not at all strange from the point of view from which Sunday was
then regarded. Indeed many people feel about the same now. They would have
the old laws enforced in regard to riding and neglect of public worship.
They have fears that the day may degenerate into a European Sunday, with
prayers in the morning and amusements in the afternoon and evening.

The changes in the past fifty years in reference to Sunday have indeed been
very great, but we think they arise chiefly from a reaction from the too
strict Puritanism of the past. While we would not have the day too strictly
kept, we yet have no sympathy with that class of minds who think there
should be no "day of rest" or no time set apart for religious exercises or
church services, but would have all days exactly alike.

* * * * *

According to the "Salem Mercury" of Aug. 12, 1788, the ministers of
Connecticut, in convention, publish an address on the "increasing
negligence of the Publick Worship of God," etc.

SALEM, AUGUST 12.

The Ministers of the State of Connecticut, convened in General
Association, have published a serious, sensible, plain Address to
the People of the Churches and Societies under their pastoral
care, on the subject of the increasing negligence of the Publick
Worship of God; which they consider as one of the most painful
and alarming, among the various instances of declension and
immorality, which at the present time threaten the very existence
of religion in this country.--"In what manner," says the Address,
"does this evil affect the political interests, the essential
wellbeing, of the community? All the branches of morality are
indissolubly connected. From one breach of moral obligation to a
second, to a third, and to all, the transition is easy, necessary
and rapid. From negligence of the duties we owe to God, the
passage is short to contempt for those we owe to men. The
Sabbath, in the judgment of reason and of revelation, is the
great hinge on which all these duties are turned. When the
ordinances of this holy day are forsaken and forgotten, the whole
system of moral obligation must of course be also forgotten; the
great, substantial and permanent good, of which religion is the
only source, is effectually destroyed; the political peace and
welfare of a community, the salvatio