The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-05-10
THE DAY OF REST

How to spend Sunday most prohtab- ly or agreeably-how to enjoy oneself be>t-meaning hest in the highest sense-best for the body, mind and soul-is always an interesting, and even important question. especially when considered with reference to long life. Sunday IS not the day it was inI Puritan New England, or even any where in this country 30 or 90 years ago. It is less a day of solemn wor- ship. formal and prolonged service, and rigorous restraint, and more of a day of relaxation. rest, recreation, amusement. There is too much Purit' anism about the old style; is there not too great a lapse into dissipation and mere animal qualification in the new? t7
 Why don't more people go to church? is a constantly recurring ques. ,ion. The reasons are several and the answers numerous. lt is not the pur pose here to go into that interesting question. but only to remark that it would be better ii more people would go to church. No one commits him self nowadays by SO doing. Perhaps it would be difficult to find even a church member who really believes as our grandparents did. They all know that the old Presbyterian creed. iot example. is untrue m theory. as it IS horrible in conception; but it is mere ly a dead letter: it isn't preached any more.
 The church has progressed somewhat unwilhngly and awkwardly perhaps, along with the rest of the worlds in s,itutions and affairs. Ii it had not it would have been run over and tramp led to death before this But it is still and promises always to be a pot ent factor and mighty influence in the economy of the worlds moral and mental operations. and in the changing attitudes attendant upon the worlds development
 What does one hear at chuch these dayss Little about ereeds, nothing oi hell" chiefly plain, practical talks about men's duty. moral lectures that ii needed will benefit the hearers. The sum oi it Is: Be Good And isn't that good adyiees There is frequently considerable assumption about knowl- edge of God. or Gods will, or Gods plans. that no one need accept any farther than agrees with his judg' ment-all this is something that no ordinary mortal can more than guess at and dream about-bui the burden oi most diseourses is eminently practical. and. ii the lesson is needed and fol- lowed cannot fail to be beneficial
 How often does one on hearing an earnest. we'll considered. aptly illustrat. ed Sunday morning lecture. on going out into the great revelation of God all around him as exhibited in nature, feel an inspiration--a rising resolve to do better-to be kinder and more faithful and more worthy-to live as Co be pre-, pared thereby to inherit" whatever there may be hereafter oi Kingdom of heaven. to make. what was doubtless Jesus central thought, a kingdom of heaven" on earthl But we walk away and how soon we forget
 The majority won't go to church. however and any kind of innocent rec reation is not condemned A day with nature. a day in seven when ordinary avocations and cares of the work-a day world are as far as possible laid aside. is the day of rest that the hu- man mind and frame eraves if no re- quires: and with pure thoughts and right desires and in good company it| may be made a day of worship too.
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