The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEIVIBER 27, 1868.

True, that the present juncture, or crisis, if yo
please to call it so, is one remarkable, and even
momentous in its character, but it is not (as we have
shown) without precedent—it is not (as Mr. GLAD-
STONE erroneously calls one of its minor incidents)
unparalleled.

AN important decision has just been given on a
long-disputed application of the law. Legal provision
for the observance of Sunday is a matter of
considerable difficulty ; it is right that the law should
step in to prevent profanity on the day of rest, but
it is not easy to determine how far such interference
should extend, or what cases may come under its
operation. Legislation to prevent the abuse
of Sunday is specially liable to be con-
verted into a weapon by bigotry and intole-
rance. A remarkable instance of this came up in
the Court of Common Pleas on Thursday. About
two years ago a series of religious recreation meetings,
under the title of " Sunday Evenings for the
People," was held in London. Lectures were de-
livered, chiefly on social subjects, and sacred music
was performed by professional artistes. Admission to
a portion of the room was free, but for certain seats
a scale of charges was in force. These meetings
were orderly, and were certainly free from profanity.
There was no debate, no discussion ; and the addresses,
which were often religious, were never irreligious.
But, of course, this species of religious recreation
met with strong opposition in many quarters.
In particular, a Mr. BAXTER, who apparently has
the observance of Sunday under his especial
care, sought for means to bring these meetings
within-the reach of the law. An Act passed in the
reign of GEORGE 111. was expressly directed against
the opening of certain rooms for religious debates.
It therefore laid clown that any place used for such a
purpose should be deemed a disorderly house, and
the person keeping or opening it should be fined.
Mr. BAXTER discovered in this Act an amount of
encouragement which most people would have
held very doubtful. He attempted to exact a penalty
of £BOO, under this Act of GEORGE 111., for the hold-
ing of these religious recreation meetings. The
court, however, has decided that recreative religion,
whatever objections may be brought against it from
a moral point of view, is not a contravention of the
law, and hasgiven judgment againstMr.BAXTEß. It is
difficult to discover on what grounds, except those of
prejudice and intolerance, this gentleman rested his
case. The Act provides for the punishment of those
who on Sundays open places for amusement or
for debate, and who receive money for admission.
Decidedly the meetings complained of fulfilled one
condition of infringement, for a price of admission
was demanded ; but no debates were permitted, and
the judge very justly held that "religious recreation"
was,legally speaking, neither entertainment nor amuse-
ment. To have brought such meetings within the scope
of the Act would have been to administer that excess
of justice which is really no justice at all.
There may be doubt as to whether such
observance of Sunday is the best that could
be chosen ; but there can be no doubt that it is law-
ful. A contrary decision would have been dangerous
in more ways than one. It would have violated that
just principle of the moral law which,the very preva-
lent BAXTER doctrine notwithstanding, permits
every individual his free choice in matters of religion,
and it would have been no gain to social order.
Without discouraging profanity, it would have
encouraged intolerance. If the meetings had been
prohibited only because money was received at
the doors, how would a collection at an
ordinary place of worship be dealt with ? On
this single point there can really be no substantial
distinction between these prices for admission and
any contributions for the support of a place of
worship to its minister. If, then, taking money could not
render these meetings illegal—and it could be decided
otherwise only by an unworthy quibble—it is impos-
sible that this " recreative religion" could be con-
strued as an amusement. It is quite possible that a
large proportion of those who attended them went
chiefly for amusement ; but this is a legal ques-
tion. The addresses were not followed by debate,
and clearly lectures on religious and scientific sub-
jects are not primarily amusing. There remains but the
music. If this be held to convert an otherwise grave
programme into an entertainment, where shall the
line be drawn ? If the performance of the " Stabat
Mater " is an illegal Sunday amusement, will
any ordinary High Church service—not to speak
of llaydock or Brighton—be deemed beyond the
reach of the law ? The lectures were professedly
not hostile to religion, and therefore the musical ele-
ment alone could be brought into question. To have
decided that this rendered the meeting illegal
would have been nothing less than a misfortune.
The protection of Sunday from profanity or abuse
may be an important legislative duty. But to make
religion and the law the instruments of individual
creeds, is not to aid Sunday observance, but to sub-
vert it.

LATEST INTELL MENU..

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
CROOKIIAVEN, Nov. 27, 6.20 p.m.

The Cunard steamer Java, from New York, is
now passing Browhead Signal Station en route for
Queenstown.

OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.
MALTA, Nov. 27.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pera, from Southampton, on the 14th instant,
arrived on the 231 at 6 a.m., and left at midnight
for Alexandria.

The Tanjore left at 11 p.m. yesterday for
Southampton with the India, China, and Aus-
tralian heavy mails, where she may be looked for
about the sth proximo.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.
COLOGNE, Nov. 27, 6.15 a.m.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales, with their children, arrived here early
this morning, and are staying at the Hotel Disch.

. FRANCE.
BOURSE, Nov. 26.—Three o'clock.—The markct
closed as follows :

4i per Cont.
End of month —
3 per Cent
End of month 7l 75
Credit Mobilier
End of month 3Ol. 25
Credit Foncier l5lO
End of month —

Bank Sharps 3215
Ital'an Loan —
End of month —
' Mexican Loan
Do. Bonds
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred —

RAILWA'

Cash_
Orleans
Northern ... J2OS '
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern..... ..620
Western

.. _....
Eastern .. 570.
Sardinian
Austrian 630
Lombard 4OO
North of Spain 77i
Saragossa
Roman 47

MP.. GLADSTONE ON THE MAYNOOTH GRANT AND
REGIUM DoNum.—The Rev. W. Jubb, independent
minister of Oldbury, near Birmingham, wrote a letter to
Mr. Gladstone, in which he said :—" Thera aro yams in
this town who are under the impression that you do not,
intend to take away the Maynooth Grant and the
Regium Donum at the same time that you disestablish
the Irish Church. This has led them to support the Tory
candidate, though they are Liberal in principle on.other
subjects." Mr. Glaistona's reply was as follows :—" Not
only my own declarations upon every occasian, but the
resolution unanimously passed by the House of Commons,
binds mo in honour, as I am bound in purpose and con-
viction, to propose that the Regium Donum and May-
nooth Grant should ba wound up, and should cuts.) with
the Church Establishment. Can words go further ? With
best compliments, yours, W. E. GLADSTONE.—LiverpooI,
Nov. 17."

It is in contemplation, to commemorate the Con-
servative victories in Lancashire; to hold a grand banquet
at one of the leading towns in the county, to which Lord
Derby, Mr. Disraeli, and the chief members of the Con-
servative party will be invited.

A CORONER'S CEIV;SV.REd

A strange case has been revealed at an inquest held by
the Liverpool coroner, upon the body of a woman 33 years
of age. She was the wife of a book-keeper,
and had been separated from her husband. She
had since been guilty of improper intercourse with
another book-keeper, an old man of 62. The other night
they slept together at a Liverpool hotel, representing
themselves as husband and wife. They had nothing to eat,
but took a considerable stock of raw spirits upstairs with
them. At midnight the old man awoke, and to his horror
found the woman dead and cold. Strange to relate he
remained after this in bed with the corpse for
half an hour. For the rest of the night he
sat up. At ten o'clock in the morning, he
called for " breakfast for one," saying nothing about
the death. They refused to give him his breakfast in the
bedroom. When he came down stairs he said his wife was
unwell, and at last the girl went up and learned the truth.
The medical testimony went to show that the woman had
had a fit of epilepsy. The jury found a verdict of
"Death from natural causes," and both coroner and jury
censured the man.

THE ANGLO-AMERICAN COMMISSION.

It is stated by the " Central Press" that such claims of
British shipowners upon the United States Government
for damages sustained during the American civil war at
have already been decided upon in the American courts,
will not be re-opened before the Anglo-American Commis.
sion of four appointed to adjudicate the claims arising out
of the American war.

THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The Minwrial 241onzatique states that Mr. Glad.
stone has offered the post of Foreign Secretary (in
the event of a change of Ministry) to the Earl of
Kimberley, and that his lordship has accepted the offer.
We have authority for stating that our contemporary has
been correctly informed. Lord Kimberley, as Lord Wode•
house, has had great experience of foreign affairs. He was
;Under-Secretary of State for that department during Lord
,Aberdeen's and Lord Palmerston's first Administrations.
In 1856 he was sent as Ambassador to St. Petersburg. He
returned from Russia in 1858 to his former post, but
resigned it in 1861. In 1863 he was sent on a special
mission to the North of Europe, with the view of
fettling the complication whieb had arisen out
of the Danish Duchies. In 1864 he succeeded the
late Earl of Carlisle as Viceroy of Ireland,
and held that post until the resignation of the Russell-
Gladstone Administration, in June 1866. It will be seen
that his lordship held no post at the Foreign Office
during the American war. He will therefore, being un-
fettered by former negotiations, come to his important
duties free to deal with the delicate questions between the
tinited Sates and Great Britain which still need adjust-
if►ent. We have reason to believe that this appointment
ill give much satisfaction at Washington.