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the owners and captains of vessels。
The reader is now in possession of the principal enacting clauses
of Sir Andrew Agnew's bill； with the exception of one； for
preventing the killing or taking of 'FISH； OR OTHER WILD ANIMALS；'
and the ordinary provisions which are inserted for form's sake in
all acts of Parliament。 I now beg his attention to the clauses of
exemption。
They are two in number。 The first exempts menial servants from any
rest； and all poor men from any recreation： outlaws a milkman
after nine o'clock in the morning； and makes eating…houses lawful
for only two hours in the afternoon； permits a medical man to use
his carriage on Sunday； and declares that a clergyman may either
use his own； or hire one。
The second is artful； cunning； and designing； shielding the rich
man from the possibility of being entrapped； and affecting at the
same time； to have a tender and scrupulous regard； for the
interests of the whole community。 It declares； 'that nothing in
this act contained； shall extend to works of piety； charity； or
necessity。'
What is meant by the word 'necessity' in this clause？ Simply this
… that the rich man shall be at liberty to make use of all the
splendid luxuries he has collected around him； on any day in the
week； because habit and custom have rendered them 'necessary' to
his easy existence； but that the poor man who saves his money to
provide some little pleasure for himself and family at lengthened
intervals； shall not be permitted to enjoy it。 It is not
'necessary' to him：… Heaven knows； he very often goes long enough
without it。 This is the plain English of the clause。 The carriage
and pair of horses； the coachman； the footman； the helper； and the
groom； are 'necessary' on Sundays； as on other days； to the bishop
and the nobleman； but the hackney…coach； the hired gig； or the
taxed cart； cannot possibly be 'necessary' to the working…man on
Sunday； for he has it not at other times。 The sumptuous dinner and
the rich wines； are 'necessaries' to a great man in his own
mansion： but the pint of beer and the plate of meat； degrade the
national character in an eating…house。
Such is the bill for promoting the true and sincere worship of God
according to his Holy Will； and for protecting every class of
society against being required to sacrifice their health and
comfort on the Sabbath。 Instances in which its operation would be
as unjust as it would be absurd； might be multiplied to an endless
amount； but it is sufficient to place its leading provisions before
the reader。 In doing so； I have purposely abstained from drawing
upon the imagination for possible cases； the provisions to which I
have referred； stand in so many words upon the bill as printed by
order of the House of Commons； and they can neither be disowned；
nor explained away。
Let us suppose such a bill as this； to have actually passed both
branches of the legislature； to have received the royal assent； and
to have come into operation。 Imagine its effect in a great city
like London。
Sunday comes； and brings with it a day of general gloom and
austerity。 The man who has been toiling hard all the week； has
been looking towards the Sabbath； not as to a day of rest from
labour； and healthy recreation； but as one of grievous tyranny and
grinding oppression。 The day which his Maker intended as a
blessing； man has converted into a curse。 Instead of being hailed
by him as his period of relaxation； he finds it remarkable only as
depriving him of every comfort and enjoyment。 He has many children
about him； all sent into the world at an early age； to struggle for
a livelihood； one is kept in a warehouse all day； with an interval
of rest too short to enable him to reach home； another walks four
or five miles to his employment at the docks； a third earns a few
shillings weekly； as an errand boy； or office messenger； and the
employment of the man himself； detains him at some distance from
his home from morning till night。 Sunday is the only day on which
they could all meet together； and enjoy a homely meal in social
comfort； and now they sit down to a cold and cheerless dinner： the
pious guardians of the man's salvation having； in their regard for
the welfare of his precious soul； shut up the bakers' shops。 The
fire blazes high in the kitchen chimney of these well…fed
hypocrites； and the rich steams of the savoury dinner scent the
air。 What care they to be told that this class of men have neither
a place to cook in … nor means to bear the expense； if they had？
Look into your churches … diminished congregations； and scanty
attendance。 People have grown sullen and obstinate； and are
becoming disgusted with the faith which condemns them to such a day
as this； once in every seven。 And as you cannot make people
religious by Act of Parliament； or force them to church by
constables； they display their feeling by staying away。
Turn into the streets； and mark the rigid gloom that reigns over
everything around。 The roads are empty； the fields are deserted；
the houses of entertainment are closed。 Groups of filthy and
discontented…looking men； are idling about at the street corners；
or sleeping in the sun； but there are no decently…dressed people of
the poorer class； passing to and fro。 Where should they walk to？
It would take them an hour； at least； to get into the fields； and
when they reached them； they could procure neither bite nor sup；
without the informer and the penalty。 Now and then； a carriage
rolls smoothly on； or a well…mounted horseman； followed by a
liveried attendant； canters by； but with these exceptions； all is
as melancholy and quiet as if a pestilence had fallen on the city。
Bend your steps through the narrow and thickly…inhabited streets；
and observe the sallow faces of the men and women who are lounging
at the doors； or lolling from the windows。 Regard well the
closeness of these crowded rooms； and the noisome exhalations that
rise from the drains and kennels； and then laud the triumph of
religion and morality； which condemns people to drag their lives
out in such stews as these； and makes it criminal for them to eat
or drink in the fresh air； or under the clear sky。 Here and there；
from some half…opened window； the loud shout of drunken revelry
strikes upon the ear； and the noise of oaths and quarrelling … the
effect of the close and heated atmosphere … is heard on all sides。
See how the men all rush to join the crowd that are making their
way down the street； and how loud the execrations of the mob become
as they draw nearer。 They have assembled round a little knot of
constables； who have seized the stock…in…trade； heinously exposed
on Sunday； of some miserable walking…stick seller； who follows
clamouring for his property。 The dispute grows warmer and fiercer；
until at last some of the more furious among the crowd； rush
forward to restore the goods to their owner。 A general conflict
takes place； the sticks of the constables are exercised in all
directions； fresh assistance is procured； and half a dozen of the
assailants are conveyed to the station…house； struggling； bleeding；
and cursing。 The case is taken to the police…office on the
following morning； and after a frightful amount of perjury on both
sides； the men are sent to prison for resisting the officers； their
families to the workhouse to keep them from starving： and there
they both remain for a month afterwards； glorious trophies of the
sanctified enforcement of the Christian Sabbath。 Add to such
scenes as these； the profligacy； idleness； drunkenness； and vice；
that will be committed to an extent which no man can foresee； on
Monday； as an atonement for the restraint of the preceding day； and
you have a very faint and imperfect picture of the religious
effects of this Sunday legislation； supposing it could ever be
forced upon the people。
But let those who advocate the cause of fanaticism； reflect well
upon the probable issue of their endeavours。 They may by
perseverance； succeed with Parliament。 Let them ponder on the
probability of succeeding with the people。 You may deny the
concession of a political question for a time； and a nation will
bear it patiently。 Strike home to the comforts of every man's
fireside … tamper with every man's freedom and liberty … and one
month； one week； may rouse a feeling abroad； which a king would
gladly yield his crown to quell； and a peer would resign his
coronet to allay。
It is the custom to affect a deference for the motives of those who
advocate these measures； and a respect for the feelings by which
they are actuated。 They do not deserve it。 If they legislate in
ignorance； they are criminal and dishonest； if they do so with
their eyes open； they commit wilful injustice； in either case； they
bring religion into contempt。 But they do NOT legislate in
ignorance。 Public pri