The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-12 00:00:00

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SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1869.

THE OPENING OF MUSEUMS ON
SUNDAYS.

There are few subjects on which a more deci-
ded difference of opinion exists, as fur as can be
ascertained by the means taken to evoke that
opinion, than on the question of opening muse-
ums and picture-galleries on Sunday. ne will
endeavour to state the conflicting opinions fairly,
preparatory to stating what we believe to be the
right policy to adopt on the matter.
Mr. Gregory, as member for Galway, may he
considered to base been rather out sf place
when moving the other night, in the House of
Commens, " that it is the opinion of this House
that the Kensington, Jerinvn Street, and British
Museums, and the National Gallery, should be
opened to the public after the hour of Divine
service on Sundays." Bat the hon, gentleman
does not in this matter profess to represent a
town or a locality, but a principle and a theory.
He deals with the entire qttestion, and though
he sought only to commit he House of Coin-
mons to the declaration of an abstract opinion
in reference to the metropolis, this was done with
ulterior views in respect to the museums and
galleries throughout the country. Mr. Gregory
presented is large number of petitions in favour
of his views, and claimed the preponderance of
opinion among the workin4.clasaes as being on
his side. Alluding to the apening on Sunday of
the Botanical Gardens and National Gallery in
DAlin, he maintained that the result was an ar-
gument for the Sunday opening of melt insti-
tutions generally. He maintained that tie
natural arrangement of the English Sunday was
religious service in the morning and recreation
afterwards. As to the mural effect of opening
museums, galleries, and gardens on Sundays, he
urged that it diminished drunkenness, and he
cited testimony in favour of this view. As to
our national conscience being shocked by the
opening of museums, ,te., he pointed to Hanip•
ton Court, Kew Gardens, iirc.' being already
open. Alluding to the alleged enroll .ry that
the theatres would folio v museums, he repudi-
ated soy such a desire on his own part or that
of his supper en i ; while, as to the asserted a i-
d.tioa to the labour of :Mendel:its. &c., he mai -
tained that this would be very small; and he
urged, moreover, that the present restrictions
on Sunday do not create a reverence for it.

Mr. Gregory showed consider.tble talent in
ptitting the argument; on thc affirmative side
Into a coluitaet shape, and we eau think of no
others on his side of the question that do not
directly arise oat of those lte has ass,trted. Ad-
d/Ito/131 arg.umeot,i might be adduced, but they
would bc Int re tli/velppatents of his own. We
will turn, therefore, to the negative argum

It is maintained by thoibialio oppo.ie the
views of tho National Smithy league, mid who
desire that no legislative sanction should be
given to 'midi opinions Its Mr. Gregery has ex-
pro isel, that th-ro is not a necessary alternative
beta .ieu Ijulseuluija. i., on the on baud, and
puldiedionses on the other ; that the people of
this country gi.nerallv do not want the 11111SOUIIIS
and galleries open on Sundays, and that it is
°lily throngh the agitation of the National Sun-
day League that any MOVIIIIICIA has boen made
in this direction; that the desire for visiting
Mail:111119 Olt any day is over-rated, and that
frequent opportunities of visiting them on the
wetn.k-days are neglected ; that extra work, and
that compulsory, would be demanded of atten-
dants, Ste.; that this would indirectly lead to
other Sunday work elsewhere, owing to tunas-
inns Still galleries opened all over the country ;
that if museums, picture galleries, and gardens
are to lie opened on Sundays, and bands of Inn.
sic allowed, the next step will be to eueeert
rooms and theatres ; that Sunday is not now a
day of gloom, religiona people taking delight in
religious exereises, and those who do not value
the sanctity of the Sabbath, having already full
opportunities of enjoying the day as a 11,1litlilY ;
but that the sunelitv of the Sabbath is of essen-
tial importanee to the national welfare.
We think we have fairly given the pro and con
of the arguments, and would ask whether the
balance be not on the side which Mr. Gregory
. advocates. To talk of the sanctity of the Sab-
bath tieing violated, by the National Gallery or
the British Museum being opened, is preposter-
ons, when we consider that publie-houses are
legally opened during certain hours, that excur-
sion and ordinary trains are run, that vehicles
ply for hire, and that Sunday trading is carried
on ad libitnot more preposterous still when we
lainir in mind that Hampton Court Palace and
Kew Gardens era opened for the many, and the
Zoological G.,I'II::ILA for the favoured fox. If
Mr. Gregory's opponents were true to tlioirown
theories, they ought to agitate for the Sunday
closing of the gin-shop, and every other shop,
every garden °pea for money, and parka and
ploasnre grontoispirs,im. We believe that the
Sunday (Tuning of museums and picture galle-
ries would du no harm from a religious point of
view, while socially it woald be a great boon to
hard week-day workers; and that the movement
;thud theatres next being opened is a mere bug-
bear put forward to frignten people out of their
common sense.