SUNDAY RECREATION FOR THE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 2964, 19 August 1872, Page 4

SUNDAY RECREATION FOR THE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.

A great social revolution is gradually but surely taking place in Great Britain in reference to the amusements and recreation of the people on the Sabbath day. The report of the council of the National Sunday League, which has lately been made public in England, contains some very interesting statistics. “The operations,” says a letter lately received, ‘ ‘ of the league during the past year have included lectures and musical entertainments at St. George’s Hall under the title of ‘Sunday Evenings for the People,’ which have been held for 26 consecutive Sunday evenings. The number of visitors had been 24,000, and the receipts over L 630. The success attending the monthly Sunday railway excursions had been so encouraging that during the present season, commencing in May, excursions under the auspices of the league would be made every Sunday until October. The number of excursionists carried last season had been 23,000, and the receipts L 3,4 4.” The movement seems to be gaining favor in the provinces, as the Town Council of Birmingham has resolved by a large majority to open the Art Museum in that town on the Sunday afternoon, and the Liverpool Town Council intend to follow in their wake. In London great efforts are being mad© to have the picture and art galleries open to those who have only the Sabbath day on which to enjoy and improve themselves.

‘ ‘ The Sunday League, ” says another writer ou the subject, “ are persistent in their duties in endeavoring to supply the working community with good and wholesome recreation on the Sunday. For a long time the league has worked most energetically in order to have the museums opened ou a Sunday, and in furtherance of this object waited upon the Marquis of Ripon and Mr Forster at the Privy Council office, to memorialise the Government in favor of the Sunday opening of the South Kensington Museum, with the celebrated Sheepshanks collection of pictures. It was urged that by the opening of the Kensington Museum, and other such educational establishments, on Sunday, a great boon would be conferred upon, the working classes, who had few other opportunities for mental improvement. Although,” continues the writer, “ the league were opposed to any aggravation of Sunday labor it was contended that the adoption of this step would benefit the population of the metropolis at large, while the extra numbtr employed need be but few. The movement is essentially a working-class one, and only a minority—of no doubt many well-meaning people—were opposed to it. The donor of the Sheepshanks collection is entirely in favor of the scheme. With reference to the British Museum and the National Gallery some technical difficulties might arise, but there are none in the case of Kensington, where there is every facility and convenience for lighting the building at night. The members of the Cabinet, while acknowledging the weight of the arguments adduced by Sir Charles Rilke and others, promised that most serious attention should be given to them, as the question involved certain considerations, especially the tone of public opinion in the matter. On one point all seem to agree, that it would have the effect of preventing so much drunkenness as now disgraces London on the Sabbath day,”