The Washington times., 1894-06-25
SUNDAY OPENING QUESTION
Leading Clergymen Freely Express
Their Views Upon 1t.
WIDE DIVERGENCE OF OPINIONS
Interest of the Working People Considered.
One Day in Seven Needed for Rest-Re-
spect Due the Sabbath Should Not Be For
gotten-Opportunity for Recreation.

tol, Public Library. and the museums and
other public educational institutions be opened
to the public on Sunday? That is a question
upon which there Is wide divergence OF
opinion. The TIMES has obtained the views
of the following citizens, all bat one Of whom
are clergymen, which will no doubt be read
with deep interest by the general public:
S. C. WILLIAMSON, president Of the Y. NJ. G.
A. of the District, said: my general impress
sion is against it, viewed in the interest OF the
working people themselves. l am of the
opinion that as people we are getting too
far away from proper observance ofthe Sab
bath. 1t is an entering wedge that will lead
to throwing open all departments for trans
action of business. We are tending In the
direction of weekly half no iiday, anyhow,
and besides there are times when working
people can visit the institutions during the
week. I am favorable to the working peo-
pie. and think il is to their interest from a
religious point OF view to have the Sabbath
properly observed. l should prefer 20 ad-
vance the sentiment in favor Of a half holi-
day every week TO give workers an oppor-
tunty for recreation, when they can visit the
departments if they desire. Works OF mercy
and works OF necessity are all that should be
done on the Sabbath. The experience at
Chicago when it was demanded by some that
the Worlds Fair should be opened on Sunday
demonstrates my position on this subject"
DIR. ADDIsoS's VIEWS.
REV. T. G. ADDISON. pastor OF Trinity Epis-
copaI Church, remarked: Il am opposed. 1
think the people should have one day in seven
to devote to the service OF God"
OF NJ
Church. Third and A streets northeast: II think
it would be an unmixed evil. 1t would afford
gathering place for young people who would
soon forget the respect due to the Sabbath"
REV. GREEN CLAY SMITH, pastor Of Metro
poltHn Baptist church. corner OF Sixth and
streets northeast: Il do not think il would be
proper. When you begin 70 open institutions
OF that description it will go until there
will be no end 10 1t. / think the people should
have one day of unmixed rest. Places that
are under the supervision of the government
should not be opened on the Sabbath. Those
who are employed in those departments are
as much entitled TO rest rs anybody else. We
have parks that are always open to the pub
lie. and those who desire can avail themselves
of the comfort to be had there. II you alter
nate the force it would be double expense.
and otherwise the men employed would be on
duty every day and get no recreation.
REV. FATHER V. +. ScHMIrr. pastor OF ST.
Joseph's Church. corner Second and streets
northeast: Il am in favor of it. They should
be opened In the afternoon In any event
People can go to church and afterwards go 10
these institutions and enjoy innocent recrea-
tom
REy. ]. ]. MUIR, pastor Of the z street Bap
tist Church: Il am opposed 10 il. l discuss
it merely as an expediency and not from
religious point Of view, and | think It is I'M
necessary. | can see how arguments may be
advanced in favor of the proposition as an ex-
pediency in a manufacturing city. but those
reasons do not apply here. From u religious
point of view :, of course. have my conyic-
tions. but do not advance them now."
ONE DAYS REST IN SEVEN.
REV. A. W. PITzER, paster OF the Central
Presbyterian church, Third and 1 streets
northwest. "As Christion and as a minister
OF the Gospel. should say that there is di-
vine law that should be obeyed, and that law
forbds it. As u man, merely, believe that we
need one days rest in seven. If you are 60
ing TO require the doorkeepers to attend these
institutions on Sunday, why not require tho
heads of departments and Congress and the
President to labor on that day? We are get
ting away farther and farther from Sunday
observance. and disapprove OF this propo-
sition as tending to a further digression.
INV. T. IiEZ OWN, pdstOT Oh tHe SecOuu
Baptist church: Il should prefer not TO dis
cuss the question without more time for re-
Election. OF course. have my views upon it,
but do not care to give them now
REV. q. FAcIUs, pastor of the first German
Reformed church. corner Sixth and \ streets: |
That is n peculiar question. | do not think
il would be of especial service TO Washington
ians, and as 10 beneflting strangers. l sup
pose il would not be really necessary. though |
/ 7
that when the President was inaugurated |
on that awful day. it was asked, |
that the buildings be opened Oh Sunday for |
reception of strangers. The Pension Office was |
closed and permission refused for an enter |
tainment. immediately the theater was |
opened to the public. Now, in that case. 1 |
think it would have been better to have |
opened the Pension Office. l am opposed 10 |
anything that is wrong, certainly. but the re-
suits of opening the institutions named on
Sunday are mixed"
RABBI STERN, of the Eighth Street Syna-
gogue: Il am decidedly in favor of opening
such and kindred institutions. and do not see
how such action can by any possibility inter-
fere with the sanctity of the Sabbath or con-
l;ct with the religious duties and convictions
Of any. l believe in the sanctity of the Sab
bath, but my views upon this general subject
were made public when took strong ground
in favor OF the opening of the Worlds Fair
on sunday"
Rev. ALEX KENT, pastor of the Peoples
church. opposite the Pension Office, G street:
Il am in favor of it-of opening libraries
art galleries. museums. and all institutions
where people can gather useful information
- -
Deaths from Sunstroke.
PHILADELPHIA, June 24.-The thermometer
registered 97.4 degrees in this city to-day. be-
ng the hottest weather in the year. In six