New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-20
THE TENDENCY TO SECULARIZAIION.

BY THE REV. DIR. HENRY c. POTTER EPISCOPAL.
TO The Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: | am asked to state first, my opinion as u
the popular tendency in the matter OF Sunday OBJ
seryance; second as to what it is likely to become
in AMI about this city third my objections to exist
inp practices and fourth as to the best course t.
be taken by the religious community in the matter
both for themselves and with reference to the com
munity at large.
First then, the popular tendency in the matter OF
Sunday observance unqnestionably toward the
secularzation OF the day aud. secondly, this char
acteristic is likely to become more and more pro-
nounced. The reasons for this are not obscure.
The elder Sunday of Colonial aud subsequent days
was the product of a people largely homogeneous
and strongly Sabbataran. The Puritan in New
England, the Hollander In NewYork. and the
Huguenot IN South Carolina. Uttered about other
things but they agreed about the Observance of
Sunday, or, as most of them for some reason pre-
ferred to call it, the Sabbath. 1t easy to get
legislation enforcing such observance from State
Legislatures which were like minded and IN New
York, the churches OH Broadway were protected
during public worship from passing disturbances NV
chains stretched across the street. Nowadays
our Teutonic brethren not merely will not endure
the chain, but beat the big drum and blow the big
gest trombone with redOubed and malicious EN-
phasis, it sometimes seems, when they are pass
ing church door. And their presence among rs is
typical OF that heterogeneous America which has
supplanted the elder. A vast influx Il unassimilated
foreign citizens has given version of Mr
Tennyson's admonition that
The old order changeth ever,
Giving place to new
and the new order conspicuous chiefly i'll this.
that whether Italian Irish French or German, 1t
t.a Lrnu nht vrttb y &C IN
stead of adopting ours There is likelihood
that it will adopt ours; foI. while a change has
been going Oh among the working class brought
about by the importation of foreign usages ana
ideas AS represented IN those foreigners who are
working people. the favored classes have been
importing the sumo ideas, not merely from Italy
and Germany and France. bat also from England.
NJ. Tane has painted the dreariness as lie &C.
counted it, OF an English Sunday. But, meantime.
since the peace which followed the victories of the
allied forces Napoleon. England has been
learning foreign ways and adopting them never
before. She has not become little distinctive and
national in manners many Americans aping her
have become. but who knew England
twenty-five years ago. and who knows 1t to-day,
can be insensible to the widespread relaxation. as
in many other old-fashioned ideas, SO in the old
fashioned Idea of observing Sunday.
Thus there two forces tendencies-ODe
working from below and another from above
which cOnspire to make the American Sunday what
1t is. and to indicate what it is likely to become
They will both undoubtedly continue to operate
until checked by such reaction as has already
begun in France and in parts of Germany.
Third. the objection existing ~ tees from the
standpoint of The clergyman is first of all that they
are fatal to'those opportunities for the education
and development of the higher side of mans nature
IL
a spiritual being, with spiritual well as intellect
ual and physical needs, man must have some OPP
portunty for spiritual nurture. If he Is related to
q Being above him, Whose child he U.s. and in inter
course with Whom he is to find his highest JOY and
dignity, there must be sOme chance amid the busy
occupations Os work day lite for the of his
higher aspirations This the secular Sunday
largely renders impossible. Whether it is gwen up
to amusement or to work it is equally divorced
from spiritual uses. But besides this, the secu-
larization Of Sunday tends inevitably to its de-
struUtion as a rest day. Let 1t be granted that
is not spiritual being, that he has wants out
side OF those of his brain his stomach his pody
demands periodic rest, aud it is impossible fail to
that the highest type of civilization has been
coincident with those ages and notions which have
had rest day and have vigorously respected it,
The dawn of time when the distinction which has
marked out Sunday from other days shall be
efiaced will be the dawn OF al era of moral intel
lectual and physical decadcnce. And this suggests
specifically the existing practices which otjec
tionable. 1t is impossible TO make Sunday indls-
tlnguishable from other days in the matter of
traffic. travel, and many forms of amusement, es-
peciay those that theatrical, without making
1t work day The scene painter aud the car
penter are no more free Sunday than other
days, and the encroachment will be and certain
(anybody who has Eeard the sound OF the hammer
ON the great buildings that are going mp in France
on Sundays must be sensible OF III which will COM
pei other artisans and laborers to work Sundays
as Well weekdays. The competitor CT great
cities tie cupidity of employees, the needs Of the
poor, will all ccnspire in the direction of a compGl
sion. to resist which. here elsewhere, tho work
ing man will be impotent.
Fourth. as to tho best course to be taken
by the religious community In the matter of
with reference 10 the community at large"
smaye wisely be remembered that the inter
eats of the two are one. The religious community
ought To desire nothing which will not respect the
citizens whatever their beliefs want OF belief. |
And this suggests that anything anil everything |
which shall maze this plain is 10 be striven for. |
The welfare OF those who work with their bar de |
lies at the foundation of the prosperity of the state
The legislation which seems to bear hardly upon |
these which touches In no wise the liberty or the |
indulgences of the rich but abrdges the privileges
and pleasures OF the poor will inevitably provoke
resistance; and 1t is to DO regretted that IN |
efforts 10 enforce the Sunday law regard has not !
always been had to the rights OF those who are |
and wealth OF the country fail TO unite in nnsefsh
consideration tor thsse when The weekday eX-
sctions from the laboring man are so selfish and in
cessant as to spare him no weekday spaces for
conspicuous respector of Sunday The confound- |
ng Of Sunday rs q rest day with sunday as pleas