The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31
Sunday Newspapers and Sunday Trains.

During the session Of the late Episcopal
Diocesan Council in this city report was SUP
mtted on the state of the Church, IN when,
among other things. it is declared that the
Sunday newspaper Is ascandalIzing lnnuehce.
A committee of the Southern resbyterlan AS
sembly, now in session at birmingham, Ala;
also inveighed against Sunday papers, ana
went the Episcopallans one better by pro-
testing against the running of trains on sun
day. I'LL
There is a tendency, it must be regretfuiiy
stated, on the part OF SaoDatallans 10 i ia
no allowance for differences OF opinion. They
approach dangerously near TO the pharisaical
Notwithstanding line in their denuncia-
tions as evil and unchristian OF everything
that runs counter to their very clrcumScrlDed
views and opinions. They take no consldera-
ton either Of the need OF the times IN wnlch
we live nor the circumstances by when we we
are surrounded. They would hedge us all
about with the ipse dixit of doctrlnal and
dogmatical rule and permit us to go thus lar
and no further" Argument and reasoning
against the position taken by them IS swept
contemptuously aside as a part of the evil OF
supposed evil of which they complain ana
with their II have spoken" they anathe-
matte. as it were, all who differ with them,
As for Sunday newspapers, 1t is hardly
worth while to call attention TO the of-tre-
peated explanation that they are manu-
factured principally before the Sabbath be-
gins. and that their publication, therefore.
onght TO be far less Objectionable than that OF
the Monday morning paper, all the work on
which has to be done on Sunday. But again,
il is the reading of Sunday papers which IS
objected TO as perniciOus. If that were true
of the Sunday paper 1t would be TAR more so
of the papers published on the other SIX Gays
of the week, and should be condemned as
dangerous to the peace and purity OF the
home and of the community.
As "a matter of fact, however. the Sunday
newspaper is distinctly help in the propaga-
ton of intelligence and morality. With ITS
abundance of reading material it occupies
pleasantly and proftably many an hour Tor
the man who during the week has no time TO
read and who takes TO his Sunday paper as q
welcome recreation TO mind and body. II
keeps him at home and away from assoca-
tions and influences, the hurtfllness and
peril of which are too well known TO make
specific mention necessary.
As for the running of railroads on Sundays,
what would hundreds of preachers do who
have TO visit country churches 70 hold service
if trains were not convenient And why
should the man who cannot afford TO keep a
horse and carriage be prevented from taking
modest outing IN this inexpensive way;
Or WHY should no facilities be at hand for
the physician who may suddenly be called
to some one in great need Of him, or for
! the person that may have some loved
one in distress and requiring his imme-
| date presence? The world moves The con-
ditions that governed mankind four thousand
wears ago have been revoiutionized, and the
church that cannot or will not keep in line
with modern thought and modern demands
will surely lose its hold upon the people.-Pe-
tersburg Index-Appeal.