The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-14

BraCciui cHOuRn III fBelt, nlQeS IN rough
husk kernel of truth that it would be- well
for Library Associations and Young Mems
Christian Associations to Thoroughly masticate
and healthfuly digest. The public is not
specially interested in the deings OF any library
association. The fact that the speech Of the
president was interrupted with cat-caIs on ,
given occasion disturbs nobody's breakfast 4
it is merely question of taste in the matter
of sound, and if our young friends Of the Mer-
camille Library like cat-calls nobody in this
free country has either the wish or the power
to hinder their indulgence in such . harmless
amusement. The cat is an innocent domestic
animal, with voice of great compass anH
power, and there is no more moral turpitud0'
in initiating cat than in initiating nightin-
gale, so far as we can see.
One of the reforms however, that the So
called reform party Of the Association in
question has in viewr is of great Importance to
the public, as far as the general application
OF the principle involved is concerned. This
reform has to do with the opening of libraries
and reading rooms on Sunday. No more cx-
quisite illustration of the golden calf sort OF
worship can be imagined than that furnished
by our pious young brethren. They scatter
tracts by the bushel, with an utter disregard Of
paper and ink economy; they talk eloquently
OF the wckedness of this great Babylon FROM
their tongues the whole vocabulary of csnss
rolls easily and huently, while at the same
time they shut The doors of every library and
reading room in the city in the face of thes
naughty classes on the very day when freedom
from work and other causes make them most
susceptible to reformatory efforts.
Itis all very we'll to say that the churches
are open to young men on Sunday. But if
they will not go to church, what then2 Why,
then let them go to-the other place, say, IN
effect, these young conservators of morality.
or course. If they will not go to heaven in
an orthodox way they deserve to 60 to the
place where there are no Sundays and no
libraries, and Git is supposedly no young men
from the Christian associations. This il
exactly the spirit in which these associations
lock their doors. Go to church on Sunday
and partake of the mental and spiritual food
there spread for you or go hungry. Sunday,
is too good day for us to use in making you
better in your own way and according to your
own tastes. If you prefer scientific reading
to preaching you shall have neither; and if
you lose every Sunday in moral worth what
by honest hard work you gain during the
week, it is not our fault. We look out for Sunday
and the honor of God, and you must look out
for your cwn souls. and if you need any help
you must get it on credit from the devil, and
pay in services when you cross the great
guilt" fixed between you and us These young
Christians never seem to think that many 3
man who would find only. stupidity in
church might fad the opening Of path lead
ing to q new life in reading room. The be-
ginning might be very remote from any
worthy end but it is the first step that
counts. r. in reading physiology a mau
gets a hint even of the divinity OF his body,
and grows ashamed of the debasing uses to
which he has put it heretofore that physiology
is a preacher to him, and through this more
healthy physical growth the sonl may have
better chance by and by. If in geology he
sees even dimly the traces of @ God, there is
hope, that sooner or later the spark of rever-
ence will be,developed into an adoring flame.
Mems souls, as well as their bodies, are to ba
fed in different ways, and when men swallow
sermons against their will corn will appro-
pirate the chemical elements that are opposed ,
to its needs,
What is, Sunday to be used for? Is 1t an
idol to be worshipped, or is it an instrument
to be used? Are we to anoint our ladders
with holy oil, cover them with declarations Of
faith, and, putting them carefully away, live
in the mud for the want of something to climb
to heaven upon? There is nothing On tho
earth or above it too good Ito be used for tho
benefit Of. man, and it is impertinent to con-
slider for a, moment the claims Of Sunday in
opposition to the claims Of the SOUL
We would not underrate Young Men Chris.
tian Associations as far az they go. They ara
doing some good work. and if their eyes are
not open wide enough to discern the spirit
within, the letter, the saae may be said Of
most of their clerical exemplars. To judge
the churches and their anxilaries kv appearr
ances, their greatest anxiety is that the ma
chinery shall be put tom common uses and no
heavy strain.
BY all means Let the ssreform" party OF the
Mercantile Library Association prevail-at
least to the extent of opening the library on
Sundays-and let The conservative wing repent
Of their Sabbatis ZEAL Let the door o2every
reading room in the city staad ajar on the
only day in the seven that poor men can call
their own. A. better authority than library
associations proclaimed long ago that the
Sabbath was made for man and not man for the
Sabbath; bat the world moves slowly, and
the Phariseeism of to-day is very like THAI
which rebuked Christ eighteen centuries ago.
THE Coal. MINERS about Scranton have re.