New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-08

cept the indispensable walk to church; nc
work, not even the preparation OF a warm
meal; no social communion was per
/ mitted. Eeithe. cooking nor kissing was
allowed The tired laboses and the weary
artisan, the sedentary seamstress and the
| restless child-all were obliged 70 spend
the day in church, listening 70 prayers OF
unchristian length and sermons OF de.
pressing duration, with nothing TO sup
port the physical nature but cold vicsuals.
All was harsh, stern, compulsory.
This melancholy PuritanicoJudaical
Sabbath has never established itself 70 any
great extent in our bright, sun-!t city.
There are indeed not few good, con-
scientious people who would be right glad
to see it transplanted here, but we hope
they neve. may, considering as We do that
the very spirit Of Christianity. that which
distinguishes il essentially from Judaism.
is the substitution Of love for law: Of vol.
untary acts OF devotion for the obligatory
observance Of ceremonies. Let US not be
misunderstood. We believe in tie obsefv.
ance Of Sunday as a day OF habituai rest
from ordinary avocations and Of social
participation in religious exercises; bu:
this rest and this devotion we would have
voluntary; based on an intelligent rscog-
milton OF the needs Of the body and the
cravings Of the soul: no. compulsory or
superstitious. With religious exercises
we would see blended social com.
munion and innocent recreation; es-
pecially for those whose occupations du.
ring the week do not admit Of either.
Listening to a good sermon not too long,
and uniting in social worship. either
prayer OK song is. we think. profitable
and pleasant manner Of spending poI-
ton Of the day. and should be SO, even to
those who are borne down with care and
labor during the week; but if they think
otherwise, it would be worse than folly to
compel their attendance at church. or
deprive them Of tina: relaxation viii Oh they
crave and to which they are entitled.
Few who have impa1tially studied human
nature will dispute that the average man
is attracted by the exercises Of religion.
If, therefore. our churches are SHINY at
tended whilst ortteof-door pastimes are
popular. it is the fault Of the false teach
ing which makes the two incompatible.
It is likewise. in q measure. because the
services are not more interesting. The
prayers are to mechanical, the sermons too
much removed from the topics OF ordinary
life. The former do not touch the
heart Of the latter. do not hit the
conscience: The church Of God should be
and might be made so interesting that
crowds would flock thereto, not for the
temporary excitement which 'reyivals''
afford. but for habitual spiritual food.
When this becomes the rule, instead Of
the exception. places Of worldly amuse.
ment will be SO neglected on Sundays that
it will no longer be profitable to keep
them open. Then the real nature Of this
joyful commemorative festival will be SO
appreciated that in its weekly recurrence
all within reach Q! its privileges will
spring up in the morning with gladness in
their hearts and thanksgiving on their
lips. and ha stening to the house Of God
will unite in wor ship gladstone, spon.a.
neous and acceptable.