SUNDAY AS A REST DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 255, 29 October 1901, Page 2

SUNDAY AS A REST DAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—"Let the parsons do the preaching, they are paid for it," was the remark made to me the other day re the above subject!. And in a resent article in the Daily News you evidently think in ne:esMiry to mike u kind of apology for introducing it. But is I there not a seculav aspect of this quesi tion ? If there is no harm in active I amusements, or gardening on the Sunday, there can be nothing wrong in the farmer ploughing, or the storekeeper selling, and consequently no sin in asking his hired man to assist him. It may seem a " far cry " between the . first and last state of things, but there |is a law of evolution in this, as in all i other human aff \\t&, and inacommunity i where Sunday work is tolerated in any jform, dr section of the 'people, its general application is only a matter of I time. Now the vitality and conse- ! quent success of our race in every part |of the globe has often been attributed |by great thinkers, of every cresd, to j the recuperative effects of the weekly ! rest day. Common experience will, I I think, teach us the truth of this. Is j there one amongst us who, after six i days of mental or physical does not .rise on the seventh with a sigh of relief, and the thought that for one day at least, the cares and sorrows of ; this weary world can be laid aside. And when the time arrives to buckle to again, everyone will admit that the rest his given renewed vigour for the work of the coming week. The rich man can afford to lose his Sunday, for he make every day a holiday if he ; chooses, but to the poor man, whether jhe is a trader or labourer, the total | cessation of work on the seventh day is |of vital importance. If thero are differences of opinion about the sanctity i of the Sabbath, there can be only one ; concerning its beneficial effects on body and mind, it behoves us all to support those who wish to see it observed as it was in the days of our forefathers. People who write on these subjects are often considered fanatics or faddists, but there is a very practical side to this question. It has been proved over and over again that all the work a man is capable of doing in the week can be got out of him in six days. And so far as business is concerned, if shopkeepers kept open swan days per week, it is v<iiy ques' ionable if their receipts would be increased to any appreciable extent. Speaking generally, the public have only a limit'd amount to spend, and they will do this in six days just as well as seven. Thanking you in anticipation for permitting this encroachment upon your valuable space.—l am, etc.,

Obsbever,