No Sunday Ball in Maine by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1910

No Sunday Ball in Maine

By C. M. S.

We clip the following interesting item from the Washington Star of June 26:— “At the instance of Senator Hale, the acting secretary of war has directed a discontinuance of the practice of Sunday baseball playing on the military reservation at Fort Preble, Maine. The action was based on a State law enacted in 1903, which provides:—

“Whoever on the Lord’s day keeps open his shop, workhouse, warehouse or place of business, travels or does any work, labor or business on that day, except work of necessity or charity, uses any sport, game or recreation, or is present at any dancing, public diversion, show or entertainment, or encouraging the same, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $10.”

“It remains to be seen whether similar action will be taken by the War Department with respect to Sunday baseball playing on military reservations in other States, particularly in Massachusetts, where the local authorities have made persistent but ineffectual efforts to stop it.

“Up to this time it has been held by the War Department that baseball playing on a government military reservation could not be interfered with by State or municipal authorities, and that the federal authorities would not prohibit the Sunday games so long as they were conducted in an orderly manner, and did not interfere with the peace and order of the community.”

And that attitude was right; for the federal authorities have never been authorized to legislate for a class of American citizens as to how they shall employ their time on Sunday when not under orders. If the soldier is religious, he will keep his sabbath as other church-members do; if he is not religious, the government has no cause or right to make him act as those do who are religious. No authority was ever granted by the States to Congress, or by Congress to the various departments of the government, for making hypocrites of human beings who happen to be in government employ; but that is all such regulations can do for those affected by them. These developments are striking indications of the rapid drift in this country away from the principles of liberty, and back to medievalism and religious tyranny. C. M. S.