Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-08

mere matter of church attendance |
might not count if it was n question |
with the average man whether he
would go to church and hear dun |
sermon or stay mt home and read an !
interesting newspaper. That is not the
point. The point Is whether the day !
of rest and worship shall be like ev-
cry other day; whether we shall let |
our minds go right on as they have
been going, to the choking.up of ave-
nucs of spiritual growth and religious
service. Is ii right for us to allow in
Milton the occurrence Of baseball |
games and Sunday racing and evening
thcatcrs? How far is all this demon
alizing to our better life? What would
Christ say, do you think? Even sup
posing he would advise this church To
take and read the big Sunday daily
sent in on the special Sunday train that
keeps a small army of men AT work
and away from all Sunday privileges;
even supposing lie would say it was all
right to sell fruit and cigars and meat
on Sunday and perfectly proper for
church members to buy those things
on that day. what would Christ say
was the real meaning and purpose of
this day in the thought of the Divine
Creator when he made the day for
man.
IL cannot conceive that he would
say anything else than this to the peo-
pie Of this town and this church; He
would say il was orr duty to make thi~
day different from all other days in
tn" two particulars of rest and Wor-
ship. He would say that we owe il to
the Father of our souls in common
gratitude for his mighty love toward
Us that we spend the day in ways
pleasing to him. He would say that
the wonderful civilization of our times
should study how to make this day Il
true rest day to the wur';ingman OF
the world and thNt all unnecessary car
rying of passengers or merchandise
should stop. SO rs TO give all men, if
possible. every seven days enc whole
day of rest and communion with some.
thing better than tho things that perish
| with the using. He would say that the
/ church and The church member and the
I Christian everywhere should do all in
his power IL make the day glad
powerful, useful. rcSiful. anticipated
- hours. looked forward 10 with pleas
ant longing by little children and In.
/ boring men and railroad men and
/ street car men AZ the one day Of all
the week. the happicst and best be
cause different in its use And so diff
fcrcnt that when Mondays toll begins
/ the man feels refreshed in body and in
/ soul because he has paused little
Whilc in the mad Whirl Of his struggle
! for bread or fame and has fellowship.
/ ed with heavenly things and heard
/ something diVincr than tn" ianGline
diScords Of this narrow. selfish earth.
"If this thought of Sunday is bigotrv
! or narrowncSS. then | stand convicted
rs a hrot living outside of the nine.
tcenth century. But I am not con,
cornpd about that. What I am con
cornod about is Christ's thought of this
day. If understand his spirit right. !
. holicvp he would say what havp said
I He would say that If is not q right use
Of T. dav for the mon and women Of
this generation 10 buy and sell mer.
chard!ee, 70 attend or countenauce
placer, ar ,,,pctoclos of amusement 10
engage in ,.lrd parties AT their homes
TO ill their Thoughts fun of the orli-