SUNDAY CLOSING MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.
[From the London News of Feb. 14, 1893.] THE twenty-sixth annual meeting in connection with the Sunday Closing Association took place last evening, under the presidency of the Bishop of London, at Exeter Hall. There was a crowded attendance, and among those who wrote regretting inability to be present, were the Duchess of Rutland, Lady Henry Somerset, and Miss Willard. The annual report, read by the Rev. Canon Stowell, estimated the gain in favor of Sunday closing in the new house of commons as being not less than thirty members. It went on to say that Parliament had already given Sunday closing to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, with the happiest results; and that their greatest danger lay at the present moment in the too great readiness of many friends to believe that a reference of Sunday closing to local authorities would be a sufficient and satisfactory settlement of the question. The committee therefore felt that they could not too plainly warn all friends against this danger, nor too earnestly urge them to bring pressure to bear upon her Majesty's government to keep Sunday closing separate from all other temperance legislation with a view to dealing with it by imperial enactment at the earliest possible moment. (Cheers.) Mr. G. Rooke (in the absence of the treasurer) read an abstract of the annual accounts, showing a slight balance in hand. The bishop of London said it was their intention, sooner or later, to win this cause and close all public houses throughout the country on Sunday. (Cheers.) The adoption of the report and financial statement was moved by the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, who stated that in the course of this movement no less than 41,660 petitions, with 6,691,246 signatures, had been presented to Parliament in favor of a Sunday-closing bill. He vigorously protested against this question being relegated to a measure of local option. The Rev. Dr. A. Mackennal seconded the motion, which was adopted unanimously. Among others taking part in the meeting, at which various resolutions connected with Sunday closing were brought forward, were Mr. J. H. Roberts, M.P., Mr. W. Mather, M.P., Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P., Mr. R. W. Perks, M.P., Mr. T. Snape, M.P., the Rev. Canon Leigh, Mr. A. Pease, the Rev. Septimus Buss, Lieutenant Colonel Ford, Mr. R. Rae, Mr. Charles Hill, Mr. Diggle, the Rev. J. Travis, and the Secretary, Mr. J. Woodford Causer. In the course of the meeting a direct allusion to the prime minister by Canon Leigh, who incidentally spoke of the untiring enthusiasm, indomitable perseverance, and pluck of Mr. Gladstone's efforts in the public service, aroused the greatest enthusiasm. The cheering was again and again renewed, many in the audience upstanding and waving hats and handkerchiefs.