OPENING ATHENAEUMS ON SUNDAYS.

Western Star, Issue 13, 7 February 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

OPENING ATHENAEUMS ON SUNDAYS.

(From the Dunedin Evening Star.)

Sir Stout then rose to move—“ That the reading-room of the Institute should be kept open for four hours upon Sundays.” It was not really necessary to bring the matter before the subscribers at all, since it did not alter any of the bye-laws of the Institution, but when the matter came before the Committee, he ruled that it would not be fair not to allow the subscribers to express their opinions on the question. He did not intend to urge anything in favor of the resolution, but he thought the religious question need not be introduced. Each subscriber need only ask himself, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day ?” The hours during which the reading-room was to be kept open, in the event of the resolution being passed, could be fixed by the Committee to be elected, and none of the officers of the Institution would be required to attend on Sunday. Mr C. R. Chapman seconded the motion. He had heard it said that this motion was brought forward principally by the so-called Spiritualists in connection with the Institution. This was not correct, as he was not a Spiritualist. Mr Grant said the proposal to open the room on Sunday was brought forward by a coterie to insult the clergy of the place.

Mr Stewart had heard no reasons in support of the motion. The majority of the Committee was against it. Mr Grant : Was' the Eev. Mr Stanford against it ? A Voice : Yes.

Mr Grant : Then he is a (Yells and interruption, during which Mr Grant gesticulated furiously.) A Voice : Is what is food on the week day poison on Sunday ? Mr G. Muston said the onus of proof lay with those who proposed to open the room, but no one had proved that any great good would be done, or that if the room was opened any great number would make use of it. He was one of the most earnest advocates of opening this place on Sunday at first, and he signed the requisition to the vicep-resident to call a special meeting to consider the matter. This was not done. In the interval he employed his time by inquiring into the question, and as a layman he saw reason to change the opinion he at first held.

Mr Hay thought it would be quite time enough to alter the rules of the Institute in the direction indicated by the motion before them, when there was some pressure from without.

Mr Winter said that one reason why the matter had been brought forward, was because at the present time there was a great rush on Saturday to get out books for Sunday’s reading, and] a large number of those who were employed all day on Saturday, and until a late hour on Saturday night, after the Institution was shut, were unable to get out books to read on Sunday. The llev. Dr Stdakt contended that what was proposed to be done was tantamount to the Committee desiring to continue their trade on Sunday. He was not a Pharisee in the matter of’Sabbath observance. He never sought to drive people to church, and he never went into any man’s house and asked him how he spent his Sabbath. He would leave' a man to read what he pleased. Who were to look after those who made use of the reading-room on the Sabbath if the resolution were carried ? He did not think the members of the Committee were,

and they had the right to refuse such a duty. It seemed strange to him that young men could not get a sufficient quantity of intelligence and literature during the six days of the week to tide them over Sunday. With respect to what had been said as to the necessity for the opening of the reading-room on Sunday, he might remark that those young men who lived in boarding-houses or hotels had their bedroom to themselves, and that there were plenty of churches, and the noble Town Belt. At the same time, he would say that it was an unfair thing to do violence to the religious feeling of a very large number in this community. He held that Sunday was a great boon to everyone, and if the Institution were to continue to prosper, and the union of Hie members to continue, they must have some regard for each other’s feelings. Mr Cooper said if it was right for people to read in one place on Sunday, it was right for them to read in another. But the privilege of using the reading-room at the Athemeum on Sunday should be granted for nothing, and he would therefore like to add to the motion that the institution should be opened on Sunday in the event of seventy members paying a subscription of five shillings per annum. Mr Stout would support the proposal of Mr Cooper’s if he would put it in a separate resolution.

Mr Martin then stood up on some form at the far end of the hall, and persevered for a considerable time in an attempt to address the meeting, which would not hear him. Mr ftlusroN said that the proposal for a second subscription was simply asking the members to sacrifice their consciences for what the Institution would gain by it. The Eev. Dr Roseby would oppose the present resolution upon the ground of expediency. He asked the supporters of the motion if they were acting on the principle of broad charity, when they did violence to the feelings of a large number for the sake of a little convenience.

The Rev. Dr Gotland said the opening of the reading-room (on Sunday would be an outrage on his and others’ sensibility on this matter.

Mr Carrick said that in London, some parts of Ireland, and in Glasgow, the reading-rooms were open on the Sabbath, and there was a great necessity here for some such institution to be open. He did not wish to appeal to their religious feelings, but to their judgment, and he would call their attention to the orderly demeanor of those who were to be seen in the reading-rooms on ordinary days. Was it likely there would be any alteration on Sunday ? Let all spend the Lord’s Day according to their own judgment. It was then proposed that the discussion should be adjourned; but this was negatived. The Rev. Mr Gow rose to address the meeting, but his voice was at first drowned by shouts of “ Vote, vote.” He was at length allowed to speak, and said that the question was not a mere matter of expediency, but was a great matter of principle. If the motion was carried there was an invasion of his religious feelings, but if the motion was negatived no one’s religious feelings would be outraged. A scene of the wildest confusion now ensued. Half-a-dozen people were vainly essaying to speak at the same time, while the mass of the meeting was crying out “Vote, vote.” Finally, when something like order was restored, the chairman put to the meeting Mr Robin’s amendment—“ That the vote be now taken,” as against the proposition that Mr Stout should be allowed to reply, whereupon the former was declared carried.

Mr Kirkcaldy ; I trust (Confusion) The Chairman : I call upon the meeting to support me. Mr .Kirkcaldy is addressing the chair.

Mr Kirkcaldy ; I merely wished to ask (cries of sit down) must protect (confusion) The Chairman Mr Kirkcaldy only wishes to ask a question in explanation, which, perhaps, the meeting will allow him to do. (Cries of “ No,” and “ Sit down!”) Mr Kirkcaldy : I merely wish to ask the Chairman if I shall be able to move an amendment after the vote is taken.

The Chairman replied in the affirmative. Mr Stout then proposed that the vote should be taken by ballot; and Mr Ramsay moved, as an amendment, that it be by show of hands, Mr W. D. Stewart pointed out that the original motion to be carried must have two-thirds of those present voting in its favor.—(Cries of “ No.”) The Rev. Dr Stuart : I ask the ruling of the chairman on that point. The Chairman : I don’t think it necessary. The Rev. Dr Stuart : It appears to me to be a new Haw, and therefore requires .a majority of two-thirds. I must have the chairman’s ruling. Mr Stout : It is merely an instruction to the Committee.

Mr Denniston : You.don’t require a special meeting to instruct the Committee. The Chairman : This motion, if carried, does not alter any bye-law, therefore I rule that it is not necessary that it shall be carried by a majority of two-thirds. —(Cheers.) The Eev. Dr Eosebv : I rise to move that this meeting do dissent from the ruling of the chair. —(Confusion.) The Chairman : I would make this remark —Perhaps it would be better if I reserve my remarks until the vote is taken.—(Hear.) The Rev. Dr Stuart : I would appeal to Dr Roseby if it is wise to obstruct the vote being taken.

The Rev. Dr Roseby : Well, sir——(Confusion, and crics.of “ Sit down). Mr Hay pointed out that the meeting was evidently against Dr Roseby, and suggested that the rev. gentleman should sit down. The Chairman : I agree with Mr Hay that Dr Roseby having appealed to the meeting, and seeing that it is certainly against him, he should give way.—(Hear.) The Eev. Dr Ro&eby again attempted to speak, but the meeting would not hear him, and he sat down.

On the Chairman putting the vote, Mr Winter rose to propose —“ That the vote by a poll be taken one day this weekbut it was ruled that the vote must be by those present at the meeting. It having been decided that the vote should be by show of hands,, the Chairman proceeded to put the original motion^ 11 That the reading room be kept open for fo\£ hours on Sundays.” Mr/sTOUT : I now move that a poll be taken. —(Cries of “No.”) If that is denied, and the motion is lost, I shall simply get fourteen members to sign a requisition to call another special meeting.—(Hisses and cheers.) The vote was then taken, those in favor of the motion being ordered to the right and those against it to the left of the chairman. When it was seen that the motionjwas carried, its supporters jumped on to the seats and forms and cheered vigorously for several minutes. When their enthusiasm was spent, and one could hear his neighbor, their opponents demadded a poll of those present, which was taken with the following result:—For the motion, 91; against it, 83. The announcement being received with more cheering, the meeting broke up hurriedly at 12.40, but before the chairman left the room the Rev. Dr Stuart handed in the following protest :—“I protest, in the name of all who adhere to me, against the declaration of the chairman that a resolution to the effect that the Athenaeum heading-room is henceforth to be opened for four hours on Sundays on a vote of 91 to 83 is carried, on the ground that such a radical change cannot be effected without a vote of two-thirds of the members present.”