OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1928, Page 3

OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY

BISHOP’S VIEWS

STRONGLY OPPOSED BY .MANY

CHURCHMEN

AUCKLAND, December 1. T be views of Bishop Cherrington, oi the Waikato Anglican Diocese, regarding Sunday observance are meeting with considerable opposition among prominent Auckland churchmen oil all denominations.

The view is freely expressed that the stress laid by the Bishop on the importance ol Holy Communion in tin* morning with freedom to do as one Menses within reason during the remainder of the day marks a leaning toward Roman Catholicism, and the

,’ontinemnl Sunday. Bishop Cherrington’s opinions are variously described as “ unfortunate,” and “ lamentable,” Protestant spokesmen yesterday generally expressed their aversion to anything that tended toward the Continental Sunday with its amusements and entertainments. A practical application of Bishop Cherrington’s suggestion would, it was felt, lead to the complete destruction of the present,

‘‘ day of rest.” The Bishop’s views were also critiiscd on the ground that they won! disrupt, if not completely eliminate, the work tif Sunday Schools. Archdeacon G. MacMarray said: ‘‘l can only say that m my judment such an uttormce from such a quarter can only be lamented by all sober-minded churchmen.”

“ There does not seem to be much aveat of mind or of soul needed to !ill'll Bishop Cherrington’s ideal,” remark.

David's Presbyterian Church, ‘‘but Christianity is a reasonable faith, and therefore requires to lie taught and learnt. If business men put as little effort into the mastery of their business as he seems to suggest we should put into the development of Christian character, many of them would requiie to fare the Official Assignee.” Three members of the Roman Cnth<>li'* | riesfl- od who were invited to express tin opinion, preferred to say nothing. “‘ bishop Cherrington’s views are a matter for the Church of England only, and can he safely left to Protestant discussion,” said one. STATEMENT BY DEAN. HAMILTON, December 1. Strong dissent from the views held by Bishop Cherrington on the question of .Sunday observance was expressed by representative churchmen in Hamilton, especially in regard to the rdference to Sunday Schools. Dean G. R. Barnett writes to parishioners of the Cathedral parish in the December parish leaflet. “ 1 owe it t you all to state that I personally entirely dissociate .myself from the views expressed in the November magazine in an article on Sunday, it has call d forth a protest from many of the e’ergy. 1 will take an early opportunity of setting Indore you some thoughts on Sunday and its place in the Me ol the Church. In the meantime 1 want t urge upon parents to take every advantage of Sunday Schools, and to see that their children attend regularly.”

SECULARISATION OF SUNDAY DANGEROUS. ( I! R.iSTC! LURCH . December 3. •• | regard any attempt to seculans the Sabbath with a great deal ol re

serve, :ukl consider tint any such attempt is dangerous and inimical to the life of society,” said the Rev. J. Robertson at the Oxford Terraco Baptist Church last evening.

“ "While ! do not favour a return entirely to the old Puritan ideas and standards, I am utterly opposed to any return to the ethics and standard of living that preceded the Puritan period. That type of life and loose living is contrary to all Christian ideals. Neither extreme is desirable in modern times, but it would certainly be bett r for the public welfare for the Puritan ideas to be prevalent rather than the other type.”

Interviewed after the service, M.r Robertson said that he did not care to criticise the statement of the 15 shop of Waikato (Dr Cherrington), who had expressed only his own personal view, ami not the view of the Church. He lid not agree with Rishop Cherrington on the principle of Sabbath observance, hut held the view that Sunday s’noul I be regarded as a holy day, and should not be a day for pleasure-seeking.