The Sun.
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 for the num-
bers who were expected to assemble on the occasion. In
very short time after the doors were thrown open the
spacious pit was densely crowded ; the boxes and gal-
leries were also well filled. The delegates, of whom
about 100 were present, were accommodated on the
stage. On the rising of the curtain the whole of the
Cage was discovered, with the beautiful representation
of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham on the proscenium.
_ _

In the absence of Mr. H. Mayhew, who presided al

the former meeting,

Mr. PRIDEAUX, cabinet-maker? delegate, was unani-
mously called on to preside. He observed that the com-
mittee,
feeling the righteousness of their cause, had re-
solved on holding the meeting in the largest place which
they could possibly obtain. (Cheers.) He alluded to
the presence of the ladies, as giving an auspicious sanc-
tion to their agitation.
Mr. WEBSTER, carpenter, moved the following resolu-
tion. 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 neces-
sary 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 work-
ing classes to obtain on that day a higher, purer, and
more intelligent and moral amusement than is now avail-
able to them." He referred to the necessity of physi-
cal recreation and exercise for the working men, the great
body of whom were in favour of this object. In fact,
it was opposed by none but such persons as composed
the Lord's-day Observance Society—(hear)—who, after
abortive attempts to stop railway trains and steam-boats,
and shut up the Post-office on a Sunday, had now em-
barked on a crusade against the new Crystal Palace at
Sydenham. However good might be the motives of
those persons, they could not plead the example of Christ
or his precepts, for he had declared that the " Sabbath
was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Re-
ligious gentlemen should bear in mind that it was quite
as necessary for the working man to take care of his
clay tenement as to attend to his religious duties.
(Cheers.) Why should the working man be condemned
for so doing ?
Mr. BAINS, brushmaker, seconded the resolution. He
said that nineteen-twentieths of the society he repre-
sented were decidedly in favour of opening the Crystal
Palace on the Sunday ; and he believed the same might
be said of the working-classes generally. (Cheers.) . This
was the case, notwithstanding the disreputable means
resorted to by many employers to prevent the free ex-
pression of their opinion. Amongst others, Truman,
Hanbury, and Buxton had recommended their work-
men not to sign the petition of this body. (" Hear,
hear," and " Shame !") All knew what advice or re-
commendations of employers amounted to. (Cheers.) If
these gentlemen wished to be consistent, let them refuse
to serve such houses with beer as opened their doors on
Sundays. (Cheers.) But if they were unwilling to
sacrifice their pockets to their principles, they must be
held guilty of the veriest cant and the most palpable
humbug. (Loud cheers.) The reverend gentleman
who opposed them at the last meeting (Mr. Baylee) who
was again on the platform, could visit the Crystal Pa-
lace, if he chose, on a Saturday or a Monday, without
any sacrifice of his income ; but the working man could
not do this. (Loud cheers.) Let the Sabbath Obser-
vance Society attack those high in authority, if they
were sincere. Was it not a desecration of the Sabbath
for bands 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 a dinner, or for 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 Gallery.
And why not these, as well as the Painted-hall at Green-
wich ? 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 Sunday. But why
not carry out the principle ? Why should the bell-ringers
and the pew-openers be employed on Sunday ? (Cheers.)
Could not the congregation go to church at the proper
time, and take their appointed places, without requiring
the services of these persons ? This was no time for the
people to be priest-ridden. (Cheers.) Their motto was
" Onwards and they ought to act up to it. (Cheers.)
Mr. W. NEWTON, engineer, in supporting the resolu-
tion, referred to the monster meetings of the Anti-Corn-
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." Sunday was the only day on which
the working man could take healthful, moral, pure recrea-
tion; masters would not pay the same for five days as for
six, consequently the working man was obliged to take
advantage of the Sunday to obtain that relaxation which
was necessary after being pent up in close and ill-venti-
lated apartments all the week. (Cheers.) Would any of
their opponents contend that the Crystal Palace and its
grounds would excite feelings more demoralising than
those of the tea-gardens, or Battersea-fields 1 If not, let
them avoid standing in the way of the working-classes
obtaining a higher species of relaxation. Many even of
the clergy were in favour of the opening of the Crystal
Palace on Sunday, believing that its influence would be
of a highly moral and religious character. Athong,st
them was Professor Maurice ; and if the opponents of
this project could answer his arguments, they would have
some ground to stand on. If the clergy knew how the
Sunday was now spent by many of the working men,
they surely would not oppose an improvement in the re-
laxations 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 Le-
gislature. It was said the publicans—who were the
only parties having a direct licence from magistrates
(many of them clergymen) to sell on Sundays--were op-
posing the opening of the Crystal Palace ; but surely an
objection of that kind would come very ill from them.
Our aristocracy drove about the streets and parks at the
west end on Sunday ; and they had a perfect right to do
this ; but had not the poor man the same right to be
driven on a railway, if he chose, to see the Crystal Pa-
lace ? (Hear, hear.) If the mention of divines was re-
ceived with a jeer or a 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 cul-
ture of the working classes. (Cheers.) The great ob-
jection to this proposal was, that it would necessitate
the employment of many workmen on Sundays ;
but was not property protected on a Sunday—
did not ships sail, and goods trains run on a Sunday--
and hy should not the health of the working men be
protected on a Sunday ? (Cheers.) They were the right
arm of the country; and whilst wealth was rapidly accu-
mulating 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 neighbour-
hood 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 adoption of the
following petition :
" The humble petition of the united working classes of
the metropolis and its vicinity, in public meeting assembled,
sheweth—

" That a meeting of your petitioners and others took
place at St. Martin's-hall, on Wednesday, the 2d 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 underst.,ocl that they are in no way desirous of question.
ing the authority of the decrees upon which the institution
of the Sabbath in this country is founded, but merelyassert
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 incontestibly that the present Sab-
bath is a social institution.
" 3. That the Sabbath, whether viewed as a Divine or a
social institution, is designed especially for the benefit of
the labourer.
"4. That while the working-classes are desirous of ob-
taining such a relaxati©n of the present rigorous mode of
observing the Sabbath as will bring it back to its true
uses—the recreating and refreshing of the labourer, they
are 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 ex-
tended to all.
"
the 5. That the working classes desire no infringement of
day of rest but such as is absolutely required their
physical and intellectual necessities.
in "Tana physical recreation is as necessary to the work-
g 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-
-7 to the working man than physical recreation on the
Sc.bhath • and that if these necessities be denied him on the
present (fay 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.

he
" 9th That
of Febru an adjournary, ed meeting took place on Wednesday,
1553, at Drury-lane Theatre, when
t
the following resolution was adopted
" ' That this meeting, recognising the fact that Sunday
is the only clay 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 amuse-
ment than is now available to them.'

" Your petitioners, for the above embodied reasons, ear-
nestly hope that the Legislature will allow the Crystal
Palace to be opened on Sundays, believing that that step
World lead to the social and moral elevation 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
members of society.
"And your petitioners will ever pray, &c."
The classes who were interested in this object might
very reasonably be estimated at half a million of adult
males, or a million and a half including their families ;
the whole of whom would be prevented visiting the Crys-
tal 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 step
in and
ssax-L." You shall spend this day according to our
dictate, ; or tell them that the whole time ought to be
given up to reliLbus worship ? (cheers,) They could not