THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1881. SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2210, 26 March 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1881. SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

If all that can be said against the opening of the Public Library for certain hours on Sundays was given at the meeting last night, all we can say is that the objectors have a remarkably poor case. Mr. Twentyman, who opened up the question, and spoke at length on it, does not appear to have grasped in any way at all the point at issue. That point is, whether the furnishing to the public of a place where, between church hours, they can sit quietly and read instructive and harmless literature, is, or is not, desirable ; whether it will keep those who have no comfortable homes of their own out of mischief and the public-houses. Mr. Twentyman, however, hardly touched upon this point, but expended his strength on a number of vague generalities that no one will feel at all inclined to argue with him abant. His resolution is utterly beside the question —“ That this meeting desires to express its deep sense of the importance of a public recognition of the Lord’s Day as the Christian Sabbath, and is decidedly of opinion that this observance is obligatory on all who recognise the divine authority of the Holy Scripture.” Such is the resolution, and Mr. Twentyman might well have spared himself the pains of moving it, because no one is in the least likely to differ with him. He and his followers in this matter are by no means the only gentlemen who. hold that the keeping of the Lord’s Day is of the utmost importance, both to the moral and physical welfare of the people at large. Mr. Twentyman need not fret himself at all on this point. Moreover, the generality of educated men are acquainted with Old Testament history. The fact that the Israelites were not allowed to gather manna on the seventh day was one of the lessons of their early childhood, and although the observance has been shifted from the seventh to the first day, a fact that might have induced Mr. Twentyman to expend more of his eloquence on the provisions' of a newer Dispensation, yet the moral obligation of maintaining the Sabbath is not at all likely to be made debateable ground. Neither men inside the Church of England or out of it will differ on this point, although the former do as Mr. Twentyman remarked, every Sunday specially and solemnly pray for the maintenance of the Mosaic seventh day. Mr. Twentyman seems to have kindly started with the opinion, that he and those who think with him have a species of monopoly in a determination to see that the Sabbath is not broken. But we repeat that he is very much mistaken. As to any argument to show that the opening of the Library was likely to prove harmful, it seems merely to have occurred to him as an afterthought, and it was only after Mr. Packer had seconded his resolution, that ha made any remarks on the subject. He found, he says, on personal enquiry, that in Sydney, a city of some 250,000 souls, about 12 persons attended every Sunday, and the majority of those were found reading the works of well-known philosophical writers, such as Herbert Spencer and George Henry Lewes, whilst other were reading worse. We have before expressed our doubts on the correctness of much of the so-called information on which Mr. Twentyman and his followers so liberally draw, believing it to bo considerably colored by the views of its exponents. But this being a matter of personal enquiry must be treated more delicately. Now, how about these mysterious twelve persons who congregate every Sunday to read philosophical works or worse ? Has Mr. Twentyman’s informant taken upon himself the trouble of haunting the Library every Sabbath with the view of gathering statistics ? If he has done so, it must have been a sore trial. The atmosphere of the place must have been terrible to him, and the sight of these twelve men an abomination. But perhaps the informant was a library official. Yet, even then, how were such accurate statistics obtained as to the literature these devoted twelve were perusing ? Is it usual for an official to prowl round the premises and take stock of what the visitors are reading ? And why should the Sydney Library contain such very dreadful books as are suggested when a lower depth than Herbert Spencer is hinted at ? With every wish to give Mr. Twentyman the benefit of the best intentions, the information gained by his personal inquiries is of so very singular a nature, that we cannot help thinking that he has been somewhat imposed upon in this matter. But even supposing that such things happen in Sydney, what then P The Board of Governors propose to open our Public Library on Sundays experimentally: if the experiment is not successful, wo presume they will close it again. Mr. Packer, who seconded the first resolution, was of opinion that people would not be weaned from the publichouses by means of the opening of the Library. As with Mr. Twentyman, so ho too brought forward no arguments to prove his assertion. Ho did not, as he might well have done, draw an imaginary picture of a man lodging in a crowded boarding house, with no library and home comforts, and trace his movements throughout a Sunday. Mr. Packer might well have been asked to do this, for those who are in favor of opening the Library say distinctly that such a man

must either loaf about the streets between services, or go for a country walk, or enter a public-house—a thing easily to be done under the present regime —and that, in the event of bad weather, the latter is the only course left. Bnt r at the end of his speech, Mr. Packer, in a very ridiculous manner, cuts the throat of his own argument. “If the qutrioa was one of reading suitable literature on Sunday, he would be one to subscribe to the opening of a room where such literature could be read.” The speaker appeared willing enough that a library should be opened to the public, but the books in it must bo supervised by himself and confreres !!

The second resolution, moved by Mr. Button, related more to the mental and physical constitution of man than to his moral improvement, affirming that such constitution requires absolute rest on one day of the week. No doubt Mr Button had no wish to arrogaie to himself more knowledge than is consistent with mortal man, but we question his good taste when he affirmed that the Almighty had rested in order that he might give ns an example, knowing that without a day of rest we should be wearied. Both Mr. Button and his seconder seem to hold peculiar ideas on the subject of rest. It would almost appear that, according to them, the possession of a perfectly vacuous frame of mind alone can entitle a man to claim that he is at rest. They seem to think that no man can bo better employed on Sunday than when be is asleep, or, at least, in a state of coma. A man requires mental relaxation, and reading is not relaxation, according to Messrs Button and Ross It has been held by some heretics that there can be no greater punishment than to drive an individual to feeding on bis own thoughts. But few men can stand the operation, and it is one of the main terrors of solitary confinement. But Messrs Button and Rom look upon the state of mind represented by a perfect vacuum, as one most desirable from every point of view. To be euro, their ideas only apply to those who have no libraries of their own, and no cheery society where they can spend their Sundays. But what of that ? The old adage of “ Experimentum fiat in corpore vili ” comes in here very happily. Want of space forbids us to go into this question any further at present. We feel confident, however, that the Board of Governors will be little likely to he moved by the arguments brought forward last night. At a fuller meeting of the Board its true sense on this question will be more fully developed, and, we shall he very much surprised if Mr. Twentyman and his friends gain by the process.