SABBATH BREAKING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 134, 15 September 1910, Page 7

SABBATH BREAKING

DISCUSSED AT A PRESBYTERY. SOME ACCUSATIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. Sabbath observance came undu- the consideration of the Wellington 1 .esbytery to-day, when the Moderator (the Rev. 11. Inglis), who is drawing up a report on the subject to the General Assembly of the Church, submitted to the IPresbytery the following questions: —(1) What forms of Sabbath profanation are most common within your bounds? (2) How is the work of the Church affected by them? (3) Can you offer any suggestion as to what should be done?

The first question elicited a perfect fusilade of replies, and among them were the following:—

Mr. J. W. Aitken: A desire for pleasure. The Rev. A. Thompson: Laziness. j The Rev. W. Douglas: Visiting one another, working in gardens, building houses.

The Rev. Gibson Smith: Surely the building is by amateurs. The Rev. W. Douglas: Building goes on, also football and golf. Why I have seen a tram "chock-a-block" with golfers I was told, who were dashing past my church. I understand it was the "golf tram." The Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott suggested that the question should be put in and replied to in writing. The Rev. R. Inglis: 1 have not sufficient time to get the information I am seeking if that is done and the matter is referred to all the different sections.

The Rev. W. Douglas then returned to his enumeration of profanations, and he mentioned yachting, fishing, and shooting as examples.

The Rev. Gibson Smith: Tennis. 1 have seen tennis played on Sundays. The Rev. 11, Inglis: You can guess my astonishment to learn that in Otago of all places a regatta was held on Sunday. It was pointed out that the preceding Saturday was stormy, and that the Otago Regatta in question was held on the following Sunday. The Rev. Mr. M'Caw: Lay all emphasis, Mr. Inglis, on golf. Don't leave that out.

Mr, W. M. ilannay asked if visiting friends on Sunday was a "profanation." The Rev. Mr. Inglis: It may easily become so. .

Mr, Keith: You are making too much of the matter.

The Rev. A. Thompson: I think so too.

The Rev. Mr. Inglis: I want all the information I can obtain.

The Rev. W. J. Comrie pointed out that the Presbytery was not proceeding in a way that was satisfactory to itselt nor to the church. The matter should be left to a committee to whom those questions could be submitted and who could obtain replies. Some of the questions raised were exceedingly debatable. Harm might be done if statements that could not be supported were made on the spur of the moment.

The Rev. Jas. Patterson: But have we not already a Sabbath Observance Committee? Why set up another committee? ' 1 "

Mr. Hannay: Yes, there is, of course a Sabbath Observance Committee.

Finally it was resolved to refer the questions to that committee and the discussion then closed.