The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-10 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON

SUNDAYS.

The adjourned aggregate meeting of the working
classes in favour of the above object took place last evening,
in Drury-lane Theatre—the former place of meeting, St.
Martin's-hall, being too small fur the numbers who • ere
expected to assemble on the occasion. In u very abort
time after the doors were thrown open the spacious pit was
densely crowded ; the boxes and galleries were also well
filled The delegates, of whom about WO were present,
were accommudated on the stage. On the rising of the
curtain the whole of the stage was diecovered, with the
beautiful representation of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham
on the proscenium.
In the absence of Mr. 11. Mayhew, who presided at the
former meeting,
Mr. I'HlDRAVl.cabinet-makers'delegate,was unanimously
called on to preside. He observed that the committee, fed-
ing the righteousness of their cause, had resolved en holding
the meeting in the largest 1.1 ire which they could possibly
obtain. (Cheers.) Ile alluded to the presence of the
Ladies, as giving an auspicious sanction to their agitation.
Mr. WRMSTER, carpenter, moved the following resolu-
tion :—"'feat this meeting, recognising the fact that Sun-
day is the only day on which it is possible for the working
man to obtain that recreation which is necessary for health
and to improve his mind, earnestly hope that the legislature
will sanction the openiug of the Crystal Pal ;co on Sundays,
and thus enable the working classes t s obtain on that day a
higher, purer, and more intelligent and moral ansteement
than ie now available to them." He referred to the neces-
sity of physical recreation and eletcese for the working men,
the great body of where were in Invour of this. object. In
fact, it was opposed by none hut such persons as composed
the Lord's Day Observ..nce Society—(hear, Iseur)—who,
after abortive attempts to stop railway trains nod steam-
boats, and shut up the Post-mace on a Sunday,
had now embarked en a crusade against the new Crystal
Palace at Sydenham. Ilewerer good might be the motives
of those persons, they could net e1...4d the example of Christ,
or his precepts, for lie had declared that the " Sabbath was
made for man, and not man fa the Sabbath." Religious
gentlemen should bear in mind that it was quite as neces-
sary for the working man to take care of his clay tenement
as to attend to his religions duties. (Cheers.) Why should
the working man be enedemned for so doing ?
Mr. 'Leese, brush-matter, seconded the resolution. He
said that nineteen-twentieths of the society he repel sented
were decidedly in favour et opening the Crystal retiree on
the Sand .y ; alai he believed the name might i.e said of the
working classes. generally. (Cheers.) This was the case,
notwithstanding the disreputable means resorted to by
many emelos en to I. t the free expression of their
epimon. Amongst others, Truman, Itaebury and Lux.
ten had recommended their workmen not to seen the peti-
tion of this body. (" Hear, hear," and " Shame !") All
kanw what advice or recommendations of employer to the
employed amounted to. (Cheers.) If these gentlemen
wished to be consistent, let them refuse to serve such houses
with beer as opened their doers on Sundays. (Cheers.)
But if they were unwilling to sacrifice their pockets to
their principles, they must be hell guilty of the veriest
cant and the most palpable humbug. (Loud cheers) The
rev. gentleman who opposed them et toe 44 meeting (Mr.
Bayles(' who was againon the platform), could visit the
Crystal Palace, if he chlse, en a Saturday or • Monday,
without any sacrifice if his Meeme ; bet the working man
could cot du this. (Ileer, hear.) Let the Sabbath Otter-
ratite Society attack those high in authority, if they were
sincere. Was it not a desecration of the Sabbath for hands
to play, and the military to be called out on that day, as
much as for some poor shoeless urchin to sell a little fruit to
get himself • dinner, or far the Crystal Palace to be opened
to the working man ? (Hear, hear.) But it was said it
would lead to the opening of other places,
as the British Museum and the National Gal-
lery. And why not these, as well as the Painted
Hall at Greenwich? Why might not works: of art
be admired in the National Gallery as well as at St. Paul's ?
(Cheers.) Some objected that, by the opening of these
places, more persons would be employed on the Beesley.
But why not carry out the principle? Why should the
bell-riegers and the pew-openers be employed on Sundae ?
(Cheers.) Could nut the congregation go to church at the
proper time, and take their appointed places, without re-
quiring the services of these persons ? This was re time
for the people to be priest-ridden. (Cheers.) Their motto
was "Onwards;" and they ought to act up to it. (Cheers.)
Mr. W. NEW rox, engineer, in supporting the resolution,
referred to the monster meetings of the Anti-core Law
League, held in a neighbouring theatre, and hailed the
overflowing attendance on that occasion as an earnest of
success. The question was eminently a social one, and
when advocated on social grounds must be more powerful
than any consideration arising from particular " modes of
faith." &Imlay was tho only day en which the working
man could take healthful, moral, pure recreation ; inaskrs
would not pay the same for five days as for FlN—(hrar,
hear)—coneequently the working man was obliged to take
advantage of the Sunday to obtain that relaxation which
was necessary after bciug pent up in close and ill-vecti-
lated apartments all the week. (Cheers) Would any of
their opponents contend that the Crystal Palace and its
grounds would excite feelings more deseoralisiag than those
of the tea-gardens, or Battersea-fields ? If not, let them
avoid standing in the way of the working clesses obtain*
ing a higher species of relaxation. (near, hear.) Many
oven of the clergy were iu favour of the opening of the
Crystal Palace on Sunday, believing that its influence
would be of a highly moral sad religious character.
Amongst them was Professor Maurice; and if the opponents
of this project could answer his arguments, they would have
setae ground to stand on. (near, bear.) If the deny
knew how the Sunday was now spent by many of the
working men, they surely would not oppose an improve-
ment in the relaxations and amusements of this class.
Looking at all the arguments in favour of this measure,
there was very little doubt that it would obtain the sanction
of the legislature. (Hear, hear.) It was said the publicaus
—who were the only parties having a direct license from
magistrates (many of them clergymen) to sell on Sundays
—were opposing the opening of the Crystal Palace ; but
surely an objection of that kind would come very ill from
them. (Hear, hear.) Our aristocracy drove about the
streets and parks at the west end on Sunday; and they had
• perfect right to do this; but had not tho poor man the
same right to be driven on a railway, if he chose, to sec
the Crystal Palace? (Hear, hear.) If the mention of
divines was received with a jeer or • hiss, in any audience
like that, they had nobody to thank but themselves for it,
for not taking more pains with the moral and intellectual
culture of the working classes. (Cheers.) The great oh-
jection to this proposal was, that it would necessitate
the employment of many worieuien on Sundays;
but was not property protected on a Sunday—
did nut ships sail, and goods trains run on a
Sunday—and why should not the health of the working
mon be protected on • Sunday ? (Chem.) They were the
right arm of the country ; mal whilst wealth was rapidly
accumulating by the exercise of their industry, our sanitary
arrangements did not keep pace with their requirements;
and one of the most important was the establishment of
large open spaces for air and exercise in the neighbourhood
of all populous towns. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, and it was
carried, with but one or two dissentients, amidst the loudest
acclamations. .

Mr. EDWARDS, compositor, moved the adoptioa of the
following petition:
"The humble Petition of the United Working Classes
of the metropolis and its vicinity, in public meeting as-
sembled, aheweth,
" That a meeting of your petitioners and others took
place at St. Martin's-hall, on Wednesday, the 2nd day of
Feb., 1853, when the following declaration was adopted,
with only seven dissentients out of an assembly of two
thousand persons:
"1. That the working men, in this movement, wish it to
be understood that they are iu no way desirous of question-
ing the authority of the decrees upon which the institution
of the Sabbath so this count!), is founded, but merest' assert
for themselves the right to interpret those decrees as their
consciences dictate.

.2. That the mode of observing the Sunday among the
early Christians proves ineontestibly that the present Sab•
bath is a social Institution.

"3. That the Sabbath, whether viewed as a divine or a
medal institution, is designed especially for the benefit of the
labourer. _

"4. That while the working classes are desirous of ob-
taining such a relaxation of the present rigorous modo of ob-
serving the Sabbath as will bring it back to its true uses—
the recreating and refreshing of the labourer, they are like-
wise especially anxious to guard the day of rest against any
other encroachment than that which is absolutely neces-
sary ; and, at the same time, to procure for their fellow
workmen, who may be engaged in ministering to their ne-
cessities on the Sunday, some other day of rest in the week,
so that the boon of the Sabbath may be equally extended
to all.

That the working classes desire no infringement of
the day of rest but such as is absolutely required for their
physical and intellectual necessities.
"6. That physical recreation is as necessary to the
working man as food and drink on the Sabbath.
"7. That refined and intellectual enjoyment, as well as
the means of obtaining information, are even more neces-
sary to the working man than physical recreation on the
Sabbath ; and that if these necessities be denied him on the
present day of rest, then two Sabbaths must be appointed
in the week, one to be observed as a day of mere repose,
and the other as a day for the recreation of his mental and
bodily energies.
" That an adjourned meeting took place on Wednesday,
the 9th of February, 1863, at Drury-lane Theatre, when
the following resolution was adopted:
That this meeting, recognising the fact that Sunday is
the only day on which it is possible for the working man
to obtain that recreation which is necessary for health and
to improve his mind, earnestly hope that the legislature will
sanction the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays, and
thus enable the working classes to obtain on that day a
higher, purer, and more intelligent and moral amusement
thin is now available to them.'

" Your petitioners, for the above embodied reasons, ear-
nestly hope that the legislature will allow the Crystal Pa-
lace to be opened on Sundays, believing that that step would
lead to the social and moral elcv.dion of those who now
spend their day in a more objectionable manner; that it
would cultivate their minds and improve their habits, and
help to render them better citizens of the state and mem-
bers of society.
" And your petitioners will ever pray, Bre."
Tho classes who were interetted in this cbject might very
reasonably be estimated at half a million of adult make, or
a million and a half including their families ; the whole of
wham would be prevented visiting the Crystal Palace on
any day but Sunday. (Hear. hear.) The majority of
them could not take any other day without perilling their
situations. Who then had a right to stet, En and say—
" You shall spend this dry accor,Lug our dictates;" or tell

! them thst the whole time ought to oe given up to religieus
worship? (Cheers.) They could not force men to church,
even if they were prevented from going elsewhere. (He,r,
hear.) The opposition of the publicaus was eiody under-
stood: no malt liquor erns to be sold in the Crystal Pal Ate.
(Cheers.) Hence the up;maition of the great brewers,
whose liberality was such that, while the materials of their
manufacture had fallen 50 per cent., they still exacted the
some price from the working men for his no of herr.
(Hear, hear.) Such was the intolerance of some of the
' clergy that they would not only shut up every railway and
{top the stsambosts, but wuutu hardly d.low the sun
to shine if they could help it, aad would like to e a No-
vember fog every Sanctity. (Cheers end laughter.) Tee
Her. John Jordan, vicar of linatonc, in a recut publica-
tiuu, said that no cno ought to walk further on Sunday
than to church and hack. (Laughter.) It was not by
such means that the dery weld win the hearts of thu
people—a:ready suincien y alienated from thtm. The
great !nine pieple of the Anglo Sazon race Iris tceedona, rot
oclv of trade, but of conscience . • and the object now sought
was one means of asserting that freedom. (Cheers.)
Mr. MACKAY. reookbsnu r, seconded the sdoptem of the
petition. The clergy had never come to di] rescue of the
working classes when the oepressor's loot weal upon them.
In proof of this, he would crier to the positien of his own
trade, and to what had been dune with the binder. for the
Ilible Seciety. (Hear.) Their waves had beta reduasl no
less than 30 per ccut. (Hear.) If the clergy were really
the friends of the working classes. they would support the
opening of this " Sunday School." (Loud cheers.)
Tito pc mien was adopted amidst loud cheering.
The ellAlitllAN said the me,ting was one entirely of
working men, at whose cost the turatre had been engaged;
and a subscription would be opened to defray those ex-
penses. Next de;, a deputat:on of working mea would
wait on Lord ralin.rstan, to lay the case Wino him.
(Cheers.)
" . _

On t c motion of Mr. NEwrox, tho thanks of the meet-
rag ware voted to the chairman.

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
SEAIIAII AND BUNDRRLAND.

The want of railway communication between the
important ports of Seaham and Sunderland has long been
telt to be a serious inconvenience by the inhabitant. of both
these towns. Oa Tuesday last took place the interesting
ceremony of " turning the first sod " of a rii:lway intended
to connect tlu two ports, which has been projected by the
Marquis of Londonderry•, and which, strange an it may ap-
pear in them days of roilw4 depression, is to be executed
throughout by his lordship, at an estimated cost of .10,0,301.
The scene was highly animated and picturesque. A
hand: me platform, oc.mpyiag the site of the intended
Seah on Station, wis erected iu the centre of a field,
commanding a flue sea view on one Pith!, and upon
the other the atie:ent church of Seaham, with the
family mansion of Lord Londonderry in close proximity.
The gucots invited to he pr sent met M the town of
Seaham at one o'clock, and shortly afterwards moved in
proceision, headed by two excellent bands belonging to his
lordship's collieri..s, to the scene of operation•, where they
were met on their arrival by the Marquis of Lontiondarry,
by whom the ceremony was performed.