SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1928, Page 8

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

MORE LIBERTY URGED

HAMILTON, Monday

Preaching from -l. Tie Epistle of James, 1: 27, Bishop Ohcrrington yesterday gave to a large congregation"’at St. Peter's Cathedral, Hamilton a further exposition of his views regarding Sunday observance. As a Bishop of the Church of God, ho said, it was not his business to interfere with the interpretation placed upon the Scriptures by other societies that “had separated from the church. Anything taught by the Presbyterian, Methodist -or other Christian communities had nothing to do with him, and he would be the last, to instruct them n,s to what they should teach and .practise-. It had been suggested that he had advocated the Continental Sunday. As far as- two Continental countries he was 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, fivenew Churches would be wanted in Hamilton. The people had been vexed and troubled because they thought ho wanted to do away with Sunday schools. Ho was second to none in admiration for the ladies and gentlemen who for years devoted Sunday mornings .and afternoons in teaching the children. However, he considered the whole system was wrong, because religions instruction should not be given on the- Lord's Day as such, Sunday schools were started in England last century by Mr Eaikes 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 12 -and 1-1 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 Cherring ton. “I do not fully approve of the Nelson system, but If you cannot have- religious instructions in schools, with right of entry by the clergy, as was permitted in New -South Wales, there is no alternative- .to (the present system." Ho did not -see how, for Christian people, there could be any divorce bo-twoon one day a-n,d another. Every day -should ibe spent to the glory of God. People must be 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 play tenuis on Ins own private tennis ci unt -should bo debarred from playing tennis -on a- club court on Sunday. Ho was sorry St. Peter's Tennis Club courts were not open on -Sunday. -Hours might be- im’/trict-ed, to say from , 2 p.in. -to 5 p.m., -so as notto clash with church hours, but he regretted the action of the authorities in. forbidding play at all on. Sundays. Some people enjoyed riding a motor cycle built -for two, some enjoyed a pipe and a book, while others enjoyed muisc-uhir -exercise. What was fair for one must bo fair for t another, concluded the bishop.