The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1904-09-07

Political demonstrations say their thousands and
temperance, Notwithstanding the partial closing of
the publc-houses, strews its victims, perhaps
more thickly, but amusement counts its votaries by
of thousands. l have seen a field to which the
entire population for miles round had focked on
Sabbath afternoon, and thought l could understand
and sympahize with the difficulties of Presbyterian
family the other side of the hedge that wanted
up their children in the fear of God. The
Der OF golfers that rush out of the city Sabbath
morning would be sight for Northern eyes The
railway companies cater for excursion parties. In
view of the increasing proportion of time given
to holiday making during the week, it might be
thought that claims of the day in the seven to
honored recognition would be universally adj
mitted Compared with the days of grand
fathers, the present be called overweight
age. The hours of labor noticeably shortened.
The number of people who arrange for an extended
holiday testies to the growing comfort and luXuri
of the times. All this is it ought to be.
The strain OF life requires to be relieved. One would
only like to the spirit of the age taking frmer
grip of the divine elements of life The majesty
of conscience and the supremacy of the will of God
need authoritative enforcement if life is not only to
be strenuous but true to its sublime mission, and of
the subimity of that mission not of has too
exalted conception. The manger OF Bethlehem the
baptism in the Jordan and the Cross of Calvary,
strike the higher notes of life and the life from
which the higher notes wanting does not become
a being for whom Redeemer has bled. Father
ThurSon years ago put the views of his church
before the headers OF the twentieth century, when
he argued that the Sabbath should be largely given
up to amusements, because being a memorial of the
Resurrection it is essentially day of JOY and victory
There is measure of truth and of faacy
in the argument. The truth finely put in the
old Psalm This is the day God made, in it will
amusement with JOY. Christianity is pre-ennently
joyous 1t stands conspicuous among all
hgious just because of the joy which it only in
cucates, but provides. The JOY of the Lord your
strength The fruit OF the spirit is joy. These things
have L spoken unto you that your Joy may be full
There is meat to eat of which the world knows
nothing. To give expression to this joy, and to
deepen it, must be of all the exercises of religion
public and private. 1t is only half the truth teach
that God is love. He is the blessed Color the
happy God Your Greek texts tell you that; and the
religion, from whose ceremonies its devoteeS require
to seek relief in amusement, is self-condemned. The
Joy that harmonizes with religion is the JOY inherent
in religion and the outcome of it. Am l going too
far in saying we should delight ourselves in the
Lord? Is that not what the Psalm requires to do ?
Joying in the God above us, let minister that JOY
to our fellow creatures Could we not study how to
give Joy to somebody less favoraby crcunstanced
than ourselves the Sabbath? Ought we to
consider the Sabbath msspent in which we did not
make some sufferer happier? That is kind of work
that would harmonic well with prayer and Bible
reading. The gladness young people would ex-
perience from such service would most effectually
exclude all thirst for excessive The pro
per sanctifcaton of the Sabbath does consist in
repression. Quite the contrary. What is wanted is
the outlet of the best-of the very best feelings of
the hear-such outlet will strengthen the ties
that bind to God the one hand and to our
neighbor the other.