The Duke of Westminster on Sunday Opening.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 193, 22 August 1885, Page 5

The Duke of Westminster on Sunday Opening.

In the Freemasons' Hall, London, under the presidency of the Duke of Westminster, and subsequently of Mr George Howard, M.P., the tenth public annual meeting of the Sunday Society was held, and was well attended by lady and gentlemen supporters of museums on Sundays. The Duke of Westminster (the retiring President) expressed great regret at the fact that they had not been able during the year to do as much as they had hoped to have done, and that their progress had not been so rapid as they could have wished. (Hear, hear). But still there had been progress, as they had with them the feeling of some of the ruling bodies; for the trustees of tho British Mueeum and of the National Gallery were in favour of the Society's movement. (Hear, hear). That of course was of great importance in itEelf. Still, it would have been very satisfactory to the meeting if he or the future President could have announced the opening of the doors of the museums and other institutions to those who, he believed, were most anxious to enter in, and for whom Sunday was the only opportunity for that purpose, and for whom practically those groat national collections were now altogether closed. (Hear, hear). One of the great objections which had been taken to the opening of those places of innocent recreation was that it would entail a great amount of Sunday labour. He would not allude to that further than to say that tho statistics in his presidential address had effectually disposed of that objection. The Duke of Westminster then expressed his regret that, owing to indisposition, he was not able to attend to vote in tho close division which took place in the House of Lords on tho Sunday opening question. It would be remembered that the vote on that occasion was an equal one. Butstillthe question could not be decided by the illustrious body to which ho belonged, and it practically rested with the House of Commons, and looking to the state of Parliamentary bueiness he feared that, notwithstanding the exertions of his friend who was about to take the chair, Mr Howard, they would have to look to anothor Parliament to deal with that and a good many other questions of importance. They must, however, go on as they had done for the past ten yeaH, knocking at the doors of intolerance and prejudice, hoping to soe the day when they would bo open to common sense and common justice, and to tho groat bonefit and the elevation of the character of the large portion of the population of the country. (Cheers). His Grace then introduced the now president, Mr George Howard, M. V., who took tho chair.

Mr Mark H. Judge (the Hon. Secretary) read a satisfactory report, stating that during the past year there had been open on Sunday seven separate art exhibitions, and the statistics aa to ths numbers attending showed how highly the particular object of the Society was appreciated, and the small amount of Sunday labour that was entailed to secure this rational enjoyment. As evidence of the growth of public opinion the Committee pointed to four important events during the year. First, the art department of;the Social Science Congress had, after discussion, voted by eighty-six to four, in favour of the Society's objects ; secondly, the trustees of the British Mueeum, by a great majority, bad resolved in favour of opening thonatural history departmentof the Museum on Sundays ; thirdly, a majority of the trustees of the National Gallery had come to a similar decision with regard to the institution under their care; and fourthly, that the recent national conference of the Society proved that actual experience was on the side of Sunday opening. Although not desirfng to dopart from their rule to avoid politics, the Council had decided to submit the question of Sunday opening to the Parliamentary candidates at the next general election. The income of the Society for tho yoar was 1E899, and the expenditure £834. Mr Howard then delivered his presidential address.