The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-29 00:00:00

THE SABBATH QUESTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TINES

Sir,—l trust you will allow me a short space in your
e.
columns, for the purpose of offering a few remarks
reply to a letter which appeared in your impression el
Wednesday last, bearing the signature of the Rey. Wnl,'
Bannister, chaplain to St. James's cemetery, Liverpe°.''
From the tone of that note, the rev. gentleman seems s
on
share the vexation and annoyance of an unknownn Lealtie
incumbent, and the entire body of those who have but lit
n 3,
reverence for the Sabbath as it is observed in Englai
that the appeal made to the head of her Majesty's govere.
ment by the Archbishop of Canterbury against the desis
cration of that Holy day has been a successful one. It
not, sir, my intention to enter upon any controyerts:e
relating to the observance or non-observance a a
Lord's Day, but to state as simply and as brieflf
can, the reason why, in my opinion, the religious todY
this country deemed it their bounden duty to have removoua.
from the parks of the metropolis that which they c
sidered harmless in itself, but which they believed vreeei..
lead to consequences at variance with the religious
Tire
ings of the great body of the people of this country. 1.5,
views held by those who love the Sabbath as it no l
le.
are not such as should expose them to the charge of int°
ranee, bigotry, or uncharitableness ; but such harsh narti_ee
have been freely used since the decision of the Premier of
a course of procedure most prejudicial to the eaus-e
those who who employ such terms ; for the cause which
ben
quires such aid must be considered a bad one ; and Ifeht
vituperation is employed for argument, it has buts ‘.O
chance of ultimate success, and must sink in the estimt;
of all men who bring a calm and unprejudiced mind tot of
consideration of the question. From the opening par op
the letter, one would be led to the conclusion that a c.
e"
siderable portion of the clergy of our church held vl
similar to the writer, viz., that the Archbishop was ile:e
justified in making the remonstrance that he did; hee:3-0.
a large body of the clergy sanction the doings oftireeh
Hall. Now, as one of the clergy, I protest againss
eer °`t
an assumption on the part of any individual reote
that body ; and I assert that such a statement should
to
have been sent forth to the public without sufficiellt ht
to go on. True it is, that an unknown incumbent thougt ;
proper to addr ss a letter to the Times on the °Wee y
eierg,
but is this any proof that a large portion of the e
are dissatisfied with what the Primate has dTinri.e
Is any inference to be drawn from the fact °I tef
or two objecting to such a line of conduct on the Par of
his Grace, that there is any party composed of clergi..
e
the Church of England who do not approve of the sot it;
which was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury'
the contrary, it is a fact, placed beyond the shadevf,°hit
doubt, by the entire silence on the part of the clergY, `the
one excellent and venerable primate has with hini
clergy of the church, and, had his remonstrance receirt;
no attention, the eighteen thousand who comPse eh
clerical body of England and Wales would have Made st:to
a movement as would have compelled any geeernm,ell
yield t the regious feelings f the contry, and net
be
led by o infidels and secularists,o together with those nth
sympathize with them in their views on the aab t
question. Those who desire to see the sabbath kePt'
only as a day of rest, but also one of religious observa',
cb
have been guided by one principle in the opposition rilitie
they gave to the opening of the Crystal palace, 1,
British Museum, the National Gallery, and to the Pl3.lhe ;
ing of the bands in the London parks on Sundays'
wished to preserve to the English sabbath that sancpe,
which has always marked it, while, at the same ti
they felt persuaded that if they would allow such con
cesr
sions to be granted to the clamour of men who neit'llL;
cared for religion nor the religious observance of the
eount,7'i
but, on the contrary, disregarded both, that this
would, in a very short time, be cursed with a continen.'v.
Sunday—a day which is distinguished from the other 6111'
by the fearful increase of depravity which Marnt 3
conduct of the inhabitants of large towns and cities
the continent. They did not oppose the plaYig °f atl
bands because they dislike music—because they are de 1
to the soothing effect of sweet sounds—but they opP°9'
the movement of Sir Benjamin Hall, because they I‘lle
that it was the means to an end—that in a short ...s
such haunts of vice as Cremorne and Vauxhall
announce to the pub:ic that they would provide for P°
.ed
amusements in their way; and to those who have witee,st c d
or have learned the nature of the orgies that are meet
in such places nightly, it will be unnecessary to saY
the opening of such resorts on the Sabbath would "eit
conduce to the spread or advancement of ra6ralich
or religion. At once sanction the opening °f
places, and the theatres and other places of 110-eia
ness would also open their doors, and that Ir, loon
not be confined to London only, but would
spread itself over the provinces. The entire ntiestit'ine
sir, may be enclosed in a nut shell. Would the opentire
of such places, and the playing of military bands °ll fel
Sabbath, change our English Suedav into a, Contine"ar,
one ? In my own opinion, and in that. of those Igh° e,,nflrfa ;
tain the same views on the subject, it decidedly et-has
and I am still the more persuaded of this, from vi"'"eour
already occurred in London. will ot occuffnilies
space with any remarks respecting the rev. gentle-ither
proofs for the views he holds. The arguments are "e- Ito
logical nor original, and ha. ve been refuted agalatu.
.:ing
rio
again. But I cannot conclude this letter without
two points suggested by his letter—one having refereTro
to man's duty as a christian, the other having refereueteloto
persons. And that I may not misrepresent him.' viill gory
the passage :—" I am sure that a vast number of the
would gladly see the Sunday a da3 of rest and innoell'eaLrt
creation to the labouring classes; a day on vvhich thewhota
might be softened and enlarged by love for those with
lop° to
they join in common and harmless enjoyment--by
Him whose goodness is far better seen by the sinWle
ill
big
works, I have learnt in those bitter denunciations °fsoh
wrath, which favourite fulminators delight to dwell' 1.„ to
topics may console the elect, but they are more 11"beolde-
terrify than attract the novice." From what can
as the
ak
ducted from writing so strangely constructea i the
foregoing, I learn that man can worship his mer pal
works of Providence ; or, in other words, man ce,a'e^otor;
that worship and homage which is due to the tir'nees.
using for his guide the light which nature sqtroere
Strange doctrine this for a clergyman to hold. U.:, more
true, what need had we for a revelation ? It se"°""f the
like Deism than Christianity. lam ignorant °, have
" fulminators" to whom allusion has been made. cont-
from time to time heard many of the Liverpool. 1" tbot
bents ; but I was never forced to listen to anythlhgcl
v°
savoured not of love and mercy. If the allusion apply
to for
reference to the Liverpool clerbut was meant
to the pastors of dissenters it mayy be a true staterne boot
all I know to the contrary. Apologising for thus trou
•.51 '
you.—l am, &c. HAMILTON bONVIIY,
St. George's, Altrincham, May 22, 1856.