sabbath is made 
holy for the mere day’s sake, then | order you to work, to 
dance and to ride on it. Twingil said it is lawful on the Lord’s 
day, after divine service, for any man to pursue his labors, and 
Beza (Calvin’s successor) wrote: No cessation of work on the 
Lord’s day is required of Christians. 
It is time that we have done with intolerance, and permit 
every one to spend the Sunday as he pleases as long as he does 
not interfere with those who wish to keep it puritanically.” 
