The sun., 1870-01-01
Opening Reading Rooms on sunday

and Twenty third street, containing lecture
room where very nice concerts are given
every week at low price, and reading
room well supplied with the periodical litera-
ture of the day. The obvious use of the build
ing and its appurtenancos is to afford a COM
Portable and attractive place Of resort for
young men, which will in some measure
counteract the temptations Of barrooms and
theatres, and the still more Objectionable
places with which the city abounds
The Mercantile Library Association is an
other institution Of the same benevolent
character as the Young Mems Christian AS.
sociation. 1t, however. confines itself more
strictly to furnishing young men with intel
lcctuol entertainment II has an ample
library and well-suppled reading room,
and every winter classes ore formed for the
instruction of its members at moderate
charges in the languages and practical
sciences. TO aid II in its work, n corporation
of a number of our leading merchants and
philanthropists, purchased some years ago the
building in Astor place now known as Gin.
ton Hall, and gave the Library Association a
lease of il at a low rent. This Association is
still in the occupation of the building, and
naturally chershcs feelings of gratitude and
respect toward the corporation that owns it.
The reading rooms of both these institu.
tions-the Young Mems Christian Associa
tion and the Mercantile Library Association
a. ~. ~. al,
thousands of Young men who, during the
rest of the week, are Hospitality admitted 10
the rooms, are bolted and barred out and
driven to seek refuge wherever else they may
find il. A movement is on foot to change
this practice, and open these reading rooms
on Sundays and we sincerely hope it may
succeed.
In the case of the Young Mems Christian
Association, we presume nothing more The"
vote o, u majority Of its members is neces.
sary TO secure the needed reform and that
this will soon be given, there is no reason
to doubt In that of the Mercantile Library
Association, the members have already voted
overwhelmingly in favor Of the measure,
but their officers desire, out of courtesy 10
the Clinton Hall Association, to which they
are SO much indebted, to secure also the con-
sent ofthat body. The matter was laid before
the Clinton Hall Trustees last Spring, but
thus far they have taken no definite action
upon it, II has been referred by them TO u
Special Committee, and that Committee has
not yet reported.
The chief objection made by those who
oppose orening these rooms on Sunday is,
probably, the suppositon on their part that
in some way it will conflict with the proper
Observance of the day required by the
Fourth Commandment. 1t is thought that
the practice would involve servilc labor on
the Iart of the persons in charge, which
ought not to be cxacted Of them on the Sab.
bath. Besides this, there may also be a
lurking fear lest the attractions Of books and
newspapers may prove superior to those OF
the pulpit, and that young men may prefer
going TO the reading room to going to
church.
OF course no argument will be of avail with
persons SO bigoted as to take tl.is narrow view
OF Christian duty. Men who can draw a
distinction between the labors of a sexton
and those of a readng-room keeper or
who can see q worse crime in reading q
magazine or newspaper in public than in
doing the same thing in private, or who
suppose that young men will go to church
from any other reason than because they
Ike to- are not worth arguing with. The
Young men who want TO have the two read
ing rooms we have mentioned opened on
Sunday arc in the majority, and they will
pcrsevcre in the effort till they succeed. II
their elders will not consent, they must be
ovcrruled ; and if the officers whom they
| have heretofore elected Will not comply with
| their wishes, others must be elected who
VIII. 1t is about time that antiquatcd pgcju
dice gave way TO enlightened sense