OPENING OF THE MUSEUM ON SUNDAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1342, 18 August 1877, Page 7

OPENING OF THE MUSEUM ON SUNDAYS.

Tne Rev. Dr Stuart at the morning service at Knox Church on Sunday, made reference to this matter. While reading the first exposition, the reverend gentleman in the course of his comments on the same produced a copy of a newspaper, from which he read the announcement that the Museum would be opened on Sunday afternoons. Having done so, he remarked that he had observed the announcement with regret, aa this was another innovation on the rights and privileges of the people iv the due observance of the Sabbath Day. It was not long ago since the same thing was done in respect to the opening of the Athenaeum on Sundays. They had then a stand up fight against the carrying of this into effect, and he and others raised their voices in opposition. It was said in support of the measure, that if they did not open the Athenasum for recreation on Sundays, their young men and youths would find their way into public-houses through the back door. That was a poor argument, but as they already knew, they lost on that occasion. Still they had the satisfaction of knowing that they fought for the principle of keeping holy the Sabbath Day. Again, on the completion of the Ocean Beach Railway, it was announced that trains would run on Sundays during certain hours, for the convenience of young men who were cribbed and confined during the six days of the week, to enable them to take a run with their sweethearts on the Beach, and breathe the balmy air, and watch the rolling billows ef the Pacific. The Directors and Secretary in that instance came out in a straightforward and honest way in publishing an advertisement, and had the manliuess of putting their signatures to it But in this case no authority was given, and no name was attached. Without any proper notice, and in a way little expected, the announcement was made, and it was with deep regret and a feeling of indignation that he read the notice iv the paper on Saturday morning. He would say that it was not from any authority of the University Council that permission was obtained. The Government hod placed the Museum under the control of the University to which it was attached, and one of the Professors, who was also Curator of the Museum, who received his stipend from, and was a functionary of the Council, which, for its part, had no desire 'that its Professors should take up cudgels in defence of religion, nor did it wish them to become antagonistic to religion. As far as he knew, there was no notice given of the opening day, in order that those who had always taken a

deep and lively interest in that institution might be present on the occasion. But there were three who had taken it upon themselves to represent the community at large. There had been no expressed desire of the public that the Museum should be opened on Sundays, but if the majority of the people really wished it, let them ask for it. In the meantime he would raise his voice against what had been done, and he would ask, and he trusted, those present as a Christian congregation, would not couDtenance the affair by their presence. He felt strongly on the matter, and was glad of the opportunity of unburdening his soul in protest of the wrong done to the rights of the Sabbath day.