SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9367, 18 February 1898, Page 2

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE-

TO THE EDITOIL Sin,-- -Muy I crave space for a few last words in leply to Mr J. Smith-Bell ? Mr Bell says that Mr Hancock and I would uot long sail in the same boat. Very likely not. But does he not see that on that very account the words of Mr Hancock quoted by me in deprecation of Sunday labour form a far more weighty argument in favour of my views than if the oamo words had been quoted from a friendly somce? Mr Bell is quite certain that the loss of Sabbath privileges by em- 1 plojees on Sunday steamers aud trains can easily be made up to them. Whether these employees value the privilogeb of religion which the Sabbath brings or whether they despise them, it is very certain that nothing can make up for their loss. If a man leaves quite uncultivated the leligious side of his nature he is a loser, however much he may think that lie has been compensated by the possession of something else. And as many religious privileges are obtainable only one day in seven, persons who are debarred or who debar themselves from the enjoyment of them on that day, evidently cut themselves off from these privileges altogether. Mr Bell's reason for thinking that tho employees on the Sunday steamers and on the Castlecliff Railway are perfectly satisfied with their beven-day week of labour is funny. Here it is. He lias travelled from Castlecliff to Wanganui on Sunday, and hat. not heard the employee* i/nimlile ' Now, I call that a real gem. The rest of the letter consists of sneers at my piofessiou and vulgar suggestions of insincerity ou my pai t. These are weapous with which I do not tight, aud bo Mr Bell can have the field eutuely to himself ; I bid him. good-bye.— l am, etc., _ , „ , James Auken, Feb. 16,1636.