SUNDAY OPENING OF THE ATHENÆUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5579, 14 February 1879, Page 3

SUNDAY OPENING OF THE ATHENÆUM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin,—'With “Old Subscriber’s” objections to opening the Athenosum on Sunday I have no sympathy; at the same time I am of opinion that no sufficient reason has yet been given for depriving the Athenaeum officials of their day of rest. The attempt made by some to get themselves entertained at the sacrifice of °the rights of others is to be withstood. What argument is there for the proposed change which might not be used by any bookseller in Wellington to compel his men to work on Sunday. If the day of to be set aside needlessly for the convenience of people, it is but a step to set it aside for their gains. There is every sign of that day approaching, and who then will be the sufferers ? Who but the weaker members of the community, who can’t afford to say no ? In the interests, then, of the persons concerned, I shall oppose the present movement. With your permission, I will quote the words of that eminent social economist, Blr. Samuel Laing, of whose “ Notes” Blr. J. S. Mill entertained a high opinion, and the words of Lord Blacaulay on the educational value of the day of rest ; “ The strictness—Pharisaical strictness it may be —with which the repose of Sunday is observed in England, and particularly in Scotland, the complete abstinence, not merely from work, but from amusement, is unquestionably a powerful educational influence in our social economy. Its religious value is not here considered. But viewing it simply in its influence on the intellectual culture of a people, and comparing its effect with the intellectual culture produced by the round of amusement to which Sunday is devoted on the Continent, the social economists will not hesitate to say that our strict observance, where it is the voluntary action of the public mind, and not an observance enforced by kirk sessions and town bailies, is of a higher educational tendency, and both indicates and produces a more intellectual character.” —“ Laing’s Notes.” “ While industry is suspended, while the plough lies in the furrow, while the Exchange is silent, while no smoke ascends from the factory, a process is going on quite as important to the wealth of nations as any process which is performed on more buSy days. Blan, the machine of machines, the machine compared with which all the contrivances of the Watts and the Arkwrights are worthless, in repairing and winding up, so that he returns to his labors on the Blonday with clearer intellect, with livelier spirits, with renewed corporal vigor.”—Speech on Ten Hours Bill.—l am, &0., Another Subscriber.