Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-09-28

few eminent diyincs and scholars The nJbi.
lily and gentry, both in town and on their
own estates, set an example Of general deem
cy aud quiet on the Sabbath, but they are
certainly no Sabbatarans in the sense general.
ly attached to that word they 90 to church
in the morning, take their drive in the aftor-
noon, and generally invite some very select
friends to dine with them in the cycuiny--
and if the card table or chcss-bJurd is dis.
pcnscd with, and the conversation turned to
nothing more secular than politics or horso.
racing, that is quite as much observance as
the sabbath generally gets from them. | do .
not speak Of the small clique Of the ShGftcs. /
burys and Suthorlands, and the few noble |
and gentle families that have committed
themselves to a more spiritual religion than
is fashionable IN Bclgravc Square, but Of the
class in general and think have not mis-
| represented them. The same sort Of Sabbath
Observance is advocated by the Times, B!acI-
rood, the Westminster Review, and many
other periodicals Punch lends Liz aid t.
brighten the Scotch Sabbath across the Tweed.
lists give currency to the same views. In the
same direction, though not quite to the same
extent, lies tho influence Of a considerable
body Of christians who are anxious to pro-
mitigate more genial and liberal views Of
christianity, and WHO dread anything that
resembles a rigid, positive demand upon the
christians sell-denia Such are to be found
in all scots. and they have included among
their number such men as Dr. Arnold Of
Rugby, Prof. Maurice, and Bishop Whatclcy.
, This ought not to be told in Gath but YOU
; might possibly now and then see an Eplsco-
pal carriage in Hyde Park, on Sunday after
noon indeed, believe one unlucky bishop
| was caught there during the late Sunday
; riots.
r In view Of all this, it need be no matter
; surprise that working people-those Of then
| who make no claims to personal religion, ant
; feel none Of the restraints which respectable
r ity imposes on people in higher stations
:, should spend their Sundays in Railway Excur
r sions, strolling about the fields, visiting gar
" dens and other places of amusement kept opc
: on Sunday, and making the very most q
). their opportunities for innocent and rationa
o amusement When a royal band is provide
- by Government to play in kensngton Gar
dcns every Sunday afternoon, it is no wonde
that such innocent and rational Amusement
should be preferred to church going an
psalm singing. When all the coroncts al
tnery of May fair turn out for ride in II
u, ia ,rnpdnr bat fre. md
O. turn out to stare at them. And inasmuch
- the numbering Of church goers on the Gems,
as Sunday, four years ago, showed that only
te out of the IS millions Of Enslishmcn attend'
is worship on that day, who shall say whcth
# more OF the abscntees were repciied fro
ms church by the Puritanical bigotry Of Il
nd Sabbatarians, or onrdctcd from it by the "a
=" chatting doctrine and example Of the site
TN lcrs for continental Sabbath But this
of only one side Of the truth. By nearly
IA those sects IN i r ordinations whD h,ll 70
s;ion as something quite distinct from roliri,
Is. from social responsibility, AMI even fr.
it, conventional morality, the Sabbath is upht
th as sacred institution, not to he tamper
o. with Ivy the convcnienccs Of fashion, by 5,
ii timentalism, or by an unchristianizad phil,
We throry. Among evangelical churchmen, u
ms still moro among many of the protest.
re- dissenting denominations, the Sabbath i.
he served in its integrity, preached, contenC
n. for, and priced To this party belong
Eat ablest and best men in the pulpit and out
I'M II and strange enough many OF it, strong
No. friends are among those working people
nd whose amusement the Sabbath was to be
er cularize1
ry, Nor would it be Just not to state very
ID, ,inctly that on the whole. it would be iii
on cult to name - country whore the >lbh
,cl has so universal respect, up 10 a osr'a,n yoi
cal as in Eosland. Even the cxcursionists, d
til ramblcrs and rational amusement sechr
ri never fail to dcmeln themselves with guj
,el- ness and sobriety, and wit. a certain am,
lch of reverence. You know how the FrcI
or mock the dulncss and the subdued life OF
rk, English Sunday and SO they may. do
m whether in this respect much superior
ore could he claimed for the villages Of New d
50 those Of Old England. and | an very :
IN that New York is gayer on a sunday Il
the London There is a point, too, bey'
nto which, even in the eye Of the general put
nty pleasure-seeking on the sabbath becp
me Sabbath Dissertation, and here the sentim
18th of public morality comes in to the aid Of
ele- religious sentiment against the cncroachm'
tie. The general voice of the Country is a ga
the the opening of the Crystal Palace, the Bri
,me Museum, the National Gallery, and 81
ton like places, on Sundays. To be sure, tt
tch- is nothing very encouraging in two or ii
rtdI events which have recently TRANSFERRED
tern extension of the hours for the sale of beef
to Sunday, the successful mohhing Of the
lal for preventing Sunday trading, and the h'
5, OF Ing of crowds to Kensngton Gardens G
pos Sunday afternoon to hear music provided
re one Of the Queens Ministers but it i,
anc- to say that in all these cases, violence is {
pail to the general public sentiment, and that
him a time and only for time, the mob and
IN minority are having their day, until the
the boisterous but more puSsant influence
all prevailing public morality, can be dovelc
and concentrated,
-ce,c Your Chroniclcr,
that GRlTTlTT