Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-10
LIBERAL SUNDAY.
Puitan Sunday Has No Warrant
or Authority.
bishop Hall Says Tint After ReIigi-
Gus and Church Duties are Done
Rest and Recreation are Desire
nbIc.-Iccreation IL No
Wrong.


ject OF the annual pastoral letter for
Lent by Rt Rev. A c. A. Hall. bishop
OF Vermont. In this letter tho bishop in
te'Drets the historical attitude of the
Protestant Episcopal Church toward the
use and abuse OF Sunday that is so much
more liberal than New England people
nave been taught for the past 30 years
that 1t is likely TO provoke a good deal
OF comment and criticism from those
VINO nave held to the old Puritan view.
l5lShop Halls letter is as follows:
70 the Congregations OF the Diocese
OF Nermont:--The coming again of the
annual season or special repentance,
sef-discipine, devotion and instruction
suggests thought for my usual pastor
al letter, the observance OF Sunday, tire
weekly HOLIDAY OF the Christian Church.
There Ia no need to enlarge upon the
growing disregard Of Sunday alike in
city, In village and In country. and
among all classes of persons. This il
plain and obvious to all.
] am more anxious TO say something
on the subject because I have felt unable
to Join with some earnest people who
have this matter greatly at heart. since
seryancc Of Sunday which. l am sure,
cannot he justified. 1t is always dan
gorous to rest claims on erroneous or
insecure foundations There Is no doubt
that the prevalent laxity with regard to
Sundav observance Is in part due not
only To q reaction from Puritan over
strictness but to a perception that the
warrants on which that suictness was
based were not sound
Tie Christian Sunday has no relation
TO the Old Jewish Sabbath (and conse-
quently). save as both recognize and
bear witness to the principle that we
are bound to dedicate a certain portion
of our time Gas Of our means) to the
more immediate service Of Almighty
God. The Christian Sunday is not CAS-
some have supposed the helr TO the
Jewish sabbath, succeeding to its re-
strictions and obligations only observed
on a different day. The Sabbath. Ike
Circumcision and other institutions OF
the Jewish law, has passed away. So St.
| Paul expressly teaches. (Col. ii. l6b Sun
| day. or Lords day. is distinctly an in
stitution of the Christian Church from
! the time of the Apostles. as a weekly
| COMMUNICATION of our Lords resurrec-
ton from the grave when we too should
seek to rise to higher and better aims
and let In the light of a higher mot only
Of a future world upon our ordinary
concerns. our duties and pleasures. our
sorrows and temptations"
| Rules for the observance of the week
| ~ holy-dav have of necessity varied al
different times according to the oppor-
| pf II ,ct ~,
ces were very different in the first age
| when Christians We're a small body anC
exposed to persecution from those of
later time when the influence of the
Christian Church practically ruled socie
ty.
l. From the first and always the as
senibing of Christians for common wor
ship has been tie chief duty OF Sunday
=. For the sake of extending to al
the opportunity for this duty abstinence
fom ordinary business, so far AS posi-
BILE, came to be en- Joined. In this way ha
been gained the provision for rest. Ger
tainly never more needed than in GU
own day, which is for many a time @
excessive activity and strain.
3. Innocent recreation. not inconssten
with the leading purpose of the day an
its primary duties. has been encourag ed
rather than forbidden except under Pur
liam influence.
our own church rule on the subcjc
lays down:
AN persons within this church sha
celebrate and keep the Lord day, con,
monty called Sunday. by regular part
cipa ton IN the public worship Of tn
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