The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-01
Sabbath Afternoon Bible Service.
By REV. II. NJ. PARSONS.

The following article prepared reque-t hy the
pastor of the First Church III Springfield throws light up
on very important topic and that il destined,
believe, sooner OF later, 10 ard general
entlon. Few will deny that The present arrangement, and
multiplicity OF Sabbath service in our churches
allows TOO little time for religious raining and culture IL
the family. The writer, il will he seen. corfres hing, Il
70 rh experience and rtslil:- of change from the usual
order OF Sabbath service i'll his cong,rtra nn-fns
Change III the established order of church
services is unwiSe, unless it secures 0ye0ter
reg0rd for God and his ordinances. Ii this
can be accomplished. then it is the duty Of
the church to attempt it, in reliance upon the
promised blessing of the Spirit. In giving
bret account of the change Of seJrice in
stitured in the First Church Of Springfield, |
shall show the cause the methOd and the $40
cess of the experiment.
CAUSE OF THE EXPERIMENT.
For many years there has been a atrong
tendency in our drnominaion, to drift from
the Divine authority of the Bible, while al
lowing its infallibility, ard 10 lest IN the for
NAL use of religious ordinances. During the
same period the public services ot the sancu-
airy, together with the Sabbath school. have
so consumed the Sabbath as to leave 20 time
for home Instruction, ard very little for mi
vate meditation and devotion This practice
without doubt, has in many cases, served to
diminish the personal power and Influence OF
the church; and often tusered the bad habit
Of depending on outward activity for Chris
tian life and growth. In this way, too, the
struction has been laid upon the Sabbath
>clioOl-tt US making it a substitute for faith.
full household inslrucion-and in some cases,
4 rival of the church, as an institution fer
religious training. Believing that God de
signed the family to be the fountain of re-
liglous training, and that the church is the
school of Christ. through which He intended
to make discip OF the worldit seemed b4s,.
tor the right progress in the way Of life. to
attempt Change ID the Sabbath services 50
as To restore these Gospel ideas.
To this end. suggested to the church in
1904. that by diminishing the number Of
public services, time would be given for
household instruction and private meditation.
and by peisonal attention to the Bible in
public service, those who mad distaste fer
h"usehold sercires m ghl be led to feel their
worth and adopt them. The plan common
ded Itself to every one as adapted to exat
the word of God, and en!hrone lis authority
on the conscience. Yet involving as it did.
change of habit, and the personal application
Of the mind. as well as an earnest desire for
truth, Of course it encountered the preiudices
OF custom, ignorance, and the erH heart. The
magnitude Of these obstacles deferred the.
church from adopting the system proposed.
VIA sermon with usual exercises for the
morning service, and thu study of the Bible
by the congres alton, under the pastor
and suitable teachers, for the afternoon ser
vice.
AT that time no one favored this method
on account of its supposed impractcabiity
mere. For tour years the necessity, value and
obligation OF some kind OF Bible study for the
congregation, were constantly pressed on the
attention of all. At last in 1853, the church
voted to try the experiment in the month of
September AT that time, the number pres
ent on the average at Sabbath school was 80
and to hear the afternoon sermon. $50.
THE METHOD.
The first Sabbath three hundred assem-
'iNN !" ''oog tho Dlole. anu lnlS Was the
average attendance through the winter. The
book Of Genesis vas taken in course. all
present having the same lesson. The pastor
had class of adult men from the congrega-
ton. Besides there were three classes of
adult women, two Of men, and one of older
church members for mutual instruction. The
meeting was held in the'church, and the or
Ger nearly the same as is usual in Sabbath
schools. This form of service continued to
the close OF December, 1859. During that
time the second sermon was preached at
night, the first and second Sabbath nights of
the month being devoted to the missionary
and Sabbath school concerts. The experi-
ment thus tar demon stra,ed its practicabity,
which before had been denied. And this was
no small matter, as we were surrounded by
churches having sermon in the afternoon.
to which many CT the congregation went.
But those who entered faithfully into this
new method, admitted that the instruction
gained III this way was more valuable to them
Than second sermon. At this time some
members of the congregation conceiving that
they were debarred the privilege of their
pews In the afternoon, desired to resume the
oid plan. Accordingly the majority Of the
church yielded to then, land the old order was
1861.
The Sabbath schools was now held between
Inc preaching services, the pastor remaining