SABBATH DESECRATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 37

SABBATH DESECRATION

<» DISCUSSED BY AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. (Fsoh Oxtr Own Cokbespootent.) AUCKLAND, January 7 - The question of Sunday observance was fcefore the Auckland Presbytery to-night, (when the Rev. D. -Scott, -convener of a Committee €et up to consider the subject, read a report, which stated that there was 0 clamant need for dejfinite effort with regard to upholding,. the spirit and principle of the fourth commandment. The -decline in religious life was coincident with disregard for the Lord's Day. Unkes the jDhurcb" could hold this day her work in tlie world was doomed to reach an ignoble close. "The principles of the Church i*ere fragrantly violated by Sunday desecration, &8 the, following instances would prove: — -"Pishing excursions: People left early in the day and spent the whole time at this "eport: It could be abundantly shown that Bootes of men were being lost to Christianity by the utter neglect of worship on ftbeount of thia Sunday pastime. Pleasure excursions^ Companies, arranged for numerous trips to the usual resorts, and no excuse irfFered could justify these againet the religious and humanitarian- principles in the law of the Sabbath. The use of all boats in .the ferry service ought to be discontinued by Christians. The committee notedwith regret and disapprobation the proposal* of the Devbnport ferry service to secure more trips on Sundays. The runs of cycling clubs: These were planned to take place on Sunday, and must have a anerked effect for evil upon the religious life of the young men who took part therein week after week. With regard to travelling steamers, suck for example as those leaving Onehunga in mid-afternoon on Sunday the ooramitte would enjoin upon Chrisjfcian people that they wait until the following day, and abstain from using the fiunday steamer. Further, tHe ease with which the authorities permitted and sanctioned train excursions to the detriment of many employees was greatly to. be deplored. Trains: The committee -was quite decided in its affirmation that the trams should not run on the Lord's Day, and that Christian " people should not travel by them while $he labour and pleasure aspects of the question blended together. The committee would like to see an" end put to all unnecessary Sunday labour, such for instance afi keeping up work in factories, mills, and mines for the sake of increased dividends. Many people might be seen doing their 'garden--work on Sunday, yet cases were not Bingular where Chinesse had been fined for a.' similar practice, such" being an intolerable injustice. Again there was reason to fc>elie.ve that a great amount of unnecessary domestic -work tcok place on Sunday, which had -the effect of depriving servants of their day of rest. The committee made .the following suggestions: — (1) That other churches be "-requested to act with tho Presbytery, in the matter ; (2)' circulars be sent io our office-bearers, Sunday school teaohers, and Bible class leaders, and that sessions be asked to consider the same and report to us; (3) that special sermons be preached on a day recommended. -In conclusion the committee earnestly urged all ministers, • office-bearers, and members of the Presbyterian Churches to strengthen the hand "of the Presbytery in this effort io defend and maintain the religious and humanitarian significance of the Lord's Day. "l" l Mr Ssott moved the suggestions of the •committee as resolutions. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon said he was pleased the matter had been taken up, though; he thought it would be necessary to modify some of the. statements in the first part of the report. He had himself recommended delicate people to take a ride sn the tratno on Sunday. They could not . recommend people in no circumstances to travel on Sunday. At the same time, he .■was in favour of the main drift of the' report. -He felt sure it was necessary to speak out boldly on the subject at the present crisis. We" were not so very far behind them at Home, because even in Scotland matters were getting ;rery lax. The ■ Lord's Day should be rigidly reserved for spiritual- ends, and only insofar as- the taking 1 of trains, boats, or busses contributed to a spiritual end- should it, be encouraged. He himself would not Tiesitate to take a fcrain to -church. A certain measure of Sunday travelling w.as necessary, as country ministers knew, but it ought to be for spiritual ends. •■ The Rev. A. Miller touched upon the question as it was affected by Sunday trains. It might be consistent that as Presbyterians and Christians they should, ■whenever they had an opportunity, vote tor the restriction of trams on Sunday 01 for 'their abolition. Then it had been stated by the papers more than once that it was the intention of the Tram Company ■to extend the - Sunday traffic in future, end he understood they intended doing it in connection with the new Mount Eden "and Mount B.osikill services. Christian people should let their protest be heard. The Rev. G. F. Roby seconded the resolution. If they were to make their voices ieard they should., however,/ be unanimous themselves. He contended that people -who went to church in cars were keeping •file workers on those care from doinj so. Every man, woman, and child should have the Sabbath rest. The Rev. G. B. Monro considered that it was inconsistent of them as ministers ■who had preached against the inauguration of Sunday Jfcrains to use the trains on Sundays. The Rev. Gray Dixon said he had voted against Sunday trains because he knew the object -was primarily increased dividends and the encouragement "of pleasure-going on 1 the Lord's Bay. He was willing to lose the benefit of a few cars for church-going people to obviate the, greater evils, but ii the proposal had been to run cars for church-goers he did not know that he could have - opposed' ifc Consequently, he considered himself consistent in rasing the 'trains, as they were running on Sundays. ■ Mr L: J. Bagnall, whilst agreeing gener- " -ally with the report, thought the matter ahouldrbe looked at m a moderate spirit. If they went to extremes the general public would only laugh at them. Excursions for (pleasure on Sunday ought to be discountenanced, but ascertain amount of Sunday 'travelling was necessary. The-Eev. R. It. Walker said he mini-stered-to a scattered congregation, and one

which contained members too old to walk. In e'eery case he had given these a dispensation to ride to church. — (Laughter.) He could not tell them, not to take a car. 1 We were face to face with the fact that , religious sanction did not appeal to a great many people. It was very sad that people who might not view the Sabbath as Christians should do should flout their disregard in their faces. They had heard of the coming of the Continental Sunday. Well, both in England and here it had almost come. In France there was a movement amongst those who were not distinctly religious people to retain the Sabbath as a day of rest, feeling that the national physique and morals were on the down grade. This movement had considerable Bupport. Those anxious to increase titeir dividends would exploit those unable to protect themselves, and we should, as a resuit, see more labour than ever on Sundays. ' After some further "discussion the suggestions of the committee were adopted, and the preamble of the report received. The committee, which was enlarged, was instructed to draw up the circular proposed and submit same to next meeting of Presbytery. AUCKLAND, January 8. During a discussion et the Auckland! ' Presbytery upon the question of Sunday desecration a Pukekohe representative (Mr Stevenson) declared that this question was a trouble to him. in his own district. As a superintendent of a Sunday school, he deplored the fact that on a Sunday as he passed along the road to teach in the Sunday school he saw a reaper and binder* at work. The reapers and binders were, he 6aid. working all through the place. They would not have been but for the starting of the . creameries. That was the thin end of the wedge. Now they went even further, and carted hay on Sundays. He knew of old people in Pukekohe who had opposed Sunday labour bitterly at on© time, but \ who were now falling in with it. I