The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-27
PLEASURE.
Half of Sunday Be
longs to 1t.
A RECREATION DAY.
Worship in the Morning,
Then Innocent Enjoyment.

esting address delivered before the
members Of his congregation yesterday,
the Rev. Mr.. Carver advocated a more
liberal Sunday than that demanded by
the Puritan ideal. He contends that
while a portion of the day of rest
should be devoted to religious observ-
ance and the serious side of life, after
those duties are fulfilled, it is not wrong
| to devote the remaining time to plea
sure and recreation.
A week ago Sunday Mr.. Carver
preached on the more serious uses of
the Sabbath. but taking as his central
thought the words of Christ that the
Sabbath Is made for man, not man for
the Sabbath. The liberal views eX-
pounded in that address made a most
favorable impression on his congrega-
ton. Yesterdays sermon was even more
liberal. The views advanced are those
held by the vast majority of church
goers, and many ministers But few
diVines have the courage to deliver
them from their pulpits Mr.. Carver
spoke in part as follows:
Let every man be fully assured in
his own mind. Romans, xiv:5.
This frank statement of the princi-
pie involved in Sunday Observance APP
plles to every aspect of the question,
but particularly to that which we are
to consider today-the use of Sunday
for recreation or pleasure. Paul did not
dfctate. He had no law to announce
Which all should obey. He Is speaking
OF the widest. most radical diversity of
practice. He says one man esteems one
day above another, another esteems
every day alike. He draws no conclu-
sion in favor of one or against the
other, 1t is matter for the individual
judgment and conscience. Be sure in
! your own mind Of your course, then
hellhef your own nor another's con-
science should give you trouble.
In speaking of this use Of Sunday
you Will bear in mind that I am referr-
= Ing to but single point. have .pre-
| Viously spoken of the opportunity Sun
| day affords for the higher interest of
| our life. I believe it to be an estimable
! privilege and a boon which cannot be
| TOO highly priced. 1 believe that the
best thing is to devote its fresher hours
to the dear observances Of the church
and through worship, or reading, or
| incubation TO get new measures and
meanings of life.
1t is not in forgetfulness of these
greater interests that turn to others,
which, although not of the same rank,
are also of vital Importance. You can
not with profit extend one mood or one
Kind of exercise over the whole day.
! Suppose you have spent the morning
seriously, what is to be done with the
remaining hours? Or if the ouiet Of
your own home offers all you desire,
what should be allowed those whose
circumstances and means are quite
different? Has the idea Of pleasure pure
and simple, legitimate place in your
theory of what the day is for?
| However this question may be an
swered in the abstract, 1t has already
/ been decided in a practical way by the
majority of people. There was a time,
not long ago, when such an idea Would
not have been entertained. The SUNDAY
was q day of appalling solemnity and
monotony To do anything for the en-
/ Joyment of it was thought of only to he
/ condemned. Only the reckless, those
outside the pale of religion, could be
guilty of such departure from the
true way"
Now all that is changed, the restraint
no longer exists. On a bright Sunday
! the ponds are covered with persons
skating. As soon as pleasant weather
! comes the roads will be crowded with
people on the bicycle. The lakes and
parks are frequented in ever increasing
numbers. Corporations and municipali-
ties provide for the amusement of
crowds, bent simply on having a pleas
ant afternoon Hardly any one doubts
now that this is wise. Here and there
you may meet a person who Iaments
! the passing Of the sterner customs.
| But no one who takes into account the
conditions of existence. especially i'm
| cities, would think of returning to the
old way if it We're possible to do so,
The general judgment is that it is
| a good thing to spend Sunday or a part
| of it in harmless and orderly recrea
ton. This opinion is not confined TO
! one class of population or to those who
! do or do not esteem the day. 1t is
/ adopted by almost all and acted 1non
I by most. Their pleasure takes different
forms but it is none the less a fact that
what they do is done for it's pleasant
ness.
! Here is a man who thinks it no harm
| to take drive in his carriage. his com
I Portable conscience asleep on the cush-
IONS. He is injuring no one, but is de-
irving great benefit from exercise in
| the air. Another has no carriage. bur
| owns wheel on which he flies over
the same road and through the same
| sweet air. In principle they are doing
the same thing. Why, then, should the
former, as sometimes happens. think
his act Vlrtuous and the others = de-
secration? Why should the church.
winch has not word TO say au,,l,,st
the indulgence which its connniacent
patrons allow themselves, set itself
against the equally innocent diversions
other people think they may enioy?
Nothing excites more distrust of the
Chrlstlah profession as mere cant Of
goodness than this inconsistency. LET
( US say either that it is WRONG. for fhe
owner of the carriage to drive or that
1t is right for the owner Of the wheel
to ride.
! We are facing an existing condition
OF far-reaching significance. The
change in popular sentiment and nrac-
tlce IS already effected, 1t is not nee
essary to urge people to spend Sunday
IN ways that are agreeable. They have
already gone in that direction. II is
much more important to ask what
should be the attitude Of the sober and
serious element of society toward this
movement.
| There is undoubtedly danger of ex
| cess. There is danger of DESTROYING tba
quiet and restfulness essential to the
CHARACTER OF the day. There are forms
! or diversion which are a dissipation
rather than recreation. We have
already TO reckon with the spirit of
recklessness and frivolity. But i'm re-
gard to the tendency itself toward
greater liberty of enjoyment there can
not be difference of opinion. II is
not only wholesome and refreshing. we
might truly say 1t is necessary.
Just think how people are stined
in cities six days week, cbained
down to their tasks. What a blessino
to get away from sidewalks and out i1
the country to see the buds start and
the grass grow. New and batter
thoughts must come with that change
il they ever come
so 1t would be with any experience
that lends TO an hour unusual briEht-