IS SUNDAY FOR MAN, OR MAN FOR SUNDAY?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 10

IS SUNDAY FOR MAN, OR MAN FOR SUNDAY?

Sir, —I sat last evening, and liitened, amid the din of passing. trams, and tlio sound of a weli-played organ, to an appeal by tho Rev. J. J. North 011 "The Secular Sunday, the Enemy of the People." The evening was calm, and the fervent voice of tho preacher was heard to advantage as it floated down to the vestibule. I feel sure, as your newspaper has so worthily reported that gentleman's sermon, 1 may bo allowed to pen a few'linos. Tasmania is : tho only State where common sense has triumphed over hypocrisy, thereby introducing a custom making the alleged law of Sunday closing a dead letter, so that tho polico never interforo with Sunday selling, as long as' 119 disturbance endangers the Sabbath calm of that picturesquo spot. Will" tho churches inSreaso their congregations and their collections by tho abolition of Sunday concerts? I think not; Tako Melbourne, where practically the only public door which the Melbourne citizen may enter 011 Sunday is the church door, and if it bo his undoubted misfortune that 110 does not go to church; then ho must find his own method of passing the long, slow, awful, "tramless" Sunday mornings the best he can. And yet, with all this strenuous piety on the part of tho wise and good Australian legislators, tho amazing fact stands out' that the churches of Australia on a yearly average arc less than halffilled; and what is more, not one-tenth of this piously' governed community ever goes to church at all. Why not be consistent and interpret tho Biblical prohibition against buying and selling, as referring to 'the sale of tram tickets, as trams are allowed (and properly so) to run. It must bo ' quite clear the dividends derived from, the Sunday trams, go into tlio I ''ordinary coffcr on Monday. Why not make this a platform question-for tho.'coming clcction of Mayor and . councillors ? Let us\ have the Sunday concerts,: and have music from the inspired brains of-tho old German and Italian masters-.- Even England,' stodgy, sullen' England,'; 1 , detracts. from the ennui of Sunday in a stuffy'city home, by allowing splendid concerts in the Queen's Hall, whero stars of tho day may be heard—and what is more; does not stop the ever necessary 'bus from, gunning, ,r.i Are not -these'gentlemen, however sincere they mayiiMV.depriving-.aacfcrlia'in section of good, law-abiding citizens from a harmless 1 enjoyment? Is not man's liberty to bo retained, or are we to be governed by, that body known as tho Council of Churches? Wo aro getting good music 'at a nominal price: the closely drawn line between dropping , a coin ad lib. or paying • threepence : straight out is so line that it is only a j splitting of hairs. The public should have . a chance of expressing themselves, if needs , be, at tho ballot box 011 this question, and I am sure the Sunday concerts will continue, [ irrespective of ; tho laments over empty pews. , Mako your sermons more interesting, and put something forward to arrest tho attention of tho rising generation, .and the stray lambs will doubtless return—l am, etc.,' MOATA. March. 23. • '