CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13464, 10 December 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir, —The petition presented to the Temuku Borough Council at the last meeting by the Piotestant clergymen of the town deserves passing notice. These geutlemen declared their beliefs that Sunday concerts were "against the moral and spiritual wellbeing of the people J and harmful to the work of th 9 churches." Probably the head and front of their offending is that mentioned in the latter clause, and it is difficult to imagine that anyone can really believe that the teaching at these concerts is harmful to morals, where history plainly shows that the clergy have" ever endeavoured to retain a monopoly of the business of Sunday entertainments. But these gentlemen must be firmly, told to; mind their own affairs, and allow others to use their own judgment as to how they will spend their weekly holiday. Can . anyone doubb that they would be the fk-st to resent any compulsory closing 'of their churches on the day in question, and they must be reminded that it is part of their official creed to do to otheis as they would be done by. One.';councillor fell into the trap laid by the -clerical gentlemen, and when it was suggested 1 that some, in order to obtain .« good-'Mat at a concert would "stay away from church, he ventured the opinion that "if it kept anyone from church the permits should not be granted." I daresay that this councillor does riot realise how intolerant is his position, . and in order to see all iiound the question I advise him to imagine -the concert people saying "if the churches keep anyone .away from the concert, the churches should not be permitted." I think that in that case he would loudly argue in favour of people being allowed to use their own judgment. It is no part of .his dutits as -a councillor to hustle anybody either to church, chapel or concert hall." But the petition raises the question as *o the pit ofi table employment of the Sunday evenings. It cannot* be denied that the church have almost completely' lost their hold on the people, as witneis the small proportion ot those who attend the" segues.'''''-'Nothing' will; -better -serve; to show fchalt tJhey fail to secure the attention of the young men, than the well known fact that there is every fine Sunday evening, a much larger proportion of * these listlessly dawdling their ■■rams.:, about -the'; streetß(>oftem; just waiting till their, best girl comes out from the ■service), than-are.-_to. ; ibe..found,..inside the buildings. It "behoves those who have the welfare 'of the dominion at (heart-to make a rational endeavour to give these, some opportunity to get .more pleasure and profit froni thalr. Sunday evenings than they, can obtain by gossiping in the street. To provide-those, with, good music and with some food., for thought, would be good for their mental and moral nature. 'The cliurdlies are nianifes'bly failing hiAhis mission, and they must-be -.content.todrop the monopoly of a business that time, has shown them to be unable to-successfully cope with. In my opinion there can be no more worthy object for philantro-pists-to tackle-than-.this. Let the money-making business be carefully excluded, and turn the attention; to. ;the providing of good music and intellectual culture, and the promoters would ba adding to the rational enjoyment, and, .the moral and mental well.be'ing of our' citizens;. Let us be up and doing:—l am, etc.:, :• \ . .. RATIONALIST.