The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-26

"There is good reason for opening
reading rooms. art galleries and muse
ums on Sunday" said Rev. F.W. Whip
pen yesterday morning in All Souls
church during a sermon on sabbath
Keeping" Other striking thoughts
We're:
"Idleness does not refresh 1t fur
nishes soil for evil growth
I'VE use Sunday best when in some
of its hours we strive to put in prac-
tice the Masters lessons. This may
take us to manual labor.
"We use the day best when on it we
go forth on missions of humanity"
Rev. Mr.. Whippen's sermon was lis
tened to with the closest attention by
his congregation. He took for his text
the words from Mark, ii:27, as follows:
THE Sabbath was made for man."
During the course of his discourse,
which is likely to call forth some criti-
cisu, he said in part:
ITO the question, How shall we use
the first day of the week? the text
supplies the key. Theology in our age
is being reinforced by common sense.
II is so in reference to the keeping of
Sunday. Other reasons besides the
keeping.
NATURES DEMAND.
Stress is laid upon the value of the
day. Sunday should be kept, men in.
sist because human nature demands
such day. Thus much is made of the
thought of rest; of the need of respite.
Men must have rest. But rest is more
than respite. Rest and idleness are
by no means synonymous. We do not
come to the Sunday as rule in sheer
exhaustion. Rest is best thought of as
| change in activities. We shall not
then keep Sunday in idleness. On the
physical side this is true. Those over
| religious and those Indifferent to re-
liglon sometimes agree in making Sun
| day, physically speaking, a day Of in
| dolence.
''In the one case eXertion is thought
| to be sin. In the other general indo-
| lence is taken as the days real priv
| ileSe. IT is refreshing in view of these
mistakes to think of Jesus on the Sab
bath walking through the corn field.
| We are called to a reasonable amount
| of Sunday exercise. In this respect
the greatest difficulty is with the
| young. The Sunday of Christianity
| which is glad tidinEs of great JOY
| ought not and must not be a gloomy
day even to children. If it Is some-
thing is wrong. To the boy and girl
Sunday should be known as something
more than a time for leaving play
things. There should be something to
| do.
"'The earth is the Lords and we
| are using some Sunday hours wisely
| when on them in field and wood we in
| troduce our children to natures beau
ties. Sunday is not a play day. ABB
stinence is necessary in order that at
tention may be given to the highest
concerns. Sunday is an opportunity
| for US to give our thoughts freedom
| in regions denied us through the week.
The first Sunday schools in England
| were devoted partly to secular instruc-
ton. In such instruction some of the
Sunday hours might profitably be used
now. Men and women hungering for
knowledge keep Sunday in the spirit
by devoting long hours of it to books.
GOOD REASON
"There is good reason for opening
readng-rooms, art galleries and muse
ums on Sunday Ideness does not re-
fresh and it furnishes soil for evi
growths. However, nothing must su.
persede the meeting for worship. The
Sunday is the church day, because the
church concerns itself with the highest
interests of our life. 1t should be the
law of our life to attend church or
Sunday. If it is true that men work
too hard and are confined too much or
week days to go to church on Sunday
then most grievously must our system
of work and trade and political econ
omy answer for it. For it means thai
men and women are being so sappeC
by the things of this world that they
have no vitality for religion.
1T is not so to any marked extent
In many cases when men lounge a
home they would be more refreshed
by a bath and clean cloths. a walk t.
church and a hearty participation il
worship. But it must be admitted tha
engaging in formal worship is not tn,
whole of Sunday keeping.
"Religion is intensely practical. w,
|