SABBATH DESECRATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5897, 24 February 1903, Page 2

SABBATH DESECRATION.

TO TKE BDITOU. I Sib,—We notice with deep regret a paragraph in the Guardian of last eveniDg, stating that large numbers of townsfolk go to the beach every Sunday, and indi- ' 1 eating that they spend the day in fishing, and genenl pleasure-making. We need; not say that from a religious point of view, ' Buch a practice is to .be deprecated, and i ! judging it on broad moral grounds, it is purely quite indefensible. With our weekly half holiday, short hours of work, and healthy surroundings, no one can jplend that he needs to take Sunday for pleasure in order to fit him for the toils of the ,coming week. We would earnestly appeal to all thoughtful people to consider whether I they are justified in wounding the feelings of a large part of the members of the community, even though thoy cannot share their views as to the sanctity of. the Sabbath. We would also appeal to you, sir, to consider whether it is necessary in the public interest to give such countenance and encouragement to Sabbath desecration, as many of your readers will find in your occasional notification of the fitness of the river for Sunday fishing, your reports of the splendid baskets taken on that day, and paragraphs such as appeared in last night's issue.—We are, etc., E, 'WHITEHOtrSE, G. B. Inglis. [We may remind our correspondents that the paragraphs they complain of were mere statements of facts and occurrences, and in no wise represent editorial views. —Ed.]