SUNDAY JOYS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1929, Page 7

SUNDAY JOYS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —A fragment of a book called 'Feathers Flying" is of so opposite a character regarding Canon James's 9.30 services that I venture to quote it as illustrating this vexed question of Sunday-keeping: "A poor life this, if full of care. We have no time to stand and stare." —W. H. Davies. '

"Mrs. Rennard .. . found time one autumn morning to go a little walk, ere the church bells rang, to where that beautiful Maitai stream purls and ripples along on its way into Nelson Harbour. ... A long week spent in a building of sombre colours, greyish white walls, grey concrete floors, and raid a clang of machinery had made her long for the open air and .autumn's vivid tints. She got them. .. .

There, above the rippling stream and grassy banks, there were the high poplars all ablaze with leaves of naming yellow and bronze. She gasped for joy, and all at once got a glimpse of why 'all the world' gets out and away on Sundays, and why at present the churches are the emptier for this longing for the heart of Nature, rather than the heart of God. She remembered the names given it: 'desecration of the Sabbath, bad sign of the_ times, return to paganism, the old home-life gone, a token of what are the people coming to.' The church bell recalled her steps, and she returned, pondering on the chances of a new outlook on the matter. What if town and country churches put up pleasant little 'shelters for motorists' where such could have a resting-place for lunch after attending church service in town or country? What if wayside hoardings advertised in country villages, 'Stop here for our 11 a.m. (or 3 p.m.) service, and for lunch (or afternoon tea)?' Why not? Why take for granted that the Sunday motorist is fleeing from church? Why take for granted that the Sunday motorist or cyclist is an irreligious person? Young men flee towns in scores on Sundays, yet never was a time perhaps when girls and boys were more set on a straight and upright life. Why can't it dawn on the churches that fleeing from towns on Sundays helps them to this? (and in perhaps not a few cases, helps lonely girls and- boys to avoid town temptations?)" Why indeed! Out of which bitter (yes, bitter, for bitter are the sorrows of the young) young experience of 'Sabbathkeeping,' may not Christ's decision, when grown-up have come when He decreed 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.' That is a far-reaching decision of His,, and we have not plumbed its depths yet—not by a long way—and Nature is ajso 'the face of God' in some measure. Thank God our people, old and young, can now look upon it 'on the Sabbath.'".—l am, etc., GRACE FOX.