The Washington times., 1894-07-02
Why He Fayors the Sunday Opening
Of Public Buildings.
NEED OF REST AND REcREArIo.
Such Use Of the Day Eminently Broadening
and Humsnising-Foster Truer Regard
for Nan and Deeper Reverence for Truth.
- Criticises the Cloth.

museums, ETC., on Sunday. With the excep-
tion Of the Catholic clergy the general atti-
tude Of the cloth toward the proposal is one
OF hostility. Nearly all appear to regard the
movement for Sunday opening of these
places as an assault on the very citadel Of re-
ligion. and destined. il successful, to UNDER
mine the foundations Of morality.
1T seems necessary, therefore, for one who
takes a different view Of the matter and who
wishes to see this Sunday opening effected, to
give Il reason for the faith and hope that are
In him. This desire to do this morning.
and / wish to say in the very outset that
many. at least of those who most desire this
change in the policy OF the institutions referred
to, desire it in the Interest Of both morality
and religion. We would be very sorry to do
anything calculated to destroy the religious
spirit or diminish healthfui moral feeling.
Personally am in favor Of the Sunday
opening Of art galleries. museums, and IL
braries. and all places OF public resort where
wholesome instruction and recreation can be
had
81. Because / regard such use Of the day
as directly in line with the original purpose
of the Sabbatic institution, i. e.. rest and
recreation;
''2 Because it is o use of the day that is
eminently broadening and humanizing; and
"3. Because such use Of the day cannot
fail to foster truer regard for man and
deeper reverence for truth and goodness;
cannot fail, in other words, to further the
growth Of the religious spirit"
THE sABBATIc INSTITUTION.
DR.. Kent then took up, separately. each Of
his reasons, and elaborated upon them. As
tuition, he asked: What was this purpose?
This purpose was to secure rest and recrea-
tion for man and beast. This is expressly
stated in the law itself as the reason for its
existence"
'''Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on
the seventh thou shalt rest. thou, thine OK
and thine ass may rest, and the son of thine
handmaid and the stranger may be refreshed
"Here is an explicit statement of the de-
sign or purpose of this institution. and this
purpose concerns the welfare Of man and
beast-not the worship of God. Reverence
to God was not a duty to be discharged on
any one day Of the week. but On all days. II
was not the original intent Of the law TO make
this day pre-eminently and conspicuousy
day OF worship. There were no directions
given ior any special religious obseryances.
The humanitarian character of the purpose
behind this institution is evident from the
fact that it is part of somewhat elaborate
system designed TO protec, the weak against
the aggressions OF the strong"
DR.. Kent then read extracts from the work
of scholars, both Jewish and Christian. as to
the Hebrew manner Of observing the day.
He affirmed that their testimony shows that
il was not deemed inconsistent with the sa-
credness of the day to dance. sing songs, and
play Oh instruments of music. The common
church notion OF Sunday observance derives
no warrant whatever from the Jewish Scrip
lures or practice. The only show of support
for this view OF the modern Evangelical
church. ls held in this country, is that il seems
to have some root in the teachings OF the
Scribes md Pharisees Of Jesus day. Jesus
utterly repudiated their construction of the
ancient law. Man, he said, was lord of the
Sabbath.
POSITION JESUS TOOK.
There is not Il word or act of Jesus TO in
thought Of sacred days and places that has
played so large and so unhappy Il part in the
history of the church. Only one conclusion
is possible from Il fair-minded contemporary
Of Jesus attitude on the Sabbath question.
He had no sympathy with the view held by
the Sabbatarians OF the past or present.
In SAYING the Sabbath was made for man
He claimed. it may be said, a divine origin for
the institution. II the Sabbath was diyineiy
instituted. in the sense in which the Church
claims, the Church had no authority to
change it from its original purpose. 1t should
be kept strictly day of rest and recreation.
DR.. Kent declared his willingness TO admit
that the allotment OF six days out OF every
seven for work and one day for rest and
recreation may be as wise a division as can
possibly be made if the working hours OF each
iay are IS be as long as they have been in the
past, or If the work of life must continue to
be done under SO much of strain and friction.
1.-The law as voiced in the commandment
recognizes mans need and endeavors to meet
Il. Ii is for man TO say whether this need is
met to the fullest extent and in the best pos
.ible manner. The early fathers considered
The Sabbath as holy day, as an insti-
tuition having no claims upon Christian 5.
They were not under its law. 1t was only
typical of spiritual Sabbath Luther be-
ieved il a rational Sunday. but not in any
Puritanic strictness. Even Calvin and Knox |
utterly repudiated such sentiments rs are
among their professed followers to-
lay.
TRIUMPH OF PURIT ASIsM.
"How, man. did these views come to pre-
vail? BY the triumph OF Puritanism- One of
It's ministers preached that to play at ten-pins
On Sunday was as great a sin as TO kill a
man. Another in Norfolk said that to make
A feast or wedding dinner on Sunday was
as great sin as for a father TO cut his child's
throat. "
DE. AtuL EtItIltu u Tue laws WHICH plO-
hibited husband from kissing his wife on
Sunday. ''Such days were horrible" said he,
and made life an almost intolerable burden
10 old and young. Now We have a great deal
Of the same sort of sentiment in the churches
today among the unco guild. but it is held in
check by liberal environment. 1t is utterly
pernicious even in its modified form and
fosters hypocrisy and deceit in both parents
and children.
1.-The common conception Of Sunday as the
Lords day-a d; ito be sacred to thoughts OF
Him and His service as other days are not. Is
one of the greatest hindrances to natural
,r normal development OF a genuine religious
life. No day is too good for any useful serv-
ce or any real recreation.
SIT Is for these reasons" said Dr. Kent
that he would see the libraries, art galleries,
md museums opened to the people. Dean
Stanley" he said, pleaded for the opening of
hese in England in the interest of better
observance of Sunday This day furnishes
he humber classes almost their only oppor-
unity for those innocent and elevating rec
'eations and studies which, every day OF
he week, are the privilege OF the higher
,lasses'
Contact with the works of art, the produc-
ions OF genius, the creations Of past and
present ages said he in conclusion. neces-
'arily widens mans vision. 1t makes him |
eel how very small he is in point OF attain
nent, and YET how almost infinite he Is In |
,oint Of possibility.