MR. P. EDWARDSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Why the Middlesex magistrates authorised the abrupt closing of the Sunday evening religious services, and thereby put 2,000 persons to considerable inconvenience on Sunday evening last; and, whether it is intended to close other music halls which have been used for similar purposes in the Metropolis for many years?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, the Chairman of the Middlesex magistrates has communicated to me the form of licence granted by the Court under the Act of 25 Geo. II., which expressly stipulates that music halls shall not be opened on Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. This was a very proper provision to prevent them from being opened for ordinary amusements on those days. It did not apply, however, to religious services, and was not intended to place any difficulty in the way of the gratuitous opening of these houses for religious services; but they were not to be used on these occasions as a common tavern. The police reported to me most favourably of the character of these services on Sundays. They seem to have been always permitted at the Metropolitan Music Hall and elsewhere in London. I must say I do not understand on what ground it is intended to close them. As far as my information goes, they appear to me to be altogether unobjectionable. There must be some error on the part of the magistrates, and I shall inquire about it.
MR. P. EDWARDSsaid, that since he had put the Question, he had received 362 a telegram from the Rev. Mr. Cook, asking whether he could hold services in one of these halls next Sunday.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI am afraid not, because I have no authority to give such permission. The Middlesex magistrates are the executive authority in that matter.