New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-19
AS VIEWED IN THE ORANGES.
MINISTER'S DEPRECATE THE sECULARlzA



The Rev. DR.. James T. Dickinson. pastor Of
the North Orange Baptist Church. said: I am
entirely opposed to the position of the Rev. Mr..
sutor believe that the tendency Of our
American life is toward the secularzaton Of
Sunday and the naturalization Of our life. we
cannot afford to do anything which tends to
do away with the observance OF one day IN
seven free from the avocations and pleasures
OF the week l believe in certain kinds OF recre-
alton on Sunday. yet DO not believe in that
kind OF recreation which tends toward making
Sunday the same as every other day in the
week We need one day set apart for religious
and spiritual exercises of the mind and for
intellectual and physical rest for the BODY.
The Rev. William Richmond, rector OF All
.saints' Episcopal Church. Orange Valley, SAID:
There is nothing wrong in one form of athletic
recreation on Sunday more than another-in
itself-whether one walks or skates or any
thing else. But It is wrong for the individual
10 abandon the worship Of God for recreation
and all recreation on Sunday Is wrong which
has an influence on ones self or, by example,
on others in this direction. Sunday is not the
one day that man has for himself, but it is the
only day in the week which does not belong TO
him. but belongs TO God"
-
Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church. East
Orange. said: The Lords Day ought to be
used exclusively as a day Of rest and worship.
People who are shut up in cramped quarters
for six days in the week. with no half holiday
on Saturday ought. OF course, TO walk out
and take the air on Sunday. But that need
not interfere with the regular hours Of worship
in the Lords house The people who play golf
In ha Dct Of uvh IN
in cramped quarters Quite universally the
members OF golf clubs people of leisure
Certainly the self-respecting Christians in golf
clubs will resist the untenable plea that they
need the Lords Day for sport
The Rev. Charles Townsend. pastor OF the
First Presbyterian Church OF Orange said "Ir
its final analysis 1t is not a question Of Sunday
golf. or Sunday visiting. or Sunday bicycling
II is a question OF Sunday. The perpetuatior
OF Christianity is along line of spiritual rather
than mechanical forces. The mechanical idea
OF Christian habit would give us the rules: 'Thor
shalt not ride the wheel on Sunday THOU
shalt not play at golf Sunday and Thou
shalt not go journeying by rail on Sunday.
Such a scheme OF Christian ethics would be
Hebraic. We have been mercfully delivered
from II, and are living under a better dispense.
ton
I'VE know all about the intrinsic innocence
that may obtain on golf links in quiet
spin along country roads. We famila,
with the men whose only chance for free pla,
in Gods air and sunshine Is on Sunday Ye
70 those very men themselves there is some
thing more valuable than their golf game Of
their Sunday spin, and that thing is thei
Christian Sunday a day preserved and hal
lowed not in Judac way. or a Puritanic way
but in Christian way. 1t is day more valu
able than many sparrows
THE evils OF the things noted are chiefly Il
be found not in the things themselves, but Il
their results; not in whether IT IL wicked 4
play golf, but whether IL Is wise, safe. legiti
mate or righteous for any good Christian o
any good citizen 10 cast In his lot with thos
customs whose trend and result is to seculariz
the Lords Day. Anything is permissible tina
either In Itself or its manner OF observance doe
not tend TO destroy the spiritual intent OF God
one day In seven. Anything that runs counte
TO this IL negitimate
AS Christians We are free in action or tina
day. because Christ has set us free; but q
Christians we find free action girdled In b
constraining band Of love-iove for Christ
for Christ's institutions and for the thlngs tina
Christ Himself loved. Jesus set this matte