The New York herald., 1874-11-15
REV. GEORGE H. HEPwoRTH.


70 T11 EDITOR op THE HERALD
am sure you will permit me to use the privilege
Of personal friendship TO say word on this I'M
portant Sunday question whicn Is agitating the
pubic mind have carefully read your
editorial on the expediency oi giving
concerts and dramatic representations on
Sunday evenings, and do not suppose
tor moment that you intended to commit your
SELF and the influence Of the HERALD to either side
in the controversy, but rather to draw OUT full.
an expression OF public opinion IS possible l am
very glad that the matter has come up for consid-
Grafton and hope that your article VIII bring this
subject to the most careful thought and judgment
or the people.
l am fully convinced, moreover, that your sug-
Restion as to the necessity OF more recreation and
more amusementH exceedingly Important. We
are q Woodworking people. and our national holi-
days are depiorably few. Our excttemenss are as
intense as our energy. and when labor Is done we
are apt to rush headlon0 into excesseA The
European can be happy with his simple
xass OF wine; its gentle stimulus IL quite
satisfactory to him. But Americans arc
people who live ON the edge OF prectpice all
the time. When they worK they work with all
their might. and when they drink they drink in
the same way Ordinary wine has no stimulus for
the common North American brain, over cere-
brated as 1t ls, and the strongest liquors are
hanttually substituted. This idtosyncrasy, ten
Aency to excess runs through our whole moral
tonstisutton. We never take small doses OF any
hing; all or none ts our motto. II we 90 TO
ehurch we 60 Enthusiastically; II We stay away
We do 90 zealously. The principles Of social
economy, therefore, which have gwen Its color
and complexion to Europe, II planted in snis
country would not bear the fruit OF the old tree,
but irutt OF an entirely different kinu.
The Sabbath or Aa0rid. tor instance con.
hsring Of mass In the morning
and bul fight tn the afternoon, II introduced
INTO our country would demoraifze our people az
by magic; and the Sabbath Of Paris, consisting OF
church service In tho morning and the opera in
the evening. II transplanted to these shOSes
would make our population large bundle OF Jack.
straws with as many comic anu tragic pecuhari-
hes % there are individuals. Not to enter upon
the question OF the propriety Of such things any
where. nor upon the question Of their historic In
Auence on the people OF the Continent may ven.
ture TO say that the genius OF Americans is OF .
different sort and must be handled in q dinerent
way. The basis and structure of society here are
10 unlike those Of other peoples that II u tmpossi.
bic to apply TO Us the general principles which
auderlie other communities.
The question Is fair one, and should be an
Dwered-What would oe the practical effect OF
York city on sundayY cannot help feeling that
Il would be disastrous in the extreme. The moral
Sensitiveness OF the community would be dulled.
You would DIVIDE the people, not as they are now
divided, Into those VINO 60 to church and those
who know they ought to but who do not 60, but
into those who 60 to church and rigidly set their
iaces against ah amusement, and those
who 90 to the theatres and cease TO even
excuse themselves for not attending re-
ugtoua service. Out OF this would grow
very peculiar condition OF AFFAIRS. The religious
paSs Of the community would become less chart.
sable to the legitimate amusenents Of the public,
because they would invade the Sabbath while the
isSeligtoua, who are silent unlsr the present
reotDse, would feel that legal license has been
given TO then, and the unrelisious. or wavering
Or Indifferent, less attracted to the church because
Of this added rigdlty, or bigotry, % they would
call 1t, woud naturally swell the ranka OF the non-
church.goers. As social question, them It is Of
the utmost importance to take as conservative o
view OF the Sabbath question as possible. and to
encourage religious instruction by discouraQing
merely worldly employments on that day.
Again. 1t IL very important. TO my mind, to make
one day IN the week a. dlnerent as possible from
every other day. DO not assert this on the basis
OF revelation to that effect, though tnat Is very
distinct, In my judgment, but on the basis or the
general good. such movement as that suggested
would at once break down the wall between sun
cay and Monday and result, not IN making Monday
~ good a. Sunday, but In MAKING Sunday a. pad
- Monday. ntt Is argued that one day Is as good
- another, answer yes, and better 700. As .
wedding ring is better than any otner ring, be-
cause o. the associations connected with It, so
some days are better than others. We need one
day when we can put on our best clothes and
indulge In our best thoughts. The American
Sunday Is the strength OF the American
people, because we are eminenty church
gong people. deprecate, therefore, any en-.
deavor, under whatever plea made, to lower the
popular estimate OF the day, and would encourage
all efort to make II still more calm, restful,
thoughtful and religious. People need the spur
and not the curb IN matters OF religion. Let US
use all possible means to empty the beer saloons
On Sunday; but let US pour their contents into the
church and not into the theatre Better stringent
law, rigioiy enforced to close the shutters Of
every dram shop, than a fatal compromise which
oners the OPERA tOu6e instead OF lager. Will give
my support to any movement which will employ
new missionary force and make rum selling and
rum drinking In New YORK an impossibnity during
the twenty-iour hours OF sunday; but would
make no compromise whatever with tins rum dend
by throwing vide open the doors OF the theatre.
Lastly. have strong personal objection TO
this movement cannot conscientiously en-
courage q rival Institution which holds Its SER
wees Mt the same time that do nine. II a
brother minister wants any of my people. and they
want 70 60, am perfectly willing to snake hands
and part with thom. bnt 40 not wan, theatre
Sf venesst 20 take tAsn. Anlsas Il osA do them