SUNDAY AT THE ATHENÆUM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5580, 15 February 1879, Page 3

SUNDAY AT THE ATHENÆUM.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, — There are many reasons to be given against the opening of the Athenaeum on Sunday. I assented to the opening of the Moxseum, but the reasons which caused me to assent to that do not apply here. I would at once say that no one has any right to take away from any the day of rest which God hath given to the world. The words of the old law, as given to the Jews, give this as a reason for keeping this day : “ That thy man servant and thy maid servant may rest as well as thou.” I shall he answered, “ The curators will be well paid.” I say the funds of the Athenseum should not go to an injustice ; and if injustice is to be, let all those who wish to use the Athenceum. on Sunday purchase a Sunday ticket to provide this payment, and let entrance be by that ticket only. If this were done the Athenseum would not long remain open.

It is commonly said that the fourth commandment is a Jewish law. The Jews had a threefold law—political, ceremonial, moral. The political and ceremonial laws have ceased with the loss of their land, but the moral law, not given to them only, remains in full force. They who say that the fourth commandment is not binding upon us should also argue that the sixth, seventh, eighth, &c., commandments are not binding. It is also said that Sunday is not the Sabbath Day, but it is certain that Christians have always kept Sunday as their day of rest. (See Pliny’s letter to Trojan, &o.) The law was originally given by the Son of Man, and those who accept the Bible need no proof of this. This same One renewed the law upon Mount Sinai. The Jews kept the Sabbath before they came to Sinai; and the law, as then given, was no new law. Jesus said, in exact agreement with all this, that he was the Lord of the Sabbath Day. I believe, therefore, that He changed the observance of the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday. He alone had the authority to make the change'; and the disciples, holy men as they were, would not have dared to alter, of their own motion, the Fourth Commandment. Holding then that Sunday occupies the place of the Sabbath Day, I hope that the vote on Tuesday will be in accordance with the loving words, “ That thy man servant and thy maid servant may rest as well as thou.” I should like the vote to be taken in such a way that all the subscribers, and not those only who may be present on Tuesday evening, may have an opportunity of voting.—l am, &c. A. Stock.