Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-13

New York city is vigorously discussing
the Sunday question. Shall the public
museums, the art galleries and the Ii
braries be open at the same time with the
churches If so, how about the theatres
and other places of amusement2 Where
is the line to be drawn
The question has been brought home
with peculiar force to New Workers, in
consequence of the proposal to cut off
an appropriation of $l5,0OO to the museum
of Natural History and the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, if these institutions per
sist in remaining closed on Sunday. The
trustees of the museum say that there is
Il contract between that institution and
the city which prevents the opening
of its collections to the public
on Sunday. A large number of
citizens, including subscribers to the in
stitution, demand that this contract be
modified. The trustees reply that nine
tenths of their subscriptions come from
those who desire to see the Sabbath main
tanned, and who would withdraw their
contributions if the Museum should be
opened ON Sunday: therefore, they can
not acccde to the demand. Meanwhile
press and pulpit are taking up the moral
side of the question and arguing it with
much feeling.
If the results of opening such institu-
tons as museums and libraries on Sunday
went no further than Il quiet and proper
use of these privileges on the part of the
public, there would, perhaps, be
little objection TO the proposed
change Thousands who do not. and
probably would not under any circum-
stances attend church, might gain from
the refining influences of the best of these
secular institutions some influence for
good which would, at least, be vastly pre-
ferable to the associations which they
seek or to which they would be driven
under other circumstances on the day OF
rest But the trouble is that the effect of
opening museums and art galleries will
be to afford sanction for opening other
places of Il purely secular character, not
50 beneiicent in their influences If a
man may gaze upon pictures, statues and
curiostieS for entertainment on Sunday,
why may he not attend the theatre, or IL
base ball game, or amuSc himself by TAX
ing odds on a horse race 1t is going to
be very difficult to draw the line after the
first point has been yielded. The respect
ers of the Sabbath day have only to give
an inch and the great public will not be
slow to take the ell. The only safe way is
to beware of entering wedges
The tendency to secularize Sunday is
already sufficiently marked ana
need not receive any further en-
enlargement from Sabbath-respect-
Nc people. The opening of libra.
ries and other highly respectable institu-
tons, commonly under the control of
staid and religious people, would he an
unnecessary concession to the popular de
mand for Sunday recreation. 1t would be
Il blow to the churches, and could hardly
fail to have an enervating effect morally
upon any community. The church-goers
of New York will doubtless resist to the
uttermost the attempt to secure open art
galleries, libraries and museums on Sun
day, and they will have the support of all
who do not wish to have the
Sunday of Paris and New Orleans
introduced in place of the Sab
bath. However good such things may
be in general, they are not good when
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