THE OCEAN BEACH SUNDAY TRAINS.

Evening Star, Issue 4276, 9 November 1876, Page 4

THE OCEAN BEACH SUNDAY TRAINS.

At the Presbytery yesterday a- discussion took plftCft concerning the running of drains to the Ocean Beach on Sundays. The Rev. Dr. Stxtart said, that Sabbath traffic and Sabbath profanation had been in tke^Gity,andjieigliborhoodfor some time ba^ck." Since "the Port Jine. had. passed intojthe possession of the ;> though trains still were ruining On Sundays, the running of them was not carried on in so offensive a manner. Ihey all knew what a blessing the Ocean Beach was upon a; Sunday afternoon, if they choose, walking out leisurely there. But it was a very different thing if people were carried there by railways, when these railways employed so many persons' who were thus dej{P&. ,Sabbath rest. He was assured that those employed on the railways get every:a&Arjiate Sunday off, for the pur-r-T 3? B V* reßt ing and attending Divine worship, i3 :lwfo&jffitigOgMa&fr But Monday was no* equivalentto the Sabbath, and a person could m&vtifoy Merest ohMonday as on Sunday. He moved the following resolutions :—V Resolved that this" Presbytery regards 'with deep im^,th,e increased profanation of the Lord's Day liTour country by using the railW '%ay districts, mainly, <if not wheliyi H&t /the purpose >ef recreation, and thus creating~a -contempt for authority of MnigfifcyiXJod, And depriving many of the blessing of the weekly rest, and leading into a rel»xatioi» of morals, (2) fa..*

solves'"~lhat the Presbytery exhort the churches of the bound, and the families and individuals in their connection, to discountenance every form of Sabbath profanation. Resolved, that it be recommended to the ministers of the Presbytery to keep prominently before, their people the duty of sanctification of the Lord's Day, and to urge its importance to our physical, social, civil, and religious welfare."

Professor Salmond thought they were bound to raise some kind of public testimony against this kind of Sabbath desecration. His English experience was that these Sunday trips to the sea-side led to drinking and demoralising conduct. The Rev. Mr Will thought it might be productive of good if a deputation, consisting of the ministers of Dunedin and Professor Salmond, were to wait upon the directors and urge them to arrest this great evil of Sabbath desecration.

Rev. Dr Stuakt : You need not try it. The Rev. Mr Russell thought a pastoral should be printed and tracts circulated. __ The Rev. Mr Blakb advocated the resolutions being read from the pulpit, and thought good results would follow. •The Rev. Mr Gksig had looked forward with dread to the opening of this railway, because it would be chiefly supported by pleasure-seekers and Sabbath-breakers.

The resolution was then agreed to. The Bev. Mr Will proposed that a deputation should wait upon the directors and urge them to discontinue the running of Sunday trains.

Professor Salmond opposed the proposal. He did not think any good would come of it beyond the publicity given to the proceedings. The motion was withdrawn.