The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-26
Sunday and the Worlds Fair.

tunday ana the WORLDS Fair.
! The question whether or not the worlds fair
! shall be kept open on Sunday continues TO
be the subject of a great deal Of discussion.
The opinions Of leading clergymen Of all
| denominations in all parts Of the country
are being obtained and made the basis Of
argument en- one side OF the other of the
| question.
A few days ago the New York Independ-
ent published the views Of ninety-seven
Catholic and Protestant archbishOps and
bishops. OF this number nearly all the
Professionals are strongly opposed to Sunday
opening. OF the t twenty-five Catholics who
gave opinions fourteen favor opening the
fair on undsy afternoons, and eight oppose
opening it at all on Sundays.
The principal argument Of those who op-
pose Sunday opening is that the fair is a great
national ms titution, and that to keep it open
on Sunday would have tendency to lessen
the respect for Sunday in all parts of the
country. Other arguments are, Of course,
advanced, such, for instance, as that the
people should not be drawn away from re-
ligious services and that Sunday should be
devoted wholly to rest and such duties as are
appropriate to the day. Archbishop Ireland
of ST. Paul says that Sunday ''is already too
seriously attacked, whether from greed of
capital or the aggressiveness of irreligion,"
and Bishop Clark, an Episcopalian of Rhode
Island, Gays that the fair cannot be opened
on Sunday without shocking the religious
sensibilities of the great majority Of our peo-
pie, and without setting an example which
might be very disastrous and lead to the
throwing open of all sorts Of popular amuse-
ments on Sunday"
On the other hand, Archbishop Ryan, OF
Philadelphia. fails to sea ANY violation of
Sunday in walking through the fair and
admiring the products of human industry
aud the fine arts, which tend TO improve
and refine the mind" and Bishop Grafton,
of the Episcopal church, expresses the opin-
ion that it is "pharisaical hypocrisy to
censure some poor laborer who goes into a
picture gallery or listens to a band of
music" on Sunday.
There is much to be said on both sides of
the question. In the discussion Of it, how
ever, sufficient Importance does not seem to
be given to the fact that during the fair
Chicago will be crowded with visitors. If
they wanted to attend church they
could not do so because of the
want of accommodations. If the fair is
closed what are they to do? 1t is certain that
the great majority of them will not remain
in their hotels or lodging houses when the
weather is fine They will visit the pleas
ure resorts, make excursions over the lake
and go to the suburbs. No doubt the city will
be full of drinking places, gambling houses
and other resorts of vice. 1t will be about
impossible to keep them all closed. Would
it not be better to let the people spend the
day in the fair grounds than to afford them
an excuse for seeking pleasure elsewhere'
Would as much narm come from opening
the fair on Sunday as by closing it, An an
swer to this question would help settle
the issue, and it is difficult to see how a neg
alive answer could be avoided.
And, besides, if the fair is closed on Sun
days thousands Of poor people would not
have a chance to visit the fair at all That
is the only day of the week on which they
have leisure. They cannot afford to lose a
working day.
1t is true that Sunday is not as strictly
observed as it used to be, but it is ques-
ton whether some OF the regulations for
Sunday observance in days gone by were
either wise or beneficial Sunday pleasures
that are innocent aud harmless ought not
to be prohibited. because whatever tends to
make people cheerful and happy makes
them better. There should not be. of
course, any neglect of religious services,
but such services do not occupy all the
hours Of Sunday. Change from the count
ing house and workshop to parks and
picture galleries is restful and productive
of good results. 1t is an aid to religion, for
it enlarges mans capacity to appreciate re-
ligion.
II the people of the whole country had a
voice in the Sunday fair question the de-
cision would be in favor of an open fair on
Sunday.