The herald., 1897-08-15
CHURCHLY HABITS

However much men may differ in their
religious beliefs, or even where they do
not burden their minds with any relig-
ious faith at all, the experience of civil
lied life teaches the wisdom Of conserv-
ing churchly habits; that is to say, Of
strictly observing ecclesiastical pro-
cedure as defined in the discipline OF the
various religious denominations. Leav-
ing out Of question, for the nonce, the
institution Of the church itself, as Of its
divine origin. and addressing ourselves
solely to the influences radiating thence
and affecting the morals and manners Of
secular organization, nab pfue-plGsjx
second to no other factor in society for
accomplishing beneficent results. Was
not the success of the Pilgrim Fathers
in the colony Of Massachusetts largely
due to the rigor with which they en-
forced churchly observances? We may
fancy that there was a tinge Of fanati-
cism in their iron rules; still the fact re-
mains that out Of the apparent despotism
Of their moral teachings came respect
for religion and a self-respect, a regard
for the law, whether of man or God,
which has done much in moulding the
better character of the American peo-
ple
1t Is an interesting historical fact
not too widely known, that the first
Sabbatarian law ever enacted in this
country was not the work of the Pill
grim Fathers, nor of the Massachusetts
colony. In the year 1917, three years be-
fore the landing Of the Pilgrims at
Plymouth Rock, the Cavaliers of Vir-
ginia, the gentlemen immigrants from
the court of King Charles OF England,
enacted such a law. 1t was not, to be
sure, a blood-thirsty measure. 1t pro-
vided, among other things, that he who
did not attend church on Sundays should
pay fine of two pounds of tobacco. Al
that time tobacco was costly article
of commerce. The first settlement OF
the English in Virginia, it will be re-
membered, was in 1907, so that even the
gay Cavaliers, after ten years of colonia
experience, found it expedient to enact
an ordinance looking to the enforcement
of the church-going habit.
While The Herald is no advocate o.
tyrannous enactments, civil or relig
ious and is in full sympathy with tina
spirit of larger liberty appertaining t.
western thought and habit Of body Oh
every day in the year, it is none the les
appreciative of the healthfulness to tn
body polite issuing out Of decent re
gard for churchly things, and of reason
able compliance with the time-honore
formula Of religious denominations. TIL
repose of mind and body incident to asso
: citation for brief hour or 80 with refine
Il people in a building especially dedicate
i to divine worship, has salutary effee
; upon the normal mind. This, supple
mented by pleasing music, refined er
vironment and rational discourse touch
IS ing questions of high import, can bl
: appeal to the nobler impulses Of tt
q hearer and send him forth better an
:" stronger in his moral intents and pu
s. poses.
TO The abstract truth Of the proposition
le advanced from the pulpit is by 10 meaI
a condition precedent to the wholesom
lie ness of the mental impression made Vi
e. on the mind and heart Of the listene
As To the educated mind there is so lit
40 of abstract truth-truth, as the lawye
n say, beyond the possibility of a reaso
lie able doubt"-in the wide field of spec
at lative philosophy, or even in the social
to ascertained sequence of scientific event
re that one will go prepared to dspen
at with higher criticism" and to ma
ut liberal allowance for the fallibility
lie human judgment, or it may be for
o. own lack Of sound discernment.
In 1t is one of the encouraging attribut