SUNDAY TRAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 14

SUNDAY TRAINS.

Sir, —In reply to "Liberty" one is forced to repeat tho exclamation: "Oh, Liberty I what wrongs are wrought in thy name!" That tho efforts of various church courts to secure by legislation tho . public observance of the Lord's day should be met with opposition is not to be wondered at, as opposing forces must - ever bo in different camps and much confusion in any conflict results when tire separating line is not rigid Briefly put tho position ol tho two camps is thus: - The Church under its standard —the Bible —and with its members loyal to it, recognises the Lord's day as kept in His honour and its observance to be a ; matter for the exercise of an enlightened conscience; the opponent, on tho other., hand, has for standard "Liberty"—every man did what was right in his own eyes in the day of Israel's greatest apostacy, j and "Liberty' makes the name claim now. Victoria, "the good" questioned by - an amazed heathen potentate, in reply laid her hand upon the Bible and to it attributed Britain's greatness. This testimony must be the reply to your corras- . pondtnt's querulous query: "What arii those traditions of the British peoplu that are against Sunday trains?" His'' other query: "What has the running of Sunday trains to do with moral welfare?" is answered by what might b'9 termed an axiom, viz.. a man's moral rectitude is impaired when his actions violate his conscious enlightenment. New Zealand is nominally a Christian country and there still remains the heritage of a Christian Britain's prestige amongst the nations, because of her loyalty to the Bible and her pre-eminent missionary zeai in disseminating its truths. This resulted in "an uplifted hand at Marne" —and ■ perhaps nearer home a Government hurled from its benches; for, in a democracy" every man is responsible, to the limit. of his (%'oting) power, for every action of its Government, and a commercialised Sunday is a matter for the exercise of an enlightened conscience. Failure over-., taking any church enterprise, can result only from want of knowledge or disloyalty to the standard of an unconquerable, leader, so that "Liberty," in hurling his challengo into such a camp is courting defeat. J. D- McNaughton,

Sir, —The question of Sunday observance is admittedly a thorny one, but one on which we liavo fortunately fairly reliable guide-posts. It is quite true we are no longer under the law once given to an ancient religious nation, and the fourth Commandment can no longer be taken _ literally by men living in this Christ la i and scientific age, any more than the university graduate can any longer need the child's spelling-book. But to say (hat wo should disregard all Sabbath notions entirely and treat all days alike is against both utilitarian considerations and common-sense. Your correspondent "Liberty" thinks the South Auckland Methodist Svnod went too far in condemn-*-ine Sunday* trains. _ On the whole, and after due consideration, I arn inclined t0... think the svnod was right. In spite of the New Testament principle of liberty _ there are clearly definite limits within _ which this liberty is to be exercised. That limit is consideration for others. The line has in practice to be drawn then, and drawn fairlv rigidly. The very argument which demands Sunday recreation and . change of air for city people working m shops, offices, stores, etc., also demands the same for railway guards, porters, clerks, etc. Our friends on the other side will doubtless reply that these Sunday workers do in every care get another day every week to replace Sunday; but 110 day can be really a substitute for Sunday. It is the selfish people, for the most - part, "who demand that their own inclinations should be catered for on the Sun- - day, and that the legitimate claims of all others are to be disregarded. Does your correspondent undertake to show that proper Sunday rest and recreation cannot bo found without going miles and miles out into the country ? Arc there no beaches, parks, gardens, pretty walks, etc., near the city ? Besides, many have bicycles, to say nothing of private motor-cars, and these* can carry them miles into the country without forcing others to work for their pleasure. But the most important consideration of all seems to have been overlooked by your correspondent, \\ hat are wo to say about the great purpor.e of all for which, first, the Jewish Sabbath and, second, the Christian Lords _Dav wero instituted ? Was it not for spiritual recreation, as well as physical? lho : - great Sunday text of the New Testament is Revelation i., 10: "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day," and the wonderful visions vouchsafed to the writing seer which follow his statement sufficiently show the character of the spirit he was . "in." Clearly it was the spirit of worship and of Christian service. The Sunday was given us for worship and service, as'well as for physical rest, and recreation. If tho people who spend their Sundays pic- , nicking and golf-playing can honestly look one in the face and say, "I was in the spirit on the Lord's day," then we say , not one word against their iMinday recieations. and the same, applies to those who use the trains for their Sunday pleasure; but if they cannot so assure us, then wo may be pardoned for suspecting that in pursuing their recreations tbev have consulted only their own inclinations, not the welfare of their fellow-men. and thenown physical interests, not their own spiritual needs. It is all a question of degree: If this Sunday picnicking became a general thing it would defeat itself. Men would demand to be supplied on Sundays with pastry, confectionery, fruit, golf-balls, rope for swings, cricketing ivnd ' s tennis shirts, racquets, etc., etc.; men and women would be wanted to cater for these wants, and where would it all end? Common-sense says: Draw the line somewhere. draw it. at once, and draw it fairly rigidly, Humanity's Rights. November 27.