THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ATHENAEUM

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 331, 18 February 1874, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ATHENAEUM

■ The discussion of the opening of the Dunedin Athenaeum on Sunday has elicited the following letter from his Honor the Superintendent, who is I 'resident of that institution :—: —

"Dunedin, Feburary 7, 1874."The Vice-President Dunedin Athenaeum. _/' Dear Si^ — Having been unable to attend the meeting to take into consideration the question of opening the Dunedin, Athenaeum on the Sabbath-day, I hope it may not be deemed presumptuous in me as President of the institution, as a life member, and as one of the original ; founders, to address through you a few words to my fellowmembers expressive of my opinion "upon the question at issue. '"Without attempting to discuss what may be termed ihe religious aspect of the

question, and assuming that the majority of the members are desirous of the Athenwum being open on Sunday (which I Would fain hope they are not,) I am persuaded that on the ground of expediency alone it will be a grand mistake to introduce any innovations which will run counter to the religious convictions — the prejudices if you will — of a large section of the community. Such a course, if persisted in, will inevitably tend to cripple and curtail the usefulness of an Institution which was intended by its founders to be eminently cosmopolitan, and to embrace within its sphere people of all shades of opinion.

" I think there can be little doubt that if the proposed innovation is carried out, it will cause the withdrawal from the Institution of a considerable number of its present members.

'• Any' action which may lead to this result is to my mind, much to be deprecated, and will, in fact, involve a breach of faith, not only with ths founders of the Institution, but with the province, which has from time to time largely contributed to its funds — contributions which, in the first instance at least, I have no hesitation in saying, would never have been made had one of the rules been that the Athenaeum would be open on* Sunday.

" With regard to the payment of £500 the other day, I am not aware as to what may be the views of the other members of the Executive Government or of the Provincial Council-upon the subject now in question, but I am disposed to think that had the Superintendent of the Province anticipated any immediate action on| the part of the Athenseum which would have led to the beneficial influence of the Institution being imperilled or largely curtailed, he Would have been warranted in withholding the payment until the representatives of the people had had an opportunity of reconsidering the vote. " As stated before, I abstain from expressing any opinion upon the merits of the case as viewed in connection with the large and important question of Sabbath observance ; at the same time, I would venturu to say that I regard the Divine institution of the Sabbath as one of the most benificent gifts of the Creator. It is not only one of the greatest privileges which humanity possesses in the world but one of the chief bulwarks of civil and religions liberty. "In my opinion, therefore, all public action, however unimportant or harmless in itself, which goes in the direction of obliterai ing the day of rest or assimilating it to other days, ought to be peculiarly guarded against, as the letting in of water, which may end in the total su'oneision of the fc"ab bath into the working days of the week, look upon it that.eveu on secular grounds it behoves every reffective mind to guard the institution of the Sabbath as the apple of the eye.

"I do trust that tlie members of the Athenaeum will treat this matter less jrgm. a theoretical than- from -a practical "point of view, and that they will see their way to leaving well alone. " I remain dear Sir, yours truly, " (Signed) J Macandrew. "P.S. — It seems a thousand pities, just as the Athenaeum has got fairly out of debt, that the apple of discord should be dropped 'dst. «.T.M."

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