OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1928, Page 2

OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY

“AIUST BE FAIR.” BISHOP €ll ERR INGTON S VIEWS. HAMILTON. Doc. 17. Preaching to the text St .James 1-27. Bishop 'Chen ington yesterday gave to a largo congregation at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Hamilton, a further exposition of Ids views regarding Sunday observance. Do said that as a Bishop of the Church of God it was not hi.s business to interfere with the interpretation placed upon the Scriptures by other societies that had separated from the Church. Anything taught by Presbyterian, Methodist, or other Christian communions had nothing to do with him and he would be the last to instruet them as to what they should teach and practice. It had been suggested that he had advocated a Continental Sunday. As far as two continental countries—luwas familiar with Belgium and France—were concerned, if people went to Church in New Zealand with anything like the regularity they did in those countries, especially Belgium, five new churches would be wanted ir Hamilton. People bad been ' vexed and troubled because they thought liewanted to do away with Sunday Schools. He was second to none in his admiration for the ladies and gentlemen who for years had devoted Sunday mornings and afternoons to teaching children. However, lie considered the whole system was wrong. Sunday schools were started in England last century by Air R a ikes, not for the purpose of religious instruction, but to teach boys and girls how to read and write. In those days children were employed in pits and factories for twelve and fourteen hours a day and no other opportunities of education were given than those provided on Sundays. “I do not believe in the Bible-in-Schools system,” said Bishop Cherrington. “I do not fully approve of the Nelson system, but if you canint have religious instruction, in schools - with the right of entry by the clergy, as is permitted in New South AYales, there is no alternative to the present system.” He did not see, how for Christian people there could be any divorce between one day and another. Every day should be spent to the glory of God.

People must he straight and open and fair. If it was right for one person to play golf or play tennis on a private court on Sunday then lie did not see how another person who could not play golf or own a private tennis court should be debarred from playing tennis on a club court on Sunday. He was sorry St. Peter’s Tennis Club courts were not open on Sundays. The hours might- be restricted to say from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. so as not to clash with church hours, but he regretted the action of the authorities in forbidding play at all on Sundays. Some people enjoyed riding a motorcycle built for two, while others enjoyed muscular exercise. AYliat was fair for one must be fair for another, concluded the bishop.