KESULT OF THE ATHENAEUM QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 1

KESULT OF THE ATHENAEUM QUESTION.

The meeting upon Wednesday week decided with sufficient clearness that it was the will of the members that the Athenaeum, should be opened upon Sundays. So far so good. We have consistently urged this course, and we are glad that our view has been adopted by a majority, however small. We would now, however, remind the Committee that the amendment carried by Mr Gillies hedges round the matter very definitely ; and that it would be a mistake to act as if there was a unanimous public opinion in favour of opening. There is a time for all things. No one can doubt that it will be necessary to open, but it may well be questioned whether the Committee had not better make a very temporary matter of such opening until it be seen whether the Institution is really used by that class whom it is especially intended to accommodate upon Sunday afternoon. Setting on one side all sectional feeling, and taking no account of those heated and excited sentiments which have been aroused, it is plain that the matter had better be treated as one of expediency. Open the Athenaeum, 'we say to the Committee, for one or two months, and see what use is made of it. If the clergy and those who feel deeply upon the subject can induce the homeless youths of their congregations to forego the use for say, six weeks, while the doors are open, we shall say that no euch need exists for an open readingroom as we had anticipated. Let us bring the matter to a practical issun , One Sunday or two woulft- hardfy tfc*# the matter, as there are sure to be sufficient numbers who, after the excitement manifested u]3on Wednesday night, will go from a spirit of opposisition. Let the innovation have a fair trial, not binding the Committee to keep open if no use is made of the offered facility, but giving the memberg an opportunity of showing how much practical need exists. We shall be quite content to rest here, and if but very few attend, and those not of the class for whom the provision was to be made, we should say shut the doors again ; we have been mistaken. Surely, this is a fair way to regard the matter. We do not think that even those who voted against Mr Gillies's amendment will now object to so reasonable a course. If we are not to have the matter opened up year after year, and make an annual free fight of the Sabbath question, some such course must be adopted. The scene upon Wednesday night was not an edifying one. Only the first four speakers received anything 1 like the attention which the gravity of the subject demanded. Mr Grant's appearance was the signal for an uproar which continued, to a greater or less extent, throughout the evening. Speakers upon both sides were interrupted, with. out an opportunity being given them of stating tbeir views. We have no particular desire to uphold Mr Grant moro than any am else, but we do think that, for a certain time at least — and lie was not very long — he should be heard like any other citizen. So, too, in the case of Mr Fish and Dr Copland, it was simply indecent to interrupt and annoy speakers who to the best of their power were arguing their respective causes, Mr Shaw's, again, was a speech which was well worthy of the occasion, and which deserved more attention than it received. We do not blame one side of the house more than another- — the bacchanalian hootiugs seemed pretty equally distributed, and the advocates of both resolution and amendment were cdod down. We Bay, however, that a subject such aa the Lord's Bay cannot be adequately discussed while a disturbance is being <weated enough to daunt the boldest. It ID one thing io applaud sentiments

which are appreciated, and quite another to cry down unpopular men. Wefhould be sorry to have a meeting like what of Wednesday reduced to the monotonous silence of a church congregation ; but we cannot see j why Dr Copland should not be listened to for ten minutes. One thoroughly healthy sign we noticed with pleasure — -no sooner did one of the speakers seem to border, however remotely, upon personalities than his voice was lost in the din. We call it a healthy sign, because it is a protest against what has been a crying evil in our public life here. We are getting big 1 enough now to discuss questions abstractedly, without needing the fillip of additional excitement which is given by attacking by name the advocates of either side. We are not among those who regret that the subject has been so thoroughly ventilated. The Athenapum has benefited, and will, we think, benefit still moi'e ; by the discussion. If we are correctly informed, some 160 new members have joined during the past six weeks. From whatever-) motives they joined, it is clear that the additional funds will be of service, and the additional number of members give to the Institution a wider hold than ever upon the citizens. Those who remember the dreary days of the Athenaeum will hardly recognise it now ; we believe that the change of circumstances is owing more to the persistent efforts of its Committees to place it an rapport with the public mind than to Government, or any other patronising aid. The Superintendent's letter read, and forgotten as quickly as possible, on Wednesday, was, vre hope, the last effort to nurse acd dandle a sickly infant by a fond father. We are afraid that that letter, with its wonderful confusion of illustration, did more harm than good to the cause it advocated. The apple of the eye, transformed into an apple of discord, opening the flood-gates with the thin edge of the wedge to submerge the Sabbath, reminds us of nothing but the celebrated Irish metaphor, " I smell a rat ! I see it in the air ! J'll nip it in the bud !" The matter now remains with the Committee, and however they decide, v»e trust there will be no more threats of withholding £500, or leaving the Athenaeum. If the Committee be wise they will open the Institution at first for a short fixed period, taking 1 every precaution to note the' numbers and j class that use it. If the result proves that young men in lodgings, et hoc genus omne, make use of the opportunity, it will be quite time to open permanently. If not, we trust the Committee will close again. In either case, the question will be settled satisfactorily to the moderates upon both sides.