The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LEAGUE.

In their annual report for 1878 the Council state that
the Spring Exhibibion of the Royal Hibernian Academy
in Dublin was opened on Sundays to the public.
The Royal Academy and Art Union of London had
informed the Council that the articles of association
precluded their Sunday opening.
In May, Mr. Wells, of Maidstone, carried a resolu-
tion for opening the Town Museum and Library on
Sundays. The League was present by deputation on
the opening Sunday, and afterwards organised a
special excursion to Maidstone to give the members
and friends of the League an opportunity of inspecting
the interesting and valuable collection.

On the 121 of May the excursions commenced, and
were extended to beptember 15—ten in all being run.
By these they were enabled to give a day's enjoyment
at the sea-side or in the country to 9,500 persons. The
receipts were £1,1026 or £3OO above those of 1877, not-
withstanding the depression of trade.
In July the Duke of Westminster kindly repeated
his permission to the League to visit his charming
seat Cliveden, and the attraction was increased by.
Mr. Grenfell opening his neighbouring grounds of
Taplow Court. About 800 friends availed themselves
of this opportunity.

The Su-4
band season in the Regent's Park com-
menced 19, and terminated Sept. 22, with a
special per ormance in aid of the distress caused by
the sinking of the Princess Alice steamer and the
Abercarne Colliery Explosion. On every fine Sunday
evening 20,000 persons at least had shown a thorough
enjoyment of the music; the last was a worthy cul-
mination, the park being literally covered with people.
The receipts of the band season 1878 showed £312 as
against £221 in 1877, and this again was in excess of
1876.
The Royal Albert Hall Sunday organ performances
were given during the summer months, and a liberal
supply of tickets was furnished to the League. The
management had, however, to close a month earlier
than usual from want of funds. •
An Exhibition of Water-colour Drawings' organised
by the Sunday Society, was opened tree to the public
on three Sundays in September, and was deservedly
successful.

The Sunday Evenings for the People could not be
carried out on the scale of last season at Sadler's
Wells Theatre, owing to that building being sold and
passing into the hands of builders for alterations on
the eve of the Sunday Evenings being resumed
therein. It was then too late to obtain a suitable
building, and an arrangement was concluded with Dr.
Zerffi for the delivery, under the auspices of the
League, of a series of twenty-four lectures in Langham
Hall.
The primary objects of the League have been suc-
cessful at an accelerated speed. The Sunday opening
of the Museum and Literary at Maidstone has, later
in the year, been followed by that of the Free
Libraries at Manchester, Wigan and Keswick. The
admitted success of these, as of every previous Sunday
opening, must influence the Corporations of other
towns to follow the example. One other feature of
the year demands notice in this report, viz. :—The great
number of discussions on the question which have
taken place throughout the country, and the very
general recognition of the office of the League as the
source to obtain informatien by the gentlemen pre-
paring to take part in them.
The balance sheet shows that the financial position
of the League is sound, and that the several depart-
ments are judiciously worked.