The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

STINDAY CLOSING hIEETING : AT
13TOURPRMGE.

A crowded meetbig. vas held in the Corn Exchaige,
on Tuesday evening, an connection with the move-
ment for securing the Sunday closing of public-houses.
The Rev. C. S. Wordsworth, rector of Oldewia-
ford, having opened the meeting, Mr. E. Whitwell, of
Kendal, moved a resolution declaring that the sale of
intoxicating liquors on the Lord's Day was productive
of a large amount of drunkenness, pauperism, and
crime, and as other trades donld not be exercised on
that day it was unfair and unjust that it ehould be
sanctioned by the Legillature.
The Rev. H. Sherrard seconded the resolution, and
referring to the Christian rule that the only works to
be done on Sunday were works of necessity or of
mercy, he said it could not be urged that the opening
of public-houses on Sundays came under either of
these heads. 'With all respect to the lodger and the
bonafide traveller, who were generally great myths, it
was no work of mercy to place such temptations be-
fore working men as now existed. What they had to
fight was the tyranny of custora, and the selfishness
of those who sought to get their own ends without re-
gard to the rights of poor humanity. (Cheers.)
Mr. R. Kelly (of the New Inn), rose to move an
amendment. The remarks which had been made
were, to a great extent right, 'aut there could not be
an argument more false than that one that a working
man could just as well provide himself with beer on
the Saturday night for the Sunday, as on Sunday.
What would beer purchased on the Saturday night be
good for on the Sunday?. Preaching temperance was
all very well, and he fully believed in it—to a certain
extent (Laughter.) It was no hardship for gentle-
men with wine in their cellars to have public-houses
closed on Sundays, but it was different with working
men. As to Sunday drunkenness, he had been a
publican something like eighteen years, and had had
a good deal of experience, and where he saw twenty
cases of drunkenriess fifteen years ago he did not see
one now. The police statistics showed he was per-
fectly right. (A Voice : Nonsense.) Mr. Kelly con-
cluded by proposing, asan amendment. "That the
meeting was not in favour of Sunday closing."
Some person cried out:' I second that on one
condition—that the publicans maintain all the paupers.
Mr. Walker seconded the amendment, without the
reservation mentioned.

Mr. Whitwell, briefily replying upon the discussion
said that if beer would not keep good from Saturday
night till Sunday, it was because it was inferior and
adulterated beer. (Cheers.) The amendment was
put and negatived, by a large majority, and the
original resolution was then adopted.
Mr. S. Knell snored the second resolution, asking
the members for the division to support the bill in
favour of Sunday closing.
The Rev. T. Williams seconded the resolution,
which was carried.

Mr. A•Freer moved tilt) adoption of a petition to
Parliament in favour of Sunday closing, and urged
some strong points in favour of the measure.
The Rev. Dr. Welch seconded the resolution,
which was carried.

On the motion of the RGY. l'ir; Manning, seconded
by Mr. H. Newnham, a local committee was appoiu
and the proceedings closed with a vote thanks to the
chairman.