The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-19

| lions, thosc Icopic WV .'~@~ -
| nor regard man.
1.-THE churc expects too much from the
poor man. We forget that he is not liter
ary. we forget that he is not capable OF
\ consecutive thought, we forget that on
| the first day he Is apt TO be weary and
| and does not want TO come TO our early
services. Let the clergymen accommo-
| date themselves TO the needs OF these peo-
| pie and simplify and tighten for them the
| duty OF church attendance. Make the
| day a day OF rest as we'll as day
| OF worship for those poor brothers
and sisters who so much need 1.-The rest
and who perhaps are not so much in need
OF the spiritual elevation as those OF us
who can rest and take our leisure on any
or all days in the seven.
"And, lastly, there are individuals, our
selves. Could We not as individual citi-
zens do more TO make Sabbath mean more,
make it happier and brighter and holier
TO our more unfortunate brothers, for our
servants and dependents"
Rev. Mr.. Frisby was the second speaker.
He spoke more from the rector's point OF
view, and emphasized more the necessity
and the duty OF church worship and at
tendance. He said that the first day Of
the week is in no sense the Jewish Sab
bath; it is the Lords day, and in its OBJ
servance> there are three things never to
be lost sight of: The worship of God,
we are Gods children, and we owe 10
Him our gratitude and worship.
The second duty. of that day is to look
to the needs of our neighbors and make
almsgiving part OF our Sunday observ-
ance. And the third duty is that which
man owes to himself. Let him set apart a
portion OF the Lords day solitary pc
riod in his life in which he may be alone
with his God and express his yearn-
ing TO be nearer TO Him, and to be lifted
up.
Mr.. Frisby then spoke of the Sunday as
family day upon which the lives of the
father and mother and children should
be brought nearer together, and he then
delivered beautiful eulogy OF the home.
In conclusion the Boston rector referred
to the hindrances TO Sunday observance
and ascribed them to the covetousness of
the world. The remedy which he
suggested was the Saturday. half holiday
that would afford the opportunity for the
rest and recreation and prepare the work.
ing classes for the proper observance of
the day following.
President Gardner said, that between
the suggestions OF the clergyman from
Toronto and the Clergyman from Boston
he was at loss to know how the time
could be found for the church and the
family and that he would call on a layman
TO help him out. He then introduced Mr..
Richard ii. Dana OF Cambridge.
Mr.. Dana said In brief:
sIf understand he history of Christian
ity Alright and the apparently plain teach.
ings of the New Testament, Sunday is not
day OF prohibitions, but one of large
opportunity. The very change of day
from the Jewish Sabbath or seventh day
of the week to the Christian Sunday or
first day suggests the emancipation from
the strict letter of the claw" to the Chris
tian spirit OF liberty. The extremely
strict method of Sunday, or as it is more
appropriately misnamed sabbath" OBJ
servance Of the day to which our New
England forefathers were accustomed and
from which we are now emerging, seems
to have come, not from any sanction of
the historic united church, nor OF the
Roman nor Protestant branches, but only
from one branch OF the Protestant church.
This reached its climax in Scotland
where, on careful study, it seems founded
quite as much on a desire to keep up
mark of social standing as on the belief in
the authority of the Jewish customs.
"Amidst all this contradiction OF theo-
ries and practise as to Sunday observance
what is the guiding principal? 1t seems
to me to be this To use the day as one
OF opportunity for the spiritual growth,
for knowing God, for being with Christ,
and with our family and fellow man in
the spirit of Christ, an opportunity to en-
nj ha onir In. a 4 h. l.
real side of the mind, an opportunity to
get above tho cares OF life and see them in
their true relations and proper perspec-
tive, so as to undertake them hereafter
with a more masterful spirit; to give the
true value to things which, as Emerson
says, are so prone to mount the saddle
and ride US, and to rise superior to them,
while not ignoring their minor i'm
portance.
"To use the day to know our children to
the very bottom Of their souls, and to gain
their spiritual confidence. With this
guiding principle, how do all the ques-
tions vanish away of rs this wrongs?
Can do thatY lis there any harm? in
another occupation? 1t is no longer a
question of whether this of itself is
wrong or not, but whether it prevents or
interferes with the spiritual use of the
day."
Rev. Mr.. Rousmaniere concluded the
discussion and advocated the observance
OF the day in the most liberal manner
possible, and making 1t a day in which all
the needs of our fellow men should be
considered and as far as possible provided
for.
AT short business meeting OF the club
held before the dinner X. II. /. Goddard,
G. Q. Mumford and III. l.. Clark were ap-
pointed as committee OH nominations.