New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23
SUNDAY OPENING IN ENGLAND.


The work accomplished by the Sunday So
clety Of England since Its organization twenty
one years ago. Is significant Of n noteworthy
change of attitude in England In regard to sun
day observance. From the outset this society,
the object Of which was 10 bring about the open
Ing Of museums. libraries and picture galleries
on Sunday encountered bitter opposition Bu's
It was fortunate, first, in securing as its honorary
secretary it's founder Mark II. Judge, who mas
constantly abOred to promote the objects or inc
society through evil report and good report, and'
second in enlisting the active aid and co-opera-
ton of influential and conservative ccrgymeh
whose names were a guarantee that II wouiu
do nothing to imperil the religious character OF
the day Its most active opponent has been the
Working Mems Lords Day Rest Association,
whose prolix name Is generally Indicated by the
letters W. NJ l.. d. II A.. after the English FASH
ion. But, In spite Of all opposition, the society
has thrjven, and has been almost completely
successful In doing what 1t set out 10 do
ON Sunday the 18th Of last May, every ma
tlona museum In London with the single ex-
ceptlon Of the National Portrait Gallery was
omen TO the public for the first time. ana the
large attendance on that and succeeding sun
DAYS Is conclusive evidence that the step meets
with popular approval or course popular ap-
prevail does not at all settle the moral status OF
the question. But one Of the contentious or the
w NJ l.. ID r. A. already mentioned was that
the people did not want museums and galleries
to be open on Sunday. and would not visit them
If they were The failure Of the association 10
gauge public opinion on this matter gives some
color to the assertion. frequently made, that IL
does not in any sense represent the views OF
workngmen, but rather the Views or certain
wellmeanng persons who think they KNOW
what the workingman ought TO think. Ii should
be explained that the museums and galleries
are not open the whole of Sunday, but only from
three to five hours. at time or the DAY wheh
they will not interfere with church attendance
A short opening was also considered desirable
for the reason that 1t would not keep the en-
ployes of the institutions working the whole
day. The increase In Sunday labor was. in fact,
one of the strongest arguments against any
Sunday opening at all But II was met by me
declaration that, whereas many of the large
metropolitan churches with multiplied services
keep q considerable number Of men and women
working all day. no one objects TO the opening
Of churches for that reason
The stock argument against the propaganda
Of the Sunday Society IS that IL Is irreligous,
and many harsh and bitter things have been said
against il on that ground. The society. say its
uncompromlsng opponents, has for It's object
the secularlzation Of Sunday Perhaps the best
answer to that objection is the fact that the
members OF thc society are religious men, and
many of them are influential divines. Its presi-
dent Is Canon Barnett. Warden Of Toynbee Hall.
and among those who have given 1t the powerful
help Of their pens and voices are some Of the
best-knOwn bishops and other clergy OF the
English Church. number of the most eminent
laymen of the Church are also enrolled among
It's active members. 1t Is true that the Convoca-
ton did not accede TO the request Of the society
to put itself on record as approving Sunday open
ing But its failure 10 take such action was due
to n fear that the public might think II was in
favor of a lax observance of Sunday While il
took no action in favor Of Sunday opening. 1t
was careful not TO pass any resolution disap-
proving Of the objects of the society.
In its last report the Sunday Society refers
with par(lonabe pride TO the work it has accom-
plished and declares that it desires TO bring
about one more reform before it goes out of
existence-namely. the passage OF a law per-
hitting exhibitions of science and art TO be
opened on Sunday. and egalizing Sunday lect-
ures on science, art and education.