SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 304, 21 November 1934, Page 6

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I use your columns to protest against the view held by sundry members of our City Council. Personally I have a deal of admiration tor them, but that does not stop me from questioning their right to dictate our line of conduct in Sunday observance. First of all the matter of right and wrong is mainly a matter of conscience, and sometimes a matter of geography. As long as Sunday concerts do not interfere with other people s freedom to observe the Sabbath as they please, there is little against those concerts. The opponents of these concerts (and other reoreations) take their view from those interested m opposing these recreations, th© clergy. But wliat, may I ask, has the churches done lor the ordinary people during their long domination?- Unhappily the whole history of the churches is one repetition or opposition to reforms for the benefit of the ordinary people, and of support to the benefit of the wealth-owning class. Add to that their blessings on warfare, and their general failure m 1900 years of leadership to guide the thought of the people to anything better than we have around us to-day, and one can easily understand that the great majority of people to-day refuse to accept their leadership. Human thought and ideas are fast changing, mainly for the better. Things that would have shocked the “unco guid in my youth are now done by all, and the world is better for it. There is a broader outlook on life, and Sunday recreation is part of that outlook, and all the talk of the self-glorifying Bethels will not stop it. Their position in the case recalls an incident that I remember, in Central Wales, where the land owner (a woman) and the local clergyman and friends played tennis and golf on Sunday, but publicly reproved the village boys for playing football, on the only spare day they had, “Sunday.” No, gentlemen, the change must come unless you will help those who attend Sunday recreation to get more time for recreation during the week. Then perhaps they might study you in the matter. For myself I have no time during the week for outdoor recreation and little for indooi amusements. Sunday I have a garden and chill penury compels me to cultivate it. So Sunday night I hardly feel like walking to church. If I had a car I might go, but is it not immoral and wrong to drive a car on Sunday ? It used to be. Anyway I seldom go to a Sunday concert,, but I -would and do prefer to hear of young people going to a concert than that they should roam the streets as we were compelled to do in my young days. I wonder how many were led astray by that wandering of the streets on Sunday night? It, after all, resolves itself to this: What right has a small group or minority of the people to impose their idea of wrong doing on a well behaved majority. Who made them judges and rulers over Israel?—Yours, etc., J.B.F.