I50 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER 



Owen's statue to the Central Hall, when Flower 

 took occasion to refer in eulogistic terms to some 

 new lights rather favouring Owen's contention in 

 the almost forgotten controversy about the brains 

 of men and apes. 



As the Director had never ceased to be solicitous 

 that the public in general should have every chance 

 of seeing the collections, the question of Sunday 

 opening was one which he often brought before 

 those responsible for the Museum. 



In 1885 a motion was carried in the House of 

 Lords that the Museum should be open on Sunday, 

 but this view failed to commend itself to the House 

 of Commons at the time. 



In 1889 an offer of ;^500 towards the expenses 

 of Sunday opening was made by the National 

 Sunday League. At a general meeting of the 

 Trustees in February 1890 it was resolved that 

 the Trustees " hesitate under present circum- 

 stances to take the responsibility of opening the 

 Museum on Sunday without the concurrence of the 

 Government." 



But in 1896 the House of Commons passed a 

 resolution that the Museum should be opened on 

 Sundays, and the doors were opened for the first 

 time on Sunday afternoon. May 17, 1896. Thus the 

 privilege which Flower had always been anxious to 

 give his busy friends of going round the Museum 

 on the day of rest was now extended to every one in 

 the country. Archbishop Benson, then the principal 



