St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-22
One Sermon versus Two for a Rural
Sabbath Service.

Read before the Caledonia County Evangelical
Ministers Meeting, at 81. .Iohnsbury Vt. May :.
l-73 and its publication requested 10y unanimous
vote of the Mceting.l
Respecting the exact character of
sanctuary services. the time to hc de
voted to each. and the number of such
services for Il simple sabbath. we have
no divine commands. Nor may we
know certainly. the practice of the
apostolic church respecting this matter.
1t is probable. however that then.
there existed no uniform system.
Mochiem. referring to public worship
i'll the first century. gives us to under
stand that christians met for worship
on the first day of the week. The
hours allotted To these meetings varied
according to the times and circum-
stances. From what we can gather,
We are left to the opinion that the
people did not ordinarily assemble for
worship more than once on the same
day. But il is probable that the meet
ing was much longer than any simple
service of oIIS. and blended Il preach
ing service with Il service meeting.
This service is dcscrihed as consisting
of PRAYER. reading of the scriptures, Il
short discourse on christian duties and
the singing of hymns. The meeting
closed 10y the administration of the
Lords supper. loye-feast and the tax
ing of il collection fnr charitable pur
poses.
lii the early history of our country,
children were taught the catcchism at
public school on Saturday, recitcd the
same to their parents on Sunday, and
public worship consisted substantially
of two sermons. When the sunday
school was introduced. as Il matter of
convenience. with most country church,
es. it was assigned Il place between the
two preaching services. This arrange
meeting in the evening prevails with
most country churches at the present
time. Though of late years, many
have dispensed with the afternoon
sermon.
So it will he seen. we have neither
divine command nor uniform prece-
dent 10y which to determine this CUES
ton.
The spirit of the Scriptures hearing
81, i,rl, .t h, S1h
plies that its sacred hours should he de
voted To rest, the attendance upon
gospel preaching, the study of Gods
word and social devotions. But the
particularity of its services is left to
common sense, an enlightened conscience
and the circumstances Of a people.
The tendency of the American peo-
ple to over-do good thing, is i'll moth
ing more apparent than i'll the multi
plication of Sabbath services. This has
been carried to such an extent in both
city and country, that the Sabbath has
become literally crowded, the people
burdened and the ministry crippled.
| hat must Dt Il lllOutl oi"'i VI -"
bath services which is promotlve OF the
highest physical, intellectual and splr-
itual interests of IA people. Does the
present order tend that way For il
rural parish. is the system OF two ser
mons on the Sabbath, in consideration
of other desirable services, consistent
with the divine spirit of Sabbath keep
ing?
/. With respect to required Rest.
The very name Sabbath means resi-
The laws of our being and the com
mands of God require that the Sabbath
be to man Il day of rest. 1he attehu-
ance upon certain number OF reiis-
ious exercises is a help to this ehu'
He who attends a proper number oi
sacred services feels more refreshed OH
Monday morning than If he hau speh'
the day in sleep and incidence. But
where attendance upon religious ser
vices is carried so far that the waste o'
physical forces exceeds the supply, thal
exhaustion exceeds recuperatloh, tnen