The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-08-15 00:00:00

TENERAL COMMERCT T

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

IN calling attention to the report of the Com-
mittee on Public Houses, we briefly alluded to a
clause wherein they recommend the opening of
places of recreation and instruction on the Lord's

Day. There is, perhaps, no part of the scheme
which is fraught with more danger to public
morality than this apparently innocent concession
to public desire, and which is attempted to be
shielded from active opposition by the plausible
pretence of restricting it to such places as shall
receive the consent of the LORD CHAMBERLAIN.
It would be opening the door to a legalised dese-
cration of the Lord's Day ; and, when once this has
been effected, it would be impossible to affix any
limit to its progress. Every place so allowed to
be opened would furnish the excuse for some other,
where the degree of difference would be so slight
as hardly to be appreciable ; and so, from step to
step, the course of demoralisation would proceed,
until every barrier had been removed, and England
become worse than the continent—far worse, be-
cause the sin would be committed in spite of our
moral conviction of its heinousness. All must
admit the gross depravity and immorality arising
from the number of spirit-shops and beer-houses
in our large towns, but the evils are confined, in a

great measure, to certain classes prone to such in-
dulgences, and whose vices, though they may shock
the more virtuous, chiefly tired themselves. But
what may we anticipate would be the effect upon
the minds of those better disposed, when they are
Invited to partake of recreation muter the sanction
of the law, and their scruples to 'such indulgence
overcome by the pretended innocence of the tempta7-
tions thus opened to them'? In vain would the
Clergy enjoin Ilhe necessity of obedience to the
Divine Will, and teach the an-important truth that
it is righteousness WhiCh exalteth a nation, for vice
will have 'been robbed of her deformity, and the
man who heiitatedto commit the open profanation,
would tbo soon 'be weaned from his good resau-
tions, Vihdt 'the temptition became too strong for
resistance. The .excuse which is pleaded Tor this
innovaionis the necessity for relaxation'after the
toil of six days in the week, and the Impossibility
,of 'the working-elmses finding ally other time for
healthful exercise and mental improvement than
the one day whiCh has been sdt apart *by Divine
authority for public worship. This :is, however, a
-difficulty of ulan's creating. We 'admit the im-
.
`portance of occasional relaxation,' and the strength
of the temptation by which the 'worldng-man is
induced to devote the Sundaylo ibtdily recreation,
and the tinestion then arises as to the mode of

meeting the want without -he-ringing the Divine
command. This may be accomplished by setting
apart certain clays in the -yOat to be observed as
general' holidays, such us waslormerly done in 'the
various departments of the -public service,

ana is

now done at the Stock ExChange and similar in-
stitutions in London, on' the Ist of May and lAt
November, which are Itett as close holidays. It
wonid require an ALI 'Of Parliament in order to
prEvide for the paymentof bills and other obliga-
tions by the Banks, aridsuch days may be seleeted
-as` the Quzsx's birthday, the anniversary of the
iiattle of Waterloo, :the QUEEN'S Accesiion, the
`lst of June, or sidilar commemorsEons. In -the
-lbsence of any leghlonactment, tmrcit may bellone
iv the agreement of vmployers to a,cessatiott from
labour and the payment of wagessi an earlieihour
on the Saturday; land this course los been lour-
sued to a considerable extent in Liverpool and
some other largetoxvns. If such ,a practice.were
to become rneril, the worting-classes would have
less excuse for 'the violation of the sanctity of the

Lord's Day, and we might reasonably expect a

better atteudanee tt Divine Service. Atany rate,
it would be zwendeavour to gainthe right way by
the right means; but to seek to it the 'dissolute
from their eVileoarses by providing Sunday armse-
ments for them, would not only:Sail Of its effect,
bnt prove the-certain means ofireiziaing many into
a systematie4esecration from vAiii3h- they are law
deterred. however.,,to the general
complaintof the evils for wiriekthe Committee, on
Public Houses.,endeavour to proVide a remedy.,--,we
claim credit •Iftv the working-classes of Liverpool
being far less-amenable to the charge than those
of most large 'towns. From their hard earnings
they -voluntarily contribute more than £4OO :13,
year, in orderio provide religious instruction for.
themselves,and.their families; aridno better proof
-than this -coma he afforded 41- their regard for'
:higher and .11.0 lier obligations, instead of the mere
,gratification ~of. their animal instincts under the
laretence of regifithig recreation.