Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1867. SABBATH DESECRATION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 514, 3 October 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1867. SABBATH DESECRATION.

“ A idlins addictus jurare in verba magieiri.

Exceedingly sorry were we to observe, in the Parliaments}’ debates, the report of the action taken by an influential resident of Hawke’s Bay, in the Legislative Council, to weaken the bonds of sanctity that surround the peculiar privilege of the working man —the weekly day of rest, the mere fraction of time that he does not, and which, happily for him, the Jaw does not allow him to sell to another for

money. Still more grieved should we be if, for one moment, we could suppose that anything like extensive sympathy could be said to exist in the Colony with the proposers of such a measure. No, indeed ! little, in comparison with its value, as the Sabbath day is prized amongst the people, few indeed, we believe, would be found who would desire to see it abolished.

The columns of a newspaper is not tho right place in which to place the question of Sabbath observance in its

legitimate position as one of religious duty, and therefore, in its consideration, we waive all advantage we might derive from such an argument. It, however, would be quite sufficient for our purpose to show, as we might easily do, that, on a mere physical ground, the weekly day of rest is an actual necessity to the human frame.

It will nossiblv be ohiected that no attempt was made m the Council to deprive the people of the Sabbath, it being expressly said by one of the debaters, as will be seen by reference to the report we have already given of the debate, “ Sabbath observance should be left to every man’s own conscience.” We admit that such ground was taken, and that if we could do without any legal restrictions, if society could exist and be carried ou without any law, if it would be safe to leave to every man’s conscience to provide a rule of conduct for each, then might we do without, not only a law for Sabbath observance, but we might repeal all restrictive laws and establish a system of perfect freedom of action. But as these very men who would leave the Sabbath to our conscience are themselves legislators, and by their fencing round the conduct of an individual man with restrictive enactments, show that they well know such a state of society is impossible, we say they prove at ouce the fallacy of their specious argument concerning individual conscience. The fact is, and they know it, that conscience is, asarule, too weak to enforce obedience. It can do no more than show the way in which a man should walk ; something more —the pains and penalties of the law —is required to make him take that road, and even these are often of no avail.

We shall not now pursue this theme. All can see that the question of cluck-shooting was an attack on the principle of Sabbath observance, ami the specious pretext adopted tvas not even of sufficient force to disguise its aim. All can see at once that the Sabbath ceases to exist as - soon as it ceases to be recognised by the legislature as an institution.

It is only a short time ago that a similar attempt was made in the Mother Country by pretended friends if the working man, who would have places of amusement thrown open to him on the Sabbath day. The result of the agitation plainly showed that such was by no means the wish of the; working classes, on the contrary, thej rose almost as one man to protest against a measure so fraught with danger to their true interests, and were successful in their opposition. We have no manner of doubt that if appealed to the self-same results would be found amongst us in this Colony.