THE SABBATH QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 11

THE SABBATH QUESTION IN VICTORIA.

Slowly but surely, writes the Argus, public opinion is changing with regard to the question of Sunday observance. At a special meeting ot the subscribers to the Sandhurst Mechanics' Institution, held recently, it was determined, by 85 votes to 19, that the establishment should be opened on Sundays. Ihe minority, we are informed, is by no means prepared to acquiesce in this decision, and a requisition has been got up calling upon the committee to convene another meeting for the purpose of reconsidering the question. We trust that the committee will comply, because we feel assured that, the more the proposal is discussed, the more it wjII recommend itself to the conscienc?s and sense of all reasonable people. What possible objection can there be to allowing people access to the stores of amusement and information which are to be found on the shelves of our free libraries. Surely they are better employed in reading instructive or amusing books than in taking aimless walks abroad, or indulging in drinking bouts at home. There are a few no doubt who make the Christian Sunday into a Jewish Sabbath, and conscientiously believe that they are called upon to subject themselves to certain restraints and disabilities. We search in vain through the New Testament for a sanction to their proceedings. As far as we can understand the teaching of Christ and the Apostles, it scouts the idea that one day is more holy than another. We have set apart a day for abstinence from labour, and in doing so we have acted wisely. But we deny altogether that any particular sanctity attaches to the first twenty-four hours of the week beyond that which they derive from being the resting-places of life. We regret to find that, as a rule, the clergy object strenuously to any attempts to provide sober and rational amusement for people on Sunday, and thereby, we think, they do a vasfc amount, of injury to the religion they teach. The want of a book or a comfortable lounge wherewith to wile away the hours frequently leads men into sin and trouble. It does not (ill the churches ; it simply crowds the downward patli to perdition. Many people think that the opening of mechanics' institutes, &c, on Sunday would lead to a similar course being adopted with rega'd to theatres. We are not apprehensive, however, on this score. The two thing* are essentially different. The opening of theatres would necessitate the employment of a great number of people, while to open and close a library is the work of five minutes or less for one man. The Sabbatarians are playing a very dangerous game. The institution they profess to be so zealous for is a very valuable one, but if they do not take care, they will render it so odious in the sight of reasonable men and women, that it will stand in great clanger of being swept away entirely.