The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-05-14
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
People Of New England do not
agree just how completely the people
Of this generation should follow the
ideas of the forefathers in regard to
the observance Of Sunday. The fol-
lowing letter from Bishop Hall of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese Of Yer
mont on the proper use OF Sunday
win coincide with the views Of many
people of the present time:
The old Statutes Of the State of
Vermont (70977099), now happily su.
perseded. were not only unenforce-
alb e, but unreasonable they ought
not to be enforced, even if this were
possible. They We're, as the very
term 'Sabath-break ng' implied, bas-
ed on the idea that the Christian Sun
day S identical or almost identical
with the Jewish Sabbath, only Oh,
served on a different day and that
the law for observance Of the Sabbath
given to the Jews in the Fourth Com,
Imandmeut applies to Christian PEG
Iple Now tn is en- entire mistake
] The Christian Sunday has no rela-
/ t on to the old Jewish Sabbath tand
consequently none 10 the Fourth Com
mandmentl, save as both recognize
4 and bear Witness to the principle
that we are bound to dedicate a GER
/ tain portion of our time (as of onr
means) 10 the more immediate sery.
ice OF Almighty God. The Sabbath
/ ! Ike Circumcision and other nstitu.
lions Of the Jewish Law, has passed
away So St Paul expressly teaches.
! See Col ii. l6, H. Sunday, or the
( Lords Day. is distinctly an institu-
tion of the Christian church from the
4 t me OF the Apostles, as a weekly
commemoration of our Lords Resur-
rection from the grave. when we too
should seek to rise to h CHER and bet.
ter aims and let in the light of
higher mot only of a future) world
our ordinary concerns. our duties and
pleasures. our sorrows and tempta.
items
This is the manner of Sunday OBJ
seryance in the Christion Church
J. From the first and always the
assembl ne OF Christians for common
worship has been the chief duty Of
Sunday.
2. For the sake Of extending to an
the opportunity for this duty absti-
hence from ordinary business, so far
as possible. came to be enjoined In
this way has been gained the pro
vision for rest, certainly never more
needed than in our own day, which is
for many tine Of excessive activity
and strain
3. Innocent recreation, not neon
sistent with the leading pWpoe of
the day and its primary duties has
been encouraged, rather than forbid
den except under Puritan influence
With regard to these general rules
or principles some comments may be
added.
General attendance in the Lords
House on The Lord Day. ANA oh ely
for the Lords Service (the Sacra-
ment Of His Body and Blood, should
be rallying of the Christian forces
in the community Apart from the
benefits We individually gain there
hv we ought by regular attendance 1t
Church on Sunday to be helping 9TH
ers by the pubic acknowledgment Of
our religion
We ought to be unseGsh in making
arrangements, SO that others as we'll
as ourselves. may have opportunity
for the due observance OF Sunday.
This win reduce to a IN 'nimum Sun
day trading, and make us careful
about amusements and travelling
which involve unnecessary labor on
the part of others.
Here we touch an exceedingly diff
cult and complicated quest on The
growth Of commercial and other inter,
course between one part OF the coun-
try and another, the spread Of all
manner of conyeniences (such as
electric light 'ng and power, perhaps
too the greater delieacy of modern
machinery seem to render unayoid.
able q good deal Of employment on
Sundays which in simpler times was
not needed THIS necessary employ
ment naturally prepares the way for
much more that is not necessary. Two
points seem to be clear:
"a Employers ana managers are
bound to provide, by some extra ex.
pendture if need be, for shifting re-
lays Of workmen, so that none win be
continuously deprived Of Sunday,
with it's privileges and duties. There
is no doubt that such a method would
be found to pay in the long run, by
the better service that could and
would be rendered.
(2) No one who values his religion
and his own highest interest, ought
to accept employment where such
provision is not made This certain
ly is case for the application of the
rule to sacrifice our lower for the
sake of our CHER life.