Conscientious Observance of Sunday.
THE Railroad Commissioners of Massachusetts gave a hearing to a discussion of the question of running railroad trains on Sunday, when a Mr. Merriam of Greenfield spoke in opposition to Sunday trains. An exchange quotes him as stating that when he was postmaster he had been many times solicited by citizens to open the office for an hour on Sunday morning, so that they could obtain their letters. He however uniformly refused to do so; but finally an order for the opening came from Washington. He reflected upon it, and almost concluded to resign his position rather than comply with what he deemed a wrong action. Finally he consulted his good friend, Governor Washburn, "a consistent Christian," and the Governor advised him to get his clerk to open the office on that day and attend to the distribution of the letters instead. Mr. Merriam said that he took Governor Washburn's advice, and had thus never been guilty of working on the Sabbath! Now the question arises, If a postmaster may have his business attended to on Sunday by an employe, without violating his conscience, why may not a railroad company be allowed the same elasticity?