Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

attention which he paid, in every thing, to the great concerns of religion, took considerable pains to suppress a custom, which he justly considered, in common with many others, as a most glaring violation of public decency, and which was evidently gaining ground in the fashionable world; namely, that of Sunday Concerts at private houses by professional performers, at which large numbers were assembled, and much disturbance created on the evening of that sacred day. This was a profanation, which, in his high responsible station, as Diocesan of the Metropolis, it was his duty, if possible, to prevent; and accordingly with this view he separately addressed the following letter to three Ladies of high rank in society, who, by opening their houses for these musical exhibitions, had contributed principally to their introduction.

"Although

66

Although I have not the honour of being personally known to your Ladyship, you will, I hope, allow me to take up a few moments of your time on a subject which appears to me of the highest importance to the interests of religion, more especially in this great Metropolis, of which Providence has been pleased to constitute me the spiritual guardian and superintendent.

"Your Ladyship, if I am not misinformed, is one among other ladies of high rank and distinction in this town, who are in the habit of having concerts at their own houses on Sunday evenings, where there are hired professional performers, and a large number of persons of fashion assembled together to partake of the entertainment. It is very possible your Ladyship may be of opinion, that there is no kind of impropriety in this

sort

sort of amusement

on the evening of

the Sunday, after the Service of the day is over, and the sacred duties of it are fulfilled. But a little consideration will, I am persuaded, convince you that this is a very unfortunate mistake. This practice is a direct violation of the express injunction of God himself; it is an infringement of that rest, which in the fourth Commandment we are enjoined to observe on the Sabbath; of that respite from toil and labour of every kind, which we are directed to give to our servants, and our cattle throughout the whole of this sacred day. Besides this, it evidently tends to efface, or at least to weaken greatly, those useful impressions which may have been made upon our minds, and upon those of our children and servants, in the offices of public worship,

or

or in our private meditations and devotions; and it mingles too much of the gaieties and the pleasures of this world with those serious thoughts of another, which this day was peculiarly intended to excite and to cherish in our hearts.

"Allow me also to add, Madam, that the laws of this kingdom expressly prohibit all public diversions on the Lord's Day, and I entreat your Ladyship to consider, whether the Sunday evening concerts do not in every respect resemble a public diversion, except that they are given in a private house, instead of a Theatre, or an Opera House. This does not escape the observation of the lower orders of the people, who, when they see the crowded doors and splendid assemblies of the wealthy and the great on the Lord's Day, are apt to express (as I happen

4

I happen to know from good information) much dissatisfaction and much discontent at the grating difference.

"I am aware, that in Roman Catholic countries on the Continent, both public and private amusements are permitted on the Sunday evening. But your Ladyship will, I am sure, agree with me in thinking, that is not exactly the precedent which a Protestant country ought to follow. In fact, it is well known, that for a long course of years the Church of England has been distinguished from the Church of Rome, not only by its doctrine, its discipline, and its purer mode of worship, but also by the decency, the propriety, the solemnity, with which the Christian Sabbath has been usually observed. It is a distinction, Madam, which does us honour; which is altogether worthy of the first Protestant Church in the world;

and

« FöregåendeFortsätt »