THE GLOBE. MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1881. LIBERTY FOR ALL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2205, 21 March 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1881. LIBERTY FOR ALL.

Tt ia well said that a straw tellefh which way the wind blows, as applied to human affairs of great pith and moment. In a recent controversy, which is not yet ended, as to Sunday observance, the question of opening the Public Library on Sundays was the indicating trifle of proverbial significance, upon which the arguments practically hung. In the meantime, however, there was a larger question in the background, which really moved to action the contending parties on both sides—that is, the question of how Sunday should be observed, and whether small innovations, such as opening the Library, for instance, were not calculated to upset a generally accepted principle P Our views on this subject have been plainly expressed, and we do not purpose repeating the arguments used in favor of opening the Library. But attention has again been directed to the subject by an announcement that a public meeting will bo held this week to discuss the Sunday observance question. That announcement was made, not through the usual medium, but, on the cheap, as it were, from the pulpit—which was no doubt considered to possess the double advantage of economy in th 9 first place, and of reaching an interested class of the community in the second. This, of course, from the Sabbatarian's point of view: as a matter of fact, the question is one which largely concerns every man, woman, and child in the place. The Rev. H. C. M. Watson made such an announcements St. John's Church last evening, and that gentleman preached ft very

able and practical sermon on the 'Christian Sabbath. The views expressed by Mr. Wateon on the general question, without reference to any small matters of detail, whi«h may have been raised and magnified out of all proportion to their importance, were of a broad and wholesome character—such as will find acceptance with all liberal minded men. He said, in effect, that the "Lord's Day, as acknowledged in Christian countries, was a day of rest and of recreation, and of religious observance; and he advocated accordingly the necessity of exercising a wide spirit of tolerance and charity among all classes, so that each might carry out its own views and beliefs, tempered with a due respect and consideration for the feelings and prejudices of their neighbours. In this view of the position, the strict Sabbatarian may observe Sunday according to the dictates of his conscience without reference to those who diffor from him in opinion ; tho man of bodily toil may utilise it as a day of complete rest, without tho fear or annoyance of being gratuitously stigmatised as an infidel; and, lastly, tho man whose work-a-day life is one of close confinement and monotony through the slow hours of a week, may treat himself to the recreation which tired nature stands so much in need of, without being troubled by the conviction that he can only do so at tho risk of being considered utterly lost in sin, and beyond all hopes of redemption. Such latitude of thought and action is quite possible, and may walk hand in hand with a strict preservation of the sacred character of the Sabbath. There be certain false prophets and ritualistic magpies who say that such is impossible, indeed, quite out of the question. With these good people it is truly a fact, that all save themselves shall find it harder to enter tho Kingdom of Heaven than to waltz through the eye of a needle, or play football with tho stars But it should be needless to say that in a controversy of such importance to the whole community, the bigotted views of such a narrow-minded few cannot continue to have weight or bear any fruit other than that of bitter disappointment to themselves. In the meantime, it is gratifying to reflect that one member of the sacred cloth possesses liberal views on tho subject of the Sabbath, not by any means inconsistent with his calling, and that, moreover, he has had the courage to give expression to his convictions from the pulpit.