The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-09-05
GREAT CHANGES WROUGHT
English Sunday Much Less Puri
tanical Than a Few Years Ago.

1t can hardly be denied that there
has been a great and widespread move
merft in the direction Of greater laxity.
To put it shortly, thirty years ago the
English Sunday, though far less strict
ly observed than the Scotch Sabbath.
approximated in some degree to that
type rather than 10 the Continental;
it now resembles tie Continental ratA-
er than the Scotch, OF perhaps We
should say what the Scotch used to CO.
for in Scotland, too, there has been q
vast change. A foreigners Idea O!
Sunday in London was, and probably
still is, the picture Of everything that
is dull and triste, day on which loco
motion is impossible and amusement
forbidden; day which, II not kept
holy, is kept stupid" (Kinglake, we
think In "Eothen," applies these
words to holy days in the East)-the
yeritable triumph for English hypo-
crisy, its dullness being, as it were, tse
tribute paid by indifference to religios-
ity. Conventional ideas often survive
the facts in which they are basel, but
any one who observes the streets cf
London or The Thames at Maidenhead
or the great cycling roads on Sunday
in summer will confess that the facts
on which this idea of the English Sun
day was based have very largely
passed away.
For good or for evil? What Is the
verdict to be? There was, 1t must be
confessed, good deal which was mar
row and repellent about the old con-
ception of Sunday. Something OF the
atmosphere of the Jewish Sebbath
hung around 1t; and its motto was too
prevalently Thou shalt not; It
was not seldom made day abhorred
OF children, and its compulsory observ-
ance savored of the letter rather than
of the spirit. But to be weighed
against this there are the enormous
opportunities for rest and quiet, for
spiritual refreshment and freedom from
the cares of business and the not less
absorbing cares of pleasure. for sys-
tematic study of the Bible and instruc-
ton of children in holy things inside
the family circle, which have now be-
come, unhappily. rare. And the in
creased attractions of pleasure have, We
think. undoubtedly had serious effect
upon the attendance at divine service.
The old Sabbatarianism was largely
founded on a false view of what Sun
day is. and we are paying the penalty
for the exaggerations of Puritanism in
the loss Of much that was in practice
good, which is now disappearing under
the influence of the ideas which are
at present fashionable.
Not that the change is entirely due
to any reasonable conviction. In part,
no doubt. it is so. and chiefly with more
thoughtful minds: but a number OF
other causes have been at work. The
increased strain OF life and pressure of
work during the week. the growth CT
the habit Of travel and of facilities for
travel and the systematizAtion OF pleas
ure have combined with a decay OF
faith In some quarters and greater
cosmopolitanism of feeling, TO counter
act and override the old sense OF obli-
CATION The voice Of pleasure calls
With absolute clearness In one direc-
tion, and II the voice OF conscience is
heard ut al there are always those who
win suggest that. in reality. it is preju-
dice or superstition which is speaking.
mot conscience
We should like to zee II laid down a.
an axiom that al prsatabie discussion
Of Sunday observance must start from
= recognition Of the fAct that tho arst
day Of the week has been universally
and continuously marked ont In the
Christian church - Gay OF worship
ever since the resurrection. and hat In
the absence Of explicit and detailed di-
rectfons given by the authority Of the
church. every CAristian Is bound TO 20
keen e that ~ may secure Tor himself
and for others proper opportunities Of
worsAip and spiritual refreshment
Thn GunrA1nn