Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-18
Uses of sunday.

Uses of sunday.
Golden Age
Man is being OF many needs, and
Sunday in its use may be made TO min.
lister to them ali. He has his physical
needs Of rest from wearying labor, for
the refreshing of his exhausted energies,
fo- the recuperation Of his wasted pow
ers. He has intellectual needs, of knOwl-
edge, not only herewith to store his
mind, but to be made the means Of his
continuous culture and development.
He has affectional needs; the desire of a
deeper domestic love, of truer friend
ships, of q larger sympathy. He has
a3thetic needs; he Graves the ministry
of beauty for his enjoyment, and for the
refining and educating OF his tastes. He
has higher moral needs; the instigatiOn
Of resolve, the strengthening OfpurpOse,
the encouragement of effort. He has
also spiritual needs; for the deepening,
the purifying, the inspiration Of the pro-
tOundest sentiments of his being. All
these Sunday may be made to serve,
and the truest Sunday is that which
serves them all. To many it is the only
extensive and efficient agent for this
work. To not few it is the only oppOr-
tunity for it. Sunday should be used
for all these purposes. l would have
each one freely use it according to his
special needs, whether for its restful, en-
tightening, softening, refining, strength
ening or purifying influences. To
accomplish all these uses there are vari:
Gus agencies which the Sunday does or
can command. For mans moral and
religious culture the church provides
worship. 1t furnishes regular and inva-
riable services, in which il invites mans
particjpstion. But it should not run the
services to excess. 1t should not monOp-
olize the day with them, leaving no OPP
portunity for other uses. And one ser
vice a day to the same congregation is
better than more. One service, wisely
conducted and faithfully improved is
sufficient for the moral and spiritual uses
which the day has to serve. Usually
this service will be held in the earlier
portion of the day, as most convenient
and effective. This does not preclude,
of course, occasional special services at
other times, either singly or in series, for
the accomplish nent of some particular
work, or it may be for the benefit of q
CONGREGATION somewhat different from
the ordinary one. But the religious SER
vice must be real and efficient. 1t must
have thought to expand the mind. In it
must be high ideal to elevate the pur-
poses. Init must be pure sentiment to
quicken and inspire the spirit 1t must
be living and permanent inspiration to
all whom it addresses. For mans in
telIectuaI culture, libraries, reading
rooms, museums provide. These FUR
nish the instruction that elsewhere, per.
haps, he is not able to obtain. They
give to him the attractive and useful
knowledge which he has not the oppor-
tnnity at other times OF reaching. But
on Sunday, above all other days, would
have the home radiate its cheerful at
tractiveness and welcome. l would
gather together the scattered men,
bers of the family, and make OF
this a weekly Thanksgiving. l would
have it summon friends and neighboTs
to share the domestic joy. Nor would
[ have it forget to set apart some hour
of the day for loving correspondence
with the absent. Writing letters to tie
living is a better service than mourning
over tine dead or whining over sins that
ought to be buried and forgotten. SO
nature, by bringing man into fresh con-
tact with its fields, and streams, and
forests, may give him both physical anG
mental refreshing. And art, in the form
of beauty and melody, opening Galleries
of painting and sculpture, halls OF music
and of song, may reach and gratlfy
those more delicate sensibilities, those
finer tastes, that help to ennoble and
beautify mans living. AS man needs,
thesefore, let him use the day-use il
most for that which most he needs.
Best served will he be if he can grasp
all these uses, and make them to minis
ter to his entire needs. The only condi-
tiOns to this use are al hon.
est Judgment, clear conscience,
and true regard for others.
Frankly facing these and faithfully OBJ.
serving them, he shall be kept from all
thoughtless frivOlty and reckless excite
ment, from all merely sensual indui'
gencies and unhallowed passion. Re-
Iigion should never be divorced from
life. It is not to be separated from any
interest, concern, or activity OF man
Labor and rest, work and worship, study
and pleasure, love and learning, are tC
be accompanied and permeated by it
1t is to go everywhere, Frightening, pu
rifying, elevatiDg all. Let Sunday min
lister such a religion as this, touching the
whole nature, and helping every need
of man. Sunday, the day that pagan
Rome, thus entitled, dedicating it to the
worship OF the sun, Christianity wisely
accepts and honors. Let it be indeed
Sunday full of brightness and Of cheer
for all; whose coming the child shall
welcome and whose going out he shall
regret. Let ii be Sunday, refreshing
the body, enlightening the mind, In
creasipg the affections, purifying the
taste, strengthening every noble senti-
ment. Let it be Sunday, free, ALIEN
bracing, penetrative, blessing as the
light Let DO custom or practice, no
law or dogma, limit it's benefits or cast q
shadow over it.