The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LEAGUE AT

BATH.

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A public meef.ng, convened by the National &may
League, was held at the Assembly Rooms, Bath, on
Wednesday evening. The announcement of the meeting
bad caused a great stir in the city. The clergy and dis-
senting ministers held a meeting to concert measures of
opposition, and their congregations were exhorted to
attend. The consequence was that the whole of the
reserved-seat tickets, which were is. each, were soon
bought up, and the body of the room, to which admis-
sion was free, had to be much curtailed to provide room
for the additional applicants for tickets. Long before
the hour announced for commencing the business, the
room was crowded, and a number of clergymen and
dissenting ministers took possession of the whole of one
side of the platform, an act which was in vain protested
against by the agent of the League. The deputation
from the League were Wm. Loaden, Esq., Mr. Mackey,
Mr. John Kervey, and Mr. Robert Jones, but only
the first spoke. They were accompanied on the plat-
form by three or four town councillors, and a few
other cit,nens.

Mr. J. KEENE, proprietor of the Bath Journal, pre-
sided. He said they were met to discuss an important
question. They bad proposed to them, by the National
Sunday League, a certain question as to how the Sab-
bath was to be observed. The object of the League was

to obtain the opening of public museums, galleries, libra
ries, garden; &0., on Sundays, for the instruction, recrea-
tion, and innocent amusement of the working classes.
They expected to find in so large an assemblage of people
differences of opinion ; but one thing he felt assured
of, that in the refined city of Bath courtesy would be
shown to every speaker, and that perfect order would
be maintained. They were all one in one grand respect
The members of the league would yield to none in re-
spect for the Sabbath, or for the Scriptures. They came
there to discuss particulars as to the mode and manner
in which Sunday should be observed, and it would be
for the meeting, after calm consideration, to decide
whether they were right or wrong.
Mr. LOADEN, who, on the whole, was heard with
great attention, then addressed the meeting for upwards
of an hour, and moved—" That in the opinion of this
meeting the opening of public museums, galleries, and
libraries, and the performance of music on Sundays,
would improve the socia habits and morals, and increase
the happiness of the working classes."
The motion was seconded by Dr. BRABANT, in a
closely-argumentative speech.
The Rev. W. MAGER then proposed, in a long speech,
the following amendment—" That in the opinion of this
meeting the' opening of places of amusement on the
Sunday would not benefit the working classes, bur, would
tend to injure their social and moral habits, and would
-prove fatal to their true happiness and highest interests.
The amendment was seconded by Mr. DAVIS, and
Mr. LOADEN attempted to reply, but by this time the
meeting had become so impatient and boisterous that
his voice could not be heard.
The CHAIRMAN at length put the amendment and
resolution, when the former, as was expected from the
character of the meeting, was carried by a very large
Majority, upon which three cheers were given for Mr.
Magee.
Though the meeting was occasionally noisy, the
greatest courtesy was shown and acknowledged by the
speakers on each side, and the proceedings closed with
a vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by the Rev.
W. Magee, for his strict impartiality.
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