Church Services May Become a “Nuisance” by W. A. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1908

Church Services May Become a “Nuisance”

By W. A. C.

Not infrequently Sunday laws are defended on the ground that such laws are necessary in order to protect worshiping congregations from disturbance, and to preserve “the peace and quiet of the day.” In reply to this all that is necessary generally is to call attention to the fact that the laws protecting peaceable assemblies, whether religious or otherwise, on any day are quite sufficient for the protection of worshiping congregations on Sunday.

While it is perfectly proper that worshiping congregations should be protected from any unnecessary or intentional disturbance, and this at all times, regardless of the hour of day or day of the week when assembled, it is quite possible that the exercises of a worshiping congregation might be conducted in such a manner as to become themselves a disturbance to the “peace and quiet” of the neighborhood. A complaint to this effect has recently been made in Washington, D. C. The following appeared in the Washington Post, of August 8:—

“Constantly increasing noise, shouting, boisterous and disorderly conduct on the part of the people engaged in so-called religious worship” at the Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, a colored congregation, on N Street, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, Northwest, is the complaint made to the District commissioners by John R. Galloway, owner of the Henrietta apartment-house, located near the church. The noise, according to Mr. Galloway, frequently lasts until eleven or twelve o’clock at night.

“The shouting, noise, and disturbance occasioned by these meetings,” says Mr. Galloway, “are seriously impairing my property and the property of others similarly situated, and rendering it uncomfortable

and undesirable for living purposes, and thereby causing it to depreciate in value.”

The matter having been referred to Chief of Police Sylvester and Assistant Corporation Counsel Pugh, the complainant will be informed by the commissioners that the condition, if objectionable, is in the nature of a private nuisance, and that his remedy is in the civil court. W. A. C.