The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-26
The Christian Observance Of the Sab
bath.

M. <,..t..t. x,.-.. .r Al. CAB
""'''" "v'o, '""'o " '"' ""-
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Inc tencral SYNOD OF hciorneu frcspy-
tcrhhs, when mas latciy oe"h hOiulhR s's-
slOhs Ill THIS city, Expressed on lucsuay us
sentiments concerning the Observance" Oh tho
oapDath IN the following preamble ana reso-
lutlons'
Wh.rea' sabbath dcsccrauon is rapidly Increasing in
n n I,' W., CSnrcs OF our poluauon s 'e
tnd andIy W running Of freight and pasenscr ,rnins
,he empoymcntoi railroad hands in workshops "''''
nv" Si,rnius tn .,c,ar ny rom"t,nr rooms and
thorouphfatcs; reino ,cakv ,rpe,' anil ro,i' NJ MUM.
ue,,"y uoesuc' n,u o'neIs ., we P,,vnese
God and Ills hoIy law. therefore
R'-'rct That this Synod condemns all such forms n
inv nm In "ur avn is"d 80 .,,, ,"o ,'," ,",,,.
aud further
h,~a' Ihst Jo1q"e' NUT ~ h"g'' ,hn' ''s hat"n Is
sabbath nirhsnt for the rgo,. p,n, on that lay so
rroab"t'" Continental EDope"
This uttcrancc is only an intensified echo
Of the sermon delivered in Grace Church
last Sunday by tho Rev. IIENRY G. POTTER,
In which that accomplished Epscopalian
preacher declared in favor Of what he called
the Anglo-Saxon fashion of observing the
parts ~ the Christian world Widely as
the Reformed Prcsbytcrians differ from Mr.
POTTER in many respects they strike hands
with him In asserting the supremacy Of the
English over the Continental method of en-
ploying the weekly day Of rest. They hate
his liturgy, his organ music, his humanity
composed hymns, and his prclatical church
order, no less than he does their rejection Of
the Apostolic succession and Of ritual wor-
ship; but they agree with him In u common
antagonism to foreign customs and usagcs
in regard to the sabbath The coincidence
Is only one Of many illustrations " the
curious way in which extremes sometimes
meet.
The fundamental point on which the Re.
formed Presbvtcrians. like Mr.. Potter. in
sist, il that amuscments on the Sabbath day
should not be permitted. This Is the bone
Of controversy between the Christians Of
Great Britain and those Of the Continent Of
Europe. The Anglo-Saxon SAYS that the
Sabbath should be devoted exclusively to
church going. whereas his Continental
brethren permit themselves all sorts Of Sab
bath diversions. He confines himself on
Sunday to praying and hearing sermons,
NHcI'hS tHtN uilhh b''I anu Wlll'f hSt'll 10
music dance, and witness dramatic repre-
sensations. Hence, while Mr. POTTER de-
nounces the opening Of beer gardens on Sun
day his Presbyterian allies protest against
dinner parties, driving In the parks, and
reading secular literature on that day and
while he upholds the Anglo-Saxon cause
with well-bred moderation. they declare
sternly that foreigners must be taught"
not to import hithcr the profane practices
prevalent in the countries of their origin.
The principle OF both Is at bottom the same,
but ii is expressed with more force by one
than 10y the other.
In so far IA the dispute Ia one concerning
religious practice merely secular journal
has no occasion to NEEDLE in ii. In keeping
Sunday, as in other matters ofrelgious wor-
snip ana discipline, every man must be- gov
erned by his own Judgment. II he chooses,
on Sunday, TO do nothing but 20 to church