THE JOYS OF SUNDAY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1928, Page 8

THE JOYS OF SUNDAY

There are not a few indications that the tendency of the day is towards a broadening view on tin’ question of limv people should comport tliemselven on the Sabbath. Olf course there are people who admit no compromise with what they deem to be the fit and proper manner of Sunday observance, while there are others who need little encouragement to accord the day no special respect whatever. Some perturbation lias apparently boon caused in tiie Waikato diocese by -Bishop Chorrington’s views on the s-uh/ect o Sunday observance as originally expressed in the diocesan magazine. A i now that these have received a wider circulation it is to be expected that the perturbation will he shared b\ manv of the more conservative minded people in other districts. Indeed, the subject seems to have been raised in a. manner that is calculated to provoke a I resl 1 a good, rousing controveisy on the whole question.

Bishop Cherriiigton certainly seems to go pretty far—a good deal further than most clergymen —in his approval of the relaxation of the attitude which many people have been 'brought up lo regard as due to the Sabbath day. It is to he gathered that-Ids view is that so long as people go to church on Sunday morning the rest of the day is rightly to lie considered theirs for any form of enjoymuot which takes their fancy. “A spirit of joyous freedom should pervade the dnv. savs the Bishop, and the Christian religion should thus ho lifted from gloom and tedium to ;< a glad and b.-ipnv recognition of the goodness of Clod.”. That is certainly a cheerful

gospel. But is not Bishop Cherriiigton, with all his expansiveness. just a little vague after all? Tn his view, apparently, any recreation whatever suitable to any other day of the week would hi’ proper on the Sunday. Presumably that would include r:u" meetings and organised sports of all kinds. Of gardening on Sunday Hie ■ mud Bishop quites approves, and so do a great many people, if we are to judge bv what wo see around m-. Presumably it is a logical conclusion that a in a u who wishes to express Pis jnv and happiness on the Sabbath in building a house or discharging firewords would he in order. He conservative mind, hampered by tradition. may find it difficult tn advance finite so far and is likely to lw startled at the possibilities which this elastic doctrine holds out. I'” - even noti-clmrehgocrs have been taught to regard Sunday as a da,v of rest, aiul the total removal of restrictions which have had long saii"tion would scarcely be conducive H ri-st or to the consideration (or the feelings of liis fel’ows that even the ungodly man has been brought to regard it* more or less desiraOile on the ■Sabbath Day.

P.ishop Cherrington’s pronouncement in favour of the abolition of Sunday schools may he in harmony with the rest of his views on the subject of Sunda / observance, hut it is is hold, to say the least of it. in such a community as this, though quite likely, it may he imagined, to find favour among voting people, were there an*. chance of their being consulted. Tim idea of a Sunday '-Imfactorised by a spirit of joyous freedom has it - , attractions. hut between joyous freedom and license the line is sometimes liaid to draw.—Otago “ Times.”