New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-29
- ANErlclN sUNpAE
AN ESSAY BY THE REV. DIR. BELLOWS.

AN ESSAY BY THE REV. DIR. BELLOWS.
At the recent Unitarian National Conference,
in Boston, the Rev Dr. Bellows read an essay The
American Sunday rejecting views more liberal than
those usually held by Proesants Independent of its
religious uses and considered only a break IN our
hurrying current Of affairs day Of periodical rest an
Alternative our sunday SAID Dr. Bellows of priceless
value Nor Is 10 chiefly the strained muscles OF toll that
1t supplies with stated relaxation. II is even more
retaration OF the torrent of emuous competitions
fessional rivalres. The popular rejection OF the
ascetc view OF the of the day does not imply wish
any general acqescenoe in the Jewish Puritan idea
Of the sunday The vast majority Of the Christian world.
both in Roman Catholic and in Protestant countries,
have valued Sunoay as ,sacred holiday, IN which labor
and worship paused that public worship on the one
hand and relaxation through domestic and social inter-
course aud open air pleasures on the other might
divide The day between them. Sunday is a
day not less marked in Catholic than in Pro
testant countries. 1t is only differently marked
1t is "A day perhaps even welcomed and priced in
Catholic Europe than in Protestant America, because
conventional restraints. Nor is
necessarily less religious Tor being connected with
public recreation; for its innocent pleasures some
times brought under the protection OF It's pey, ana us
priests share them Before we hastily and with spiritual
selfeOmpaeency condemn the European and Catholic
usPs u sunday must recall the religious uses the
Roman Church makes Of the other days Of the week.
When Protestant churches kept open all other days
well Sundays. ana pubic prayers are dY cele-
brated in them morning and evening, and Protestant
l,rstiaus Gre found yOiug by early dawn TO divine
service all the days in the year, as Catholic peasants 40
IL viii be time enough for them sefrghteOusy 10 con
denim the foreign and Roman freer uses OF Sunday.
In our own country the Old New-Engand sabbath has
already lost much of its and ascetc character be-
cause the theological views that Justified 10 have weak
ened rea Xed their hold upon the mind and conscience
OF me peope Although its old Puritan name, the sab
hath ia still mantained-Otten with polite aim, but
sa3ed reI5jS or the old NewEngland theology is
honest historical name, sunday is fast creeping
fsadins Jevisb title the sabbgfhD Clearly our sun
day is not what It was IN my youth or half cen
tury ago. But IL IL has lost IN severity formal respect,
or scetc usage is it day priced or put to less val
aia il tqVV whit
under the breath Of new freedom, IS getting fresh
hold upon the people by accommodating itself more
rest they need not always in the form OF physical pas
svy, nor IN any one FORM out OF total change OF moral
diet aud rest In many weary faculties. People do
need 70 rest on Sunday fron bodily labors OF business
occupations only They need rest also from the mo
pidi fy. - w. V ''''' y ~ '''''0'' '''
The moral and mental Alternative provided by Sunday
Is immense and general To millions 10 s the only truly
domestic day the week. IL is too, the abUrers the
clerks, the officials sole day OF escape from OF
slavery. The sunday breaks more chains every week
than Mr. Lincoln OF the emperor OF Russia dld IN their
great OF emancipation. VIII not conceal my own
}ee1 Sant ' f erce issfaton1 or pnSe go 1
ship az day OF from toll rest from The control OF
day which every man may put 20 his use. under
certain general and necessary restraints; day OF
TO walk parks and gardens 20 call on old companions
and keep up valued but endangered fendshps % make
tnuoHs hOurs-is one OF the greatest uses 10 which II
eealdi "a P pc put ono ~ e maize iInnossibie
In regard TO attendance on puole worship morning
and afernoon or eveRing although complaints made
Of falling off cantot think that nave any grounds
OF serious complaint Doubtless there Is Tess superst
ton In regard TO virtue OF attending puDnc worship
tts, once Drevaied and a corresponding lessenlng OF
corners, but more freedom OF personal choloe
and more voluntary attendance. Churchgo alone
does not establish a mans moral reputation OF plous
character, neglect OF IT, alone, MARI nul az
dangerous citizen and an ungody person Inc Shurch
AZ 10 suspect fautness when fans 70
% d oCS 10 law an the blame on the absentees 1t
To at ora8
Under the new conditions OF modern ire that every
hd roads. that hooks and magazines and newspapers
are cheap; that moral and religious instruction " no
longer in the exclusive hands or the clergy that many
80 1oosr M tbe freest most genuine and attractive
preachers neither stand IN modern pu!pts nor wrte ser
mons with texts and conventional dYlslOns put IN es
novels and dramas and poems, address indirectly me
conscience heart and viii, and feed, nhame and guide
t rsi "a rel yous feelings OF mankind. Thousands
only formal dry uninspired public mlnstrations are
tn reach spend the they their predecessors
oce devofed r6 church-gOing in reading that Is more
nutritious and attractive and more creative Oh fengous
fath and consolation than the sunday preaching onerS
Many minds TOO from independent resources delicate
tastes, or original views nave peeo t A4ns' anu IA sr
gument example, erect their affairs In their
homes and hearts, and withdraw from p1oIo Ielgous
proaches or time upon considerable CLASS OF pso
Die who have thus ougrOwn the religious uases OF thls
veneratiOu 40 long have nothing 10 complain OF
In their lives regret IN their personal character
The testimony they offer 20 the inadequey Oh our usual
public worship satisfy their wants and TO the need OF
some change IL its character 70 command the respect
and interest OF thoughtful free, and earnest men anu
women Is Itself perhaps, the best service such persons
could render 10 the church Inc only example lney
would by attendance s one neither whoiesone nor
genuine. II would be example OF iorna4lty' pre-
tense and hypocrisy and as suchls neither heeaed hor
desired. . -, -.
This does not imply loss of Christian faith or OF rev
ereDce for egon but only that the religious life or the
world mas acGnred and power enough TO now IN
ather channels beside the old ecclesiastical one; that
other and uIbadged teachers OF morals ana fath have
hronph the Official ones into less exclusive reverence
and less general following We ought not " complain OF
he logical result VI separating religion rom the state,
and leaving the Church 70 depend Tor support on the
s1eetionate allegiance OF IT'S mem osfS IL 'ne
long run, yoiuntaryism works IN favor OF
tTne religion, not against II. Is there one vol.
unTarv function In all the world so sustained
and 80 h0nOred as the Christian Church be only
department Of human interests and one greas element
or factor I'M civilization human furtherance is IL not
one of the most precious the most widely recognized
and the mos indispensabef The world, thank God
mas many modern and glorious saving and regeneranR
Influences &C work upon IT. Yet None which fully occupy
fine sphere on fulfill the duty antiquate or supersede
the functions Of Christian Churches the religious use
OF the sunday or the Church.
ARMY INTELLIGENCE.