IRRELIGIOUS SUNDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 219, 13 September 1923, Page 9

IRRELIGIOUS SUNDAYS.

SPORT AND PLEASURE. DISCUSSED BY PRESBYTERY. RESOHTIOKS SEXT BACK. (By Telegraph —Etpsb ( HRISTCHL'RCH. this day. Sabbath observance was discussed by he ( hristchurcll Presbytery to-day, vhen strong comment was made on the .vording Of Hie special rommLttce's 'evolutions. The whole matter was rerrri'd hack To the committee. The resolutions were submitted by the Rev. 1. Dickson as follows: — i 1 i "This Presbytery deeply deplores :hp growing irreligious Sunday traffic now in our midst, the reckless rushing of a multitude of men, women and •hildren hither and thither, from morning to night, in pursuit, some of pleasure, some of sport, some of excitemen;, some of Sunday visiting, and some of worldly pain, by whii-h all reverence for t lie Sabbath and the very existence of our rest day are threatened. It instructs ministers, home missionaries. Sabbath school teachers, and Bible class teachers to warn repeatedly those under their care against this insidious undermining of our rest day and our greatest barrier against national infidelity. It exhorts all members, as well as all office bearers of the Church, to honour the Lord's day in its entirety, according to Divine requirements, and so free themselves and the ( hurch from responsibility, not only for the grosser iroral evils associated with this irreligious Sunday traffic, but also for the lo:-s of physical recuperation and mental and moral refreshment, by which the individual is robbed of his heritage, business of its strength, the nation of its virility, the I hurch of much of its power for good and our risen Lord of His glory. 121 -That the moderator be instructed to communicate with the heads of other Evangelical Churches, and of the Labour movement in the district, with a view to secure combination in discouraging all avoidable Sunday labour, and in preserving our rest day." Rev. Dr. Erwin. in protesting against the wording of the committee's resolutions, said the Presbytery would not jrain anything for its cause if it placed j before the public a resolution in such I language. The Presbytery's attitude ! must be modified. The greatest question was to get people into the Church and to observe the Sabbath. Rev. John Paterson expressed amazeI ment at the wording of the resolution. jHe said they lived in a community I where a large number of people did not ; believe in keeping the Presbytery's conI ception of the Sabbath. The Presbytery had no right to dictate to thor-o I people, as the resolution would have it do. j Christianity demanded courtesy, and the i Presbytery simply could not go and I force them to observe the Sabbath. Mr. Tanner, a member of the committee, admitted that the words complained of were extravagant, but when those were removed he could not see anything to object to. What was disturbing him was the growing use of Sunday for sports. Most tennis courts were filled on Sunday. "We won't cut much ice as a church if we allow the Sabbath to become secularised," he said. "I don't believe in keeping on slating outside people. We should get at our own church members. People think of us ias the "antis. . When anything comes I up they say. "Oh. the parsons are against j it. because people get some enjoyment out of it." " j ""The resolution is most objectionable in its language at present," said the j Rev. J. Johnson. He moved that the ! matter be referred back to the commitI tee for further consideration. ; Mr. Diekson * professed amazement jat the interpretation placed on the I resolution. The members had all fol- ! lowed Mr. Paterson like a flock of sheep. I He defied any member of the Presbytery Ito find any such spirit in the resolution as was charged against it. Mr. .Johnson's resolution was carried. Only three members voted in favour oi Mr. Dickson's motion. i I STTTDENTS SUNDAY TENNIS. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTION". ; (By Telejn-aph.—Press Association.) f WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Regarding the question of Sunday tennis, the .students of Victoria College wrote asking the governing body that ' the restriction permitting Sunday tennis j only during the session, but not during ' the summer vacation., be rescinded 1 Consideration of the matter was de--1 Iferred. I ~