The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-01-31
SUNDAY
IS UPHELD BY
BISHOP HALL
Puritan Sunday Has No War
rant or Authority
RECREATION is NO WRONG
Bishop Hall Says That After Religi-
Gus and Church Duties are Done Rest
and Recreation are Desirable

The observance of Sunday is the
subject of the annual pastoral letter
for Lent by Rt. Rev. A. c. A. Hall,
bishop of Vermont which was read
at st. Peters church Sunday morn
i..e by Rev. Philip Schuyler. In this
letter the bishop interprets the his
torical attitude of the Protestant
Episcopal church toward the use and
abuse of Sunday that is so much
more liberal than New England peo-
pie have been taught for the past 300
years that it is likely to provoke =
good deal of comment and criticism
from those who have held to the old
Puritan view. Bishop Halls letter
is as follows:
To the Congregations of the Do
cese of Vermont:-The coming again
of the annual season or special repen-
lance, self-discipline, devotion and
instruction suggests thought TO-
my usual pastoral letter the obser-
vance of Sunday, the weekly Holy
day of the Christian church.
There is no need to enlarge upon
the growing disregard of Sunday,
alike in city, in village and In coun-
try. and among all classes of persons
This is plain and obvious to all.
am more anxious to say some
thing on the subject because | have
felt unable to join with some earnest
people who have this matter greatly
at heart, since they put forward
grounds for the observance OF Sun
day which, | am sure, cannot be JUS
tilted. 1t is always dangerous 70
rest claims on erroneous or insecure
foundations There is no doubt that
the prevalent laxity with regard to
Sunday observance is in part due not
only to reaction from Puritan over
strictness but to perception that
the warrants on which that strctness
was based were not sound
The Christian Sunday has no rela-
ton to the old Jewish Sabbath land
consequently none to the Fourth
COMMANDMENT, save as both recog-
nize and bear witness to the princi-
pie that we are bound to dedic ne n
certain portion of our time Gas Of our
means) to the more immediate ser
vice of Almighty God The Chris
tan Sunday is not las some have
supposed the heir to the Jewish Sab
bath, succeeding to its restrictions
and obligations only observed on a
different day. The Sabbath, like
Circumcision and other institutions
of the Jewish law, has passed away
so st. Paul expressly teaches (Col
ii. 16) Sunday, or Lords day, is dis
tinctly an institution of the Chris
tan church from the time OF the
Apostles, as a weekly commemora
ton of our Lords resurrection from
the grave when we too should seek
to rise to higher and better aims and
let in the light of higher mot only
of future) world upon our ordinary
concerns, our duties and pleasures
our sorrows and temptations
Rules for the observance OF the
weekly holy-day have of necessit!
varied at different times according t.
the opportunities of Christian PEG
pie. Circumstances were very differ
ent in the first ages when Christians
were small body and exposed t
persecution, from those of a late
time when the influence of the Chris
tian church practically ruled society
/. From the first and always tn
assembling of Christians for common
worship has been the chief duty o
Sunday.
g. For the sake of extending to al
the opportunity for this duty abstir
ence from ordinary business, so fl
as possible, came to be enjoined. L
this way has been gained the pro. Is
ion for rest, certainly never NOR
needed than in our own day, which
for many a time of excessive activit
and strain.
3. Innocent recreation, not incor
.sistent with the leading purpose c
the day and its primary duties, ha
been encouraged, rather than forbit
den except under Puritan influence
Our own church rule on the sui
ject lays down:
"All persons within this churc
shall celebrate and keep the Lord
day, commonly called Sunday, by rel
ular participation in the public wo
ship of the church, by hearing III
word of God read and taught, in pr
vate prayer. in other exercises of d
votion and in acts Of charity, usil
all godly and sober conversation"
Conversation, | may explain, Is
be understood here as In the Kin
James version of the Bible as equi
alent to behaviour and conduct
Such a remarkable rule must cor
mend itself to all Christian Peep
who will think about the subject.
(a) We all need pauses and res
ing places in our lives that we me
give attention to the deepest co
Germs and interests OF life. Sue
resting places are secured by the p
pointment OF a fixed and recurrr
holy-day.
(b) We are learning more al
more in various ways OF the sOCi
side OF our religion, and of life
general. that we are members of on
body, dependent one upon anothf
and not isolated units. This thong
ought to make more plain to us Il
duty beside that of mere obedlen,
to a law Of regular attendance
church on Sunday, for the CONNIE
worship of God and the common W
ness to our religion and for mutl
announcement and help Gen
q. eaence at the Lords house ,