Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-12
IN FAVOR OF SUNDAY OPENING.
Cardinal Gibbons Views on the Worlds
Fair Question.

Cardinal Gibbons Views ON the World a
Fair Question.
The New York World publishes an authorized
interview with Cardinal Gibbons in regard to
the proposed closing Of the worlds fair on
Sunday. The cardinal said:
when the question was first brought up ]
gave it as my opinion that it would not be ad-
visable to close the fair for the entire Sunday.
favored opening it on Sunday afternoon for
many good reasons, which to Catholics are very
strong and well founded. In the first place, we
would not go as far as the upholders of the Pu-
ritan Sunday, much as condemn the lax OBJ
servance Of the day IN European countries.
I'VE believe the Lords day to be not only a
day OF rest and religious observance, but a day
on which innocent recreation is allowable II
q visit to the fair comes within that limit the
opening Of the fair to provide innocent recrea-
ton on Sunday afternoons cannot be considered
a dissertation Of Sunday. Having performed
the religious duties required of them in the
morning our Catholic people are free then to
spend the day in such recreation as becomes
the Sunday.
Moreover, in view OF the fact that many
thousands Of visitors to the fair must be OF
the class who pay no respect to the religious
Character Of Sunday, it seems a matter of
common prudence to provide them with a
means OF spending the day innocently. in
stead OF leaving them to their own inclinations
and the numerous temptations certain to be
placed In their way. Them again. it is a real
hardship to deprive SO many thousands of
honest work people oftheir only opportunity to
see the fair. These and other reasons lead me
to believe that the fair should be opened on
Sunday afternoon and that more evil will
result from the Sunday closing than from the
opening.
II have just sent paper on this matter to a
congress at Chicago Of promoter, OF Sunday OBJ
servance. In it is presented the true Catholic
view of the Sunday, and the reasons for its care
full observance.
$50 long all are agreed that one day out
OF seven must be devoted to rest and SO long
as the great Chris tan world is bent on making
Sunday that day, it will he social and eco
nomic impossibility to destroy this religious
character Of the Sunday or to change to another
day."
Cardinal Gibbons says that he will read pa
per on The Influence Of the Church on So
ciety" at the parliament Of religions, which is
to be a feature of the fair.
Upon the question of the Anglican arch
bishop Of Canterbury declining the invitation
TO attend the parliament the cardinal said:
Everything depends on the point OF view.
Our bishops were invited by the officials of
the fair to present statement OF the Catholic
faith at this parlame Mt, and the invitation was
considered at the meeting of the archbishops in
New York last fall. Various objections were
made to its acceptance. but in the end, after
amicable discussion, the prelates decided to ac-
cept.
1.-The Catholic Church is too often pre-
sented to the world in apparel which makes
her repusive to the people. Our purpose In
this and similar instances is to tear off these
garments and let all sec the church in its true
beauty-a beauty sure to endear it to all lovers
Of the truth"