The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-10
THE LOSS or SUNDAY.

Most readers can remember what a
clamor was made when the street cars
began to run on Sunday. Now, how
ever. they run undisturbed by any
voice of protest from the most cosser-
vative pulpit. But the innovation in
the old regime of Sunday observance is
much deeper and more radical than
that implied on Sunday tramway. Ac-
tivities IF this nature may be acquisced
in on the pround of necessity, and so
made reconcilable with belief in the
essentially religious character Of the
day. The tendency of the change that
has taken place, aud is still going on, is
ID dissOclate the American Sunday
from all religious uses and sanctions and
TO convertit into secular holiday. How
is this tendency, which good citizens
deprecale, to be arrested and changed 7
We cannot 20 back to the old sabbath
rianism, for that is gone; neither Is IT
necessary to question the origin of Sun
day. whether it began In the Garden OF
Eden or at Sinai, or in connection with
the resurrection Of Jesus Christ. How
ever it began, here it is. and it has been
for ages an integral part Of our Anglo
Saxon civilization, and the most effect
ual way to secure its religious observ-
auce is by pointing out to the people
with calm and sober statement what Is
involved in its secularizatiOn, and what
they would lose thereby.
And what would they lose For the
great mass of people the loss of Sunday
would be the loss of spiritual life and
of q living faith in God. A man may
say, can think of God at any time, and
pray to Him, or mediate upon Him. or
come into communion with Him. The
CRITICALLY it is possible, but as matter
Of fact will he do iii Are we not so
constituted that we must come into
contact with the outward occasion to
catch and feel the thought for which
the occasion stands Who can feel the
full measure of Christian JOY before
the Christmas season comes. or
the uplifting gladness of the Easter
festival in advance Of the Eastertidef
How long would the patriotism Of any
people endure without the regular re-
currerce of anniversary DAYS? We need
NOT multiply illustrations to show how
dependent we are, for the development
of our nature, upon this law of associa-
ton. Shall we presume 10 disregard
this law in matters of religion? Sunday
stands for God. as no other day in the
week does. For the great majority of
persons, Their, fore, the loss or surrender
of Sunday as a religious day would be
the loss of God.-Rer. DR.. Greer.
DIR j. A. BRoADDUs tells us how to
retain freshness in preaching in his lee
ture before the Yale theologues
!. BY studying the Scripture text
and context, to discover the particular
shade Of thought and present it. Nov
elites of Interpretation should be avoid
ed. but the real meaning of the text
sought. That will invariably secure
variety aud fresen up the Oldest text
2. By studying systematic theology
Doctrinal preaching would be very
novel thing in some pulpits. The age is
bound to return to it before long. Pro-
found reflection on the meaning and re-
lations Of Biblical teachings, deep
thoughts about common things, are &C.
ceDtable to the people.
$. BY studying occasions. This does
not imply seDsationslism, but demands
the llnkiog Of eternal truth to the hour
and the occasion. Seek the fuDdamen-
tai principles on which passing events
and current activities rest. So let the
preaching be modified to suit the par.
ticular needs in the congregation.