The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-16 00:00:00

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A ;neeting of the mew hers of the NiOtnal Suu-
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day League was held yesterday eveA4 in St. ,:rl.47't
Martin's-hall. The olject of the sc,ciety&*s
forth in the advertisement convening the LiNtting,z
is "to obtain the °netting of the public museums,
libraries, and garde:is on Sunday, in London and
in the towns of Eigland, Ireland, :Ind Scotland,
for the instruction, recreation, and innocent amuse-
ment of the working chts3e3." Si: Joshua Waling-
ley, M.P., President of the League, occupied the
chair, and about 830 persons, many of whom were
ladies, were present. t here were also present dele-
gates from Nottingham, Northampton, Edinburgh
the Potteries, and Eastbourne.
The CIIAIRIIIAN, iii opening the proceedings,
stated that numerow misrepresentations had been
made from time to time with regard to the objects
and intentions of the society. To sustain the
right of private judgment and perfect religious
equality was, however, the only end and aim of the
Sunday League. So far ft run wishing to weaken
the cause of religion and morality they were most
anxious to strengthen :nil preserve it, arid they
were also desirous that all their actions should be
tested by that Word to which all denominations of
Christians referred. They maintained that inno-
cent recreation on the Sunday was not only cam-.
patible but was in accordance with Scripture, and
they courted any discussion which was calculateti
to elicit the truth. At the same time they eschewed
all interference with the religious opinions of
others. For his own part, he believed that inno-
cent recreation on the Sunday afternoon was not
only calculated to sustain and strengthen, but also
to foster and advance those social efforts without
which there would be very little true piety. Of
all men the workiug man was most interested in
maintaining the integrity of the Sabbath, for it was
to him a day of joy, consolation, and comfort. He
regarded it as the great bulwark against incessant
toil, and all that he claimed was that it should be
as free to the poor as to the rich. He simply sought
justice and charity, and while desiring to do his
own work in his own way he refused to be coerced
into the opinions of others. In his (Sir J. Walms-
ley's) opinion, the only effectual mode of improv-
ing, and advancing the interests of the working
classes was by sympathy, by kindness, and by the
force of good example ; but coercion had, and ever
would fail in attaining those objects. They might
close the Parks and shut up the public institutions,
but by so doing they would open the public-houses
and keep the people in ignorance. They might
surround the working man with pains and penal-
ties, bet such a course, instead of making him
wiser, better, and happier, would only introduce
and sanction an organised hypocrisy. The Sunday
League held that it was the duty of the wealthier
classes, in the plenitude of their enjoyments and
comforts, not to forget that innocent recreation on
the Sunday was absolutely essential to the man
who for six days out of the seven was confined in
a factory or workshop. They also believed that
the best method of providing this recreation was to
obtain the opening of the various museums, gar-
dens, and public institutions throughout the king-
dom on the Sunday.
Mr. W. LOADEIt proposed the first resolution:—
" That in the opinion of this meeting the opening of
the public museums, galleries, and libraries on Sundays
would improve the social habits and morals, and increase
the happiness of the working classes."
He referred to the doctrine of the Sabbatarians,
that Sunday ought to be set apart as a day of
Divine worship, but called attention to the fact
that there was a numerous class who could not be
induced to enter a place of worship at all. The
members of the Sunday League were of opinion
that this large class ought to be properly cared for
and prevented from frequenting public-houses.
The best means of accomplishing that objeet was to
open the British Museum, National Gallery, and
other places of innocent amusement on the Sunday,
and upon that ground the Sunday League claimed
the support of the public.
Mr. Cox (of Edinburgh) seconded the resolution.
Mr. SINDON then proposed an amendment to the
effect that, the meeting thankfully accepting the
late decision of the House of Commons on the sub-
ject of opening places of public amusement on Sun-
day, pledged itself to promote the more frequent
opening of those places at times on week days, when
those who had to work for their bread could fully
avail themselves of the benefit those places afford.
The speaker, amid considerable uproar and confu-
sion, briefly stated the reasons which induced him
to oppose the views of the Sunday League, and to
advocate, instead of the present movement, an agi-
tation for a half-holiday on Saturday.
Mr. GIIiDLESTON having seconded the amend.
merit,

Mr. WILKINSON, M.P., addressed the meeting
in support of the original motion. He said he be-
lieved that the Sabbatarians had never put forward
the slightest shadow of an argument against the
opening of the British Museum and other sources
of rational amusement on Sunday. The members
of the Sunday League professed to be Christians
and Protestants, and they claimed the right of pri-
vate judgment in all religions and political matters.
The Sabbatarians, on the other hand, were desirous
of preventing the working-man from using the Sab-
bath as he liked, by closing against him certain
places which he thought it right to visit. All that
the Sunday League claimed was the right of having
those public institutions left open to all who chose
to visit them, and they were ready to take all the
consequences upon themselves if they went wrong.
The ClukaßaLci then put the original motion and
the amendment, when the former was carried by a
very large majority, only 20 hands being held up
in favour of the amendment.

Mr. R. Moonn (Chairman of the Sunday Bands
Committee) next moved—
" That this meeting is of opinion that the music in
the parks of the metropolis and in other towns of the
kingdom on Sundays has been productive of great moral
good."
The speaker gave a short account of the proceed-
ings of the Sunday Bands Committee, and stated
that in every town in which bands had been estab-
lished their establishment had been found produc-
tive of great good.
The resolution having been seconded by Mr.
PERFECT was agreed to, and the proceedings were
brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the chair-
man.