THE OPENING OF LIBRARIES ON SUNDAYS.

Evening Star, Issue 3418, 4 February 1874, Page 3

THE OPENING OF LIBRARIES ON SUNDAYS.

{From the Australian Israelite). Although a good deal has been written and said concerning the opening of the Libraries and Museums in Melbourne on Sundays, and that, too, by the leading journals •ii doers of these institutions still remain, as firmly barred as eVer on the week. It is noteworthy that the advocates of reform have met with no answer to their arguments, either because they are not worthy of it, or, as we think, because they are unanswerable. Those in authority have been content to keep silence, whether from neglect or design cannot be said, but nevertheless the would be reformers have suffered a defeat, and if they are in earnest they will again return to the charge. We indeed are of opinion that the governing bodies have paid no attention to the matter, for we cannot suppose that any one who pretends to hold enlightend views would urge an atom against it. To those who maintain that the day of rest should be a day of recreation, not a savage’s listless time spent in staring at blank walls, the proposal must be heartily commendable. If people can read books and papers in their own homes without breaking any Divine law of Sabbath observance, there can be no subtle peculiarity about a public reading room which alters the color of the deed. Besides, it is but common justice that those whose money supports these institutions, should be able to enjoy them in return. Hundreds of taxpayers and subscribers who cannot snatch an idle hour during week and who have no handsome libraries of their own, are now left bookless on their da y of rest - A man cannot attend church all day, nor can ho sleep all day, and until our libraries are opened, he probably will grumble instead of read a good part of the . y * committees of our Melbourne institutions are many gentlemen learned in the law—several of them being Judges—who may have hitherto refrained from declaring their decision through lack of any guiding precedent. With great pleasure, therefore; we beg to direct their attention to Castlemaine, whose Mechanics’ Institute is now open every day in the week. Commenting on this, the ‘ Bendigo Advertiser ’ ventures to predict moral and social improvement in Castlemaine. If the Institute has any good influence by being open six days in the week it is but logical to assert that this will be increased on the seventh, especially when

that is the only day when the majority o! the inhabitants can take advantage of its benefits.