Litchfield enquirer., 1871-08-17
CONFLICTING SERVICES.

MIR. EDIToR:-It is not my purpose to at tempt making your paper the medium oi
 religious discussion, much less the medium
 of sectarian views. There are some things.
 however. of common interest to all men,
 let their professions or religious sentiments
 be what they may. Not many weeks since
 I attended public worship on the Lords
 day, in church some eighty miles west of
 the Mississippi river, at Independence. a
 western city of six or seven churches for a
 population of four thousand. 'No mean
 city" it may be said with truth. The
 preacher and>pastor where ] attended was
 a young man, and apparently jealous man
 in his work. After the morning service
 was over he took part in the exercises of
 the Sunday school, as we'll he might, for
 there was at that place of worship no af'
 ternoon preaching service. Now the point
 to which wish to turn attention is that
 exercise or service known as Sunday school.
 What then is the Sunday school? Is it religious exercise and service of the church
 under the supervision of the pastor, or is it distinct organization of persons attend ing any given place of worship and sub- ject neither to the church or parish corpo- ration? Is it or is it not, service of the church? The Episcopalian will no doubt say it is nothing less than service of the church, authorized and eDjoined by her rubric. that it is part and parcel of one or. ganization, and is or should be under the direction and superintendence of the rec tor. Yet, in the Episcopal church, there are jealous Sunday school men who act or seem to act and feel very much as do the of Sunday schools main- tained in other places of worship. The question therefore returns. Is the Sunday school an independent body, owing and and acknowledging no obligation to any church or parish? Some things look like it. In Congregational churches the super intendent is indeed appointed by the church, having been first nominated by a major vote of the school Yet, in such cases, the superintendent thus appointed is really the head of the school, and not the pastor or presbyter. If the pastor is at any time present during the exercises, he may be courteously invited to take some part in the service, or possibly, by request, be allowed to address the members of the school. By reqest, we say, but not as his right. not as his prerogative as the presid. ing officer and pastor of the church. The pastor really takes the place of a snbordi- nate. Such we find are the facts pertain ing to Sunday schools generally.
 It follows, therefore, both from practice, present usage. and the principles involved, that Sunday schools are really managed and as distinct and separate orga- nizations, having no acknowledged connec- ton with any church or parish except To- sal one. Now then, if this be the correct way of conducting the Sabbath school, and
 if it is not to be regarded as permanent service of the church, but only the hobby of the age, affording an opportunity for and ostentatiously religious men to make display. then, indeed, min isters, pastors and rectors may well be ex- cused from any participation in it's affairs, and only bestow the favor they are won't to do on whatsoever things are true. honest. just, pure, lovely, and of good report. '' But we are persuaded that religious men as we'll as ministers. elders, and rectors. look upon the Sunday school ser vice as permanent service of the church; a means of grace; divine service; adapted to the wants of the age and the condition of our country; never to be given up so long as the bible shall be regarded as rule of faith and practice. It is prayer and the praise of God in singing, attended with the reading and study of the word of God, and therefore worship, an appropriate ser vice of the church, and should be con- ducted accordingly. Where is the law then excusing ministers and pastors from par tic;pation in this service? We think there is none except this: it is a coyaicsing ser vice. In former days when catechisms were taught in the common schools of the week, it was the usage of the churches to have two preaching services each Lords day. Yet.even then, there was no authori- ty human or divine for this number of preaching services in one day, and was no doubt f'burden which neither We nor our fathers were able to bear
 We contend, therefore, for the giving up, the abolition, of the afternoon preach ing service in our churches, as a necessity. The wringing of two sermons oat of the incumbent of any pastorate because he has @ salary or an annuity voted him as 8 con- dition of settlement and because such ex- action seems needful in order to get the worth of the money so paid, is very bad economy and little short of cruelty. Ten chances to one those most stubborn in ex- acting this quantity of preaching. are half the time in such sleepy condition that they do not retain one word of the last sermon, or if they do, the morning sermon has gone k0 tho xv;nde If kha ,nraachor he a man of