Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-10-15
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
The Theme or Bishop Hall 81 St.
John'a Church Last Sunday.

Johns Church Last Sunday.
BIT. Rev. A. q. A. Hall. bishop Of Yer
mont, paid his annual visitation Sunday
to St. Johns church, Randolph. and
Grace church, Randolph Center, and gave
those parishes the encouragement OF
generous diocesan appropriation OF $500
toward the support of rector when one
should be called.
In the afternoon, the bishop preached
in st. Johns church, Sunday and its OBJ
servance, the theme of his sermon. being
suggested by the lesson and gospel Of the
day. His words. to which the closest at
tention was given, cannot be repeated in
full, but in part be spoke as follows:--
In healing the sick on the Sabbath day,
our Lord Jesus Christ transgressed the
Jewish law regarding the observance Of
that day, concerning which there were
many laws with such definite provisions
as even to say one might walk just so far
and no farther. In all these external
rules there was Of course great danger CT
forgetting the real meaning, the real oh
ject and purpose Of the Sabbath day that
the rules were to govern. The Jews
needed to remember that the Sabbath was
made for man--to protect his highest in
terests--and man was not made for the
Sabbath.
There are three points OF distinction be-
tween the Jewish Sabbath and the Chris
tian Sunday. First, the day is different.
The Jews observed the seventh day; we
observe the first. Second, the name is
different. Theirs was the Sabbath: you
never find the Sabbath mentioned in the
New Testament as synonymous of Sun
day. Let us not, therefore, speak OF
Sabbaths and Sabbath schools. Third,
the chief manner of observance is differ
ent. The Jewish observance was rest
not doing things-and some people are
very Jewish now in that respect. The
Christians Holy day is day OF worship,
a rising up to higher things. just as the
Jewish Sabbath commemorated Gods
work of creation and the end OF it. so the
Christian Sunday is the day on which our
Lord rose from the dead and is dedicated
to His honor.
Clearly the fourth commandment has
no sort Of obligation upon US Christians
as it stands. 1t does not apply to as, and
it is q mistake for us to suppose that in
the change from the last to the first day
OF the week, the Sabbath rules and OBJ
servances OF the Jews were transferred to
Sunday. The great principle OF dedicat-
ing 10 GOQ q CERTAIN pOENton Va DuE AAhUE
in recognition of the fact that all our
time and all our wealth come from Him
and are to be used to His glory-that
principle is the only thing in the fourth
commandment that applies to US. Other
days the Christian church has set apart to
commemorate the great events in the life
of Christ, like Christmas and Gnod FRI
day, kept in remembrance OF His birth
and death.
4 Not infrequently people are found with
grave scruples regarding the observance
OF Sunday. They think no one keeps it
and ask IL we are all wrong. They ques-
ton why, il we keep not the fourth com
mandment, should We keep any other9
! Because the other commandments stand
| for great truths. for governing principles
that apply to rs.
Now as TO our observance of Sunday.
/ We know there Is at present nothing like
the attendance upon public worship that
there was in our younger days, and there
are three excuses for it. The pressure is
so great nowadays, we hear-the pressure
Of business and society-we live at 50
rapid pace that we need Sunday for
rest. Quite true, but vi hat kind of restf
Rest the most satisfactory Is not found in
idleness. but in change OF occupation.
/ In filling our minds with other thoughts
I is the way to get the most helpful rest.
Doctors tell Us the cause Of so many men,
tai breakdowns is the constant use Of the
same brain cells until they are worn out.
: You see then that Sunday is a real help to
man when he makes the right use Of It.
II we take it Just IS day on which we
do not 90 down to the Office but do read
the same things, talk about the same
things. scan the Sunday paper for the
same old sports, the same old politics,
our Sunday will not lift US out OF the
weekday ruts into q more healthful cur
rent Of life.
Ministers sometimes think to attract
people by announcing sermons on current
or exciting subjects, but few care to hear
things discussed in the pulpit that are
better discussed in papers and magazines.
They want thoughts that will heir them
to steer their way through the world +;
they want something higher. DR.. Oliver
Wendell Holmes once said that apart
from religious considerations he made it
an absolute rule always to read and have
about him Sunday different books than
be had on weekdays. and this was rule
Of medical prudence and safeguard.
Thus even the excuse Of the pressure OF
life tells In favor OF q reasonable observ-
ance of Sunday.
A second reason for non-attendance on
divine worship is the prevailing reaction
from strict and stern PuritanicaI obsery-
ance Of Sunday. 41eople have turned
away from that aud gone far in the other
direction. The first duty OF the day ID
worship and then there would seem to be
no reason why any amusement or recrea-
tion should not be INDUCED in that il
not incompatible with ideas CT worship.
There are q great many whose one day Of
rest and recreation is Sunday and they
cannot be occupied ali day in religious
observance.
People revolt from a good deal Of by.
pocrisy and formality, and do not think
that religion consists solely in church
going. St. James version Is good
"Pure religion and Undecided before God
and the Father is this, To visit the faith
erless and widows in their afliction and
10 keep himself unspotted from ths