SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2210, 26 March 1881, Page 3

SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

A meeting of those interested in this question was held yesterday evening in the Oddfellows Hall. There was a numerous attendance of ladies and gentlemen, the platform being occupied by a number of influential citizens and clergymen. On the motion of Mr Twentyman, Mr J. Anderson was elected to the chair. , The Rev. Mr Banmber opined the proceedings with prayer. , ... The Chairman read the advertisement calling the mooting, and pointed out that the object was to give those favorable to the maintenance of Sabbath observance an opportunity of expressing their views. A largo section of the public wore opposed to the opening of the library on Sundays, and that class had been invited to attend to urge their objections. Ho road an apology from Mr J. 1. Brown, chairman of the Sunday observance committee, who was unable to be present, owing to a prior engagement. A similar letter was read from the Rev. Mr Williams, lie called upon Mr Twentyman to address the meeting. Mr Twentyman said the resolution entrusted to him was as follows “ That this meeting desires *to express its deep sense of the importance of a Snblio recognition of the Lord’s Day as the hristlan Sabbath, and is decidedly of opinion that this observance is obligatory on all who recognise the divine authority of the Holy Scripture.” In speaking to the resolution, he wished to say, in the first place, that ho was not n Sabbatarian in the ordinary, vnlijar acceptation of the word. He was not prepared to sanction any approach to persecution, or to interfere with the individual liberty of men, so long ns that individual liberty was not axercised at the expense of the rest of the community. The state of feeling at which society bad arrived at the present time was that so far as possible each man’s individual liberty should bo loft untouched, and that must bo recognised as a principle governing the legislation and action of all people, at the present day. Therefore he wished it to be understood that neither himself nor any of those acting with him are at all disposed to seek to interfere with the individual liberty of mankind, except in so far ns tho exercise of that liberty was opposed to the interests of the public at large, and, in fact, of public policy. [Applause.] He proceeded to say that, as tho mover of the first resolution, the obligation lay with him to show the scriptural • foundation upon which it rested. In this connection ho quoted largely from the Bible to show that, according to divine injunction and the law, the Sabbath should bo observed as a day of complete rest, of cessation from labor of every kind, and for religious devotion. According to the record from the earliest times, before man appeared on the earth in a position to guide tho affairs of Iho world, tho divine declaration was that God had established a certain day for a specific purpose. Throughout the Ten Commandments there ran a principle of perpetual application, and this ©f course applied to the Fourth Commandment ns well as to the rest. Having discoursed upon this point at considerable length, Mr Twentyman said ho stood before that meeting as a Christian man and a member of tho Church of England. As such lie wished to make one remark of considerable moment in dealing with this ques- • Won. And it was this, that whatever might be said by those outside of the Church of England, no man inside that Church had a right to utter one word against Sabba’h observance, so long as he remained in it. [Applause.] On every Lord's Day, when the most solemn and beautiful service of the Church was performed, the clergyu an pronounced this injunction—“ Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy,** in response to which the concourse with one voice were accustomed to say, — 4l Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.** Was that a mockery ?he asked. No. It was the declaration af the mind of the Church of England upon this solemn subject. [Applause.] It either meant that, or it meant the very hollowest of hollow mockeries imaginable. The speaker wont on at considerable length to show that the seventh day was sanctified as a day of rest, according to holy writ, and concluded by urging the moral, social, and political utility also of observing it as sneh. Mr Packer seconded tho resolution. This was a time when each man who would carry out his belief should show his colours. Tnore appeared to be great feeling in favor of opening the library, one argument of such was that it would enable persons to read good literature who had not time on other days. He did not believe such would be the result. Tho reverse was found to be the casein Melbourne. Another argument was that persons woo were in the habit of attending public houses on Sunday would bo weaned from the practice. He did not believe this either. Those who were given to public house drinking on Sundays would not bo prevented from doing eo by opening the library. With regard to the question of securing the greatest good to the greatest number, that opened up a large question. What, for instance, was the greatest good in tho first place ? Certainly it could not bo held to be tho opening of tho Public Library on tho Sunday. [Laughter and applause.] Ho then quoted from the Rev. John James, prebendary of Peterborough, in support of his argument in support of tho resolution, and said if the object of opening the library was to give an opportunity of atudying literature, ho would be prepared to assist in providing a room for that purpose, and of providing n suitable class of books for the purpose. [Applause.] Mr Twentyman gave his experience of the opening of the Public Library in Sydney, a city of some 25 »,000 souls. Out of i hat number he found on personal inquiry that about twplvo persons attended each Sunday, and the majority of those wore found reading tho works of well-known philosophical writers, mch as Herbert Spencer ana Geo. Henry Lewes, whilst others werejreading worse. A member of tho meeting spoke briefly but strongly in favor of the resolution, and suggested that if necessary a public canvass should be made to aacoitbin tho feeling of the people. The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr G. E. Button said ho had come forward at tho reqnosr. of Mr Twentyman, because he felt that duty demanded from him the adoption of such a course. Tho resolution ho had to propose was—- “ That this meeting, while most anxious that the liberty of individuals should not be interfered with, wishes strongly to affirm the desirability of retaining the weekly day of resb, which the physical and mental constitution of man requires, and to oppose every encroachment thereon which is not required by works of necessity and mercy.” After the exhaustive address of Mr Twentyman, who had dwelt very ably on the principles involved in this resolution, he would not detain the meeting at length. Ho acknowledged the right to liberty of each individual, but it should be exercised so as not to hurt our neighbors, according to a well known maxim of law. The Sabbath was a day of rest for the benefit of mankind, instituted by God to that end. It was not only physical rest we needed —man’s mental faculties required relaxation, which God’s holy day wooed his people to enjoy. The opening of the library would be the first step to the compulsion of study on tho Lord’s Day. He concluded his remarks by reading the resolution. Mr H. J. Ross seconded tho resolution. He pointed out that however wide tho divergence of their opinions or beliefs, they could join hands in this—that they must have this one day of rest. If tho slightest encroachment, where was the line to bo drawn. As each innovation was permitted it would bo found they were approaching nearer to a point at which tho present advocates of opening the Library would stand aghast—a point where tho Sunday would be a day of general toil. Therefore ho claimed the allegiance of all who desired that tho Lord’s Day should be observed as a day of rest. Mr J. L. Wilson addressed tho meeting in support of tho resolution. He. in tho first place, questioned tho propriety of the action taken by the Board of Governors in proposing to open the Public Library without being asked to do so by the public, who were the most interested. Perhaps they thought that the public had swallowed the camel in tho opening of the Museum, and that tho gnat (which was the Library) would easily follow. It might be found, however, that the gnat was oven harder to put down than the camel. In reference to tho arguments used in favor of it, ho submitted that opening tho Library was not likely to keep men from the public-houses, to find work for idle hands, or that it was calculated to meet the mental or spiritual requirements of the times. Mr Connal moved—** That judging from the experience of other communities and of other countries, this meeting is of opinion that the secularisation of the Lord’s Day will not in any sense conduce to the moral, social or intellectual welfare of the pooolo, and inasmuch ns the opening of the pablio library wonld be in the direction of secularising that day, it wonld strongly express its disapprobation of taking any such step. The rev. gentleman spoke at some length in support of the resolution, and referred his bearers to a page in the history of Great Britain and France for testimony os to the value of religions observance of the Lord's Day. He looked upon the Sabbath as a necessity of our existence as physical beings. With reference to the opening of the Library, ho pointed out how that would secularise the Sabbath. It was a public matter, and set forth the moral bias, not of any individual, but. the community at large. It tended to divert tho mind of man from the sacred nature of the day. TVoso who were so solicitous about tho working men might do far better. Let them close their places of business earlier on Saturday night. [Applause.] That would be quite as beneficial ; it would give tho working men something more, without interfering with the Sabbath day. Mr J. P. Jameson seconded the resolution. In ' doing so he remarked on the amount, of labour employed in continental cities in ministering to the entertainment and enjoyment of tho masses. In view of s uch experiences they shonld do all they , could to preserve our Sabbath pure and simple. The tendency of the ago was of a secularising character, ns witness tho system of State education. Ho submitted, therefore, that those who wore with him shonld strongly resist any attempt to infringe tho principle of the Christian Sabbath. Mr George Booth moved tho following resolution That this meeting appoint a deputation of laymen to wait upon tho Board of Governors of the Canterbury College at its next meeting, and respectfully submit these opinions for their consideration. and that the deputation consist of Messrs J. H. Twentyman, J. Anderson, C. B. Taylor, Geo. Booth, and W. H. Packer.” Tho motion was seconded by tho Rev. Mr Purdio, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, after which tho meeting dispersed.