The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-05-08
Sabbath Services.

A writer in the New York Observer dis
courses rs follows In reference to Sabbath
services, and the custom Of having two SER
mons on that day. Ho says:
In most churches, especially in cities, there
is at the present time great amount Of re.
ligious d,ssipation-a style Of unsymmetrical
piety that is wise above the Scriptures, and
ignores the idea Of rest as IN element Of the
Christian Sabbath. Not long since, q young
lady, employed as a teacher in n public
school was accustomed to hear two sermon.
every Sabbath, and conduct the exercises o.
two Sabbath school classes in different part,
of the day. A friend advised her to give ur
one OF her S. S. classes, but she was very 70
luctant to comply with the request. At the
risk Of being thought herctical, hc plainly
told her that no lady could teach day
school during tho week, and conduct twn
Sabbath school exercises on the Sabbath, be.
sides attending two ordinary religious scr.
vices, without violating both the fourth com.
nandmcnt and the sixth, however successful
sho might be in teaching Others to observe
them.
But there is an opposite evil which is far
greater than this, and far more PREVALENT
The greatest hindrance to the healthy growth
of piety 10 tho Church, is'a lack facrive
personal effort. Christians have more pdssiue
instruction than they need, and far more than
they can assimilate. They should be educat-
cd to feel that personal effort is essential to
their growth in grace; and then they should
have frequent and regular opportunities to
put forth this effort. The picty Of most
Christians suffers greatly for lack Of the very
culture that would be gained by frequent
regular attendance upon devotional meetings.
he conference meeting that Is now held
one evening in the week usually calls out less
that one-third of those who attend church
on the Sabbath. To tho other two-thirds,
there is no conference meeting. They at
tend church, 1t may be, regularly on the Sab
bath, and are always passive participants, but
never aetipe. Now let one or two regular
Sabbath services be changed to meeting Of
conference and prayer, and lot the church be
carefully and thoroughly educated to regard
attendance upon this meeting, and active
participation in its exercises, essential to
their healthy growth in piety, and lot every
effort be made to secure the attendance and
the interest of those who are not enrolled as
members of the church, and the real spirit.
ual benefit derived will bo incomparably
greater than that which would be gained by
hearing second formal discourse from the
pulpit.
The monthly missionary concert. which is
second in Importance to no ordinary Sabbath
service. is, in many churches, languishing
Tor lack Of the very opportunity that would
be furnished by dispensing with one sermon
in month.
There are few preachers who can write
two sermons in week, and make them to-
pether worth as much to their hearers as a
single sermon would be II It embodied the
best thoughts and efforts Of the week. So
also with the hearers-one sermon in day
Is as much as most persons can hear with
real substantial profit. The truth is, ser.
mons are now 80 common that majority Of
the hearers cit during the delivery without
attempting to give their fixed and earnest at
tention, and hence derive comparatively lit.
tie profit.
I am not clergyman, and have no per-
sonal interest in reducing the labor OF ser
mon.writing; but believe the time will ar
rive when the prevailing practice, ut least in
cities, will DO, to have sermon Sabbath
morning. and devote the afternoon to home
and mission. Sunday schools and religious
instruction in the family, and the evening to
prayer and conference meeting.
[The above remarks furnish food for prac-
tical thought for all those who seek to ac-
complish tho greatest good to tho greatest
number. In addition to the idea advanced
regarding personal effort on the part of Chris
tians, it'may be question whether moro
cannot be reached by diversity OF gifts
than by one only. The s. School is especial
ly adapted to render those gifts available
There is generally too much demanded OF
clergymcn by way Of personal labor. Many
we know conduct two popular exercises On
tho Sabbath, often preach again in the Sum.
mcr at tho s o'clock mcotins' and then