SUNDAY TRAINS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1937, Page 6

SUNDAY TRAINS

Sir,—More Sunday trains! The New Zealand Railways experienced another busy Sunday' And we are content, to stand by and look on with complacency. Almost daily now one reads of further facilities being created, more alluring temptations devised for the desecration and abuse of the Sunday. Sunday night pictures, band concerts, Sunday cricket and tennis matches, organised Sunday picnics, river outings ,and railway excursions. Because Sunday—the Christian Sabbath—has been in vogue for over 190 b years (the Jewish Sabbath before that for several thousand years), surely it has become one of those time-worn, old-fashioned conventions, which we in an our advanced age of culture and progressive state of civilisation, with all our false notions of freedom and liberty should surely cast aside and reject.

But the Sunday—the day of rest—is a law of Nature. We lauded the Government when by introducing the forty-hour week they created a greater amount leisure time. But how can we praise them when they allow the hotel bars to remain open as formerly; when they desire to increase the gambling facilities; and when they most certainly increase the number of Sunday attractions and week-end holiday excursions? And what shall we say of a people who, when they are given an increase of leisure time, are so little conscious and mindful of higher things that they spend this time in satisfying the cravings and demands As this practice of Sunday abuse and neglect of spiritual things continues we must slowly produce a “lopsided” people. We can do no other. Much as the physical, mental ana social sides of man’s nature must be catered for and given the necessary exercise and recreation, much more, especially in this materialistic age, must the spiritual side, the highest side in attribute in every man's nature —be catered for. In this age of speed and bustle and confusion, the quiet meditation which Sunday brings, becomes more and more imperative. Those old words, “Righteousness pxalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” have been proved true time and time again in the story of 1 nations, and will prove so again. Men speak to-day of a decaying and dying Church .... may it not be more nearly correct to speak of a decaying and dying people?—l am, etc., HAROLD W. BURLEY.