Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-29
CHURCH NEWS.
pkEsbYrEkIANs vs.. "HoLY DAYS"
Rev DR.. Mitchell Explsins why-The
| YoaDS Lutheran Preachers Want
i RianOp.

Rev DR.. Mitchell Exp,.ins why-Ths
YoaDs Lutheran freachsrs Want
BishoP.
In accordance with an engagement made
to his congregation on last Sabbath, Rev.
DR.. J. Y. Mitchell, of the Presbyterian
church, improved the occasion Of the
regular weekly lecture last evening to tell
his people why the Presbyterians made no
observance Of what are known as holy
days in the calendar Of some Christian
churches. Basing his discourse on text
from the old scriptures which directed that
of the Lord he disavowed any controversial
purpose. He then explained that it was
not because of their bigOtry that Presby-
terians did not keep the holy days, for rs
denomination they we're liberal in their
relations with other churches and
tolerated great diversity on non essentials;
nor because they were not intelligent, for
Presbyterian institutions Of learning were
in the foremost rank !; nor because they
were not practical, for in all good works
their record need not fear comparison !;
nor because they are not refined, for Pres
byterian homes, i'll this as we'll as other
communities, attested to the contrary. 1t
was mainly because the Presbyterian
church tolerated the greatest liberty Of
conscience that it imposed upon its
people no other Obligations than
those laid upon them by the Lords
word. The individual might if he chose
keep them, with signs of humiliation or
rejoicing, according to their character.
Persons, families, congregations, presby
| teries and synOds may regulate such
matters for themselves, and may Ordain
special fasts and other seasons the church
| only prevents the obligation of such OBJ
| servances being impos ID upon its men,
| bers. There is NO warrant in the Scrip.
| lures for the observance of any day as
| holy except the Sabbath. These feasts
| were unknown among the apostles aud
| were really established rs a concession on
| the one hand to the popular Jewish fest.
walls and upon the other to the pagan Sat-
urnalia, The quarrels and doubts
affecting the real time of the
events they celebrate; the tendency of
such Obsefvances to run to Journalism the
fact that churches which make the most
of them show no higher appreciation of
the sanctity of the Lords Day; the spec,
tacular character of the celebrations in
some churches, and the positive condem.
nation in two passages of the New Testa-
ment OF the observance of times and
seasons, vore among the reasons elabora-
ted in his interesting discourse why, DR..
Mitchell said. his church made no special
account of Christmas, Easter, Holy Week
and other church days.
The lecture of the evening was listened
to with much interest, and as the audi.
ence went home they discussed it by the
wayslde. Some of the esteemed sisters
characterized it AS invulnerable argument
aud fundamental Presbyterianism. One
family was divided, the husband main
tanning that it was sound doctrine, the
wife, who had her Easter millinery on,
questioning it. A young lady was heard
to whisper to her escort that she did not
fear tendency to ROmanism in the occa-
sional presence of flowers on the pulpit &;
and a steady-going cburchman clinched
his dissent with the remark that if ParsOn
Mitchell thought the altar ought to be of
stone which the tool of man had not been
lifted upon Exodus Xxx, 25,) it were we'll
to hide the sculptured white marble
pulpit from which he weekly expOunds
the gospel.
At all events the lecture services were
listened to and carried home by the con-
gre cation.