Origin of the Wide-Spread Movement for Sunday Closing of Post-Offices by K. C. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1911

Origin of the Wide-Spread Movement for Sunday Closing of Post-Offices

By K. C. R.

THE following is an extract from the address of Secretary Shaw, delivered July 6, 1911, at the twenty-fifth international Christian Endeavor Convention, held in Atlantic City, N. J.:—

“Thousands of mail clerks and carriers in the Post-Office Department have been robbed of their Sunday rest-day because of the selfishness or indifference of the people. The Christian-citizenship department of the Chicago Christian Endeavor Union began an investigation, with the result that they found that the clerks and carriers were losing their weekly rest-day to accommodate about half of one per cent of the patrons of the post-office. They appealed to the pastors, churches, and other organizations. They carried the matter up to the Postmaster-General, who was most cordial and sympathetic in his attitude. The result was an order to limit the Sunday work to the absolutely necessary minimum, and the restoration of the rest-day to an army of toilers. The movement, started in Chicago, has spread to other cities and towns, and promises to become general throughout the country.”

We fully accord to any society the right to create public sentiment in favor of what it believes to be right; and, had this movement been confined to the exercise of moral suasion, no word of protest would we utter. It is evident, however, from the resolution passed at the recent Christian Endeavor Convention urging the “enforcement of Sunday laws without discrimination,” that this organization intends to go beyond the use of moral suasion, and employ the aid of the civil law to carry out its purpose of securing enforced Sunday observance throughout the United States.

K. C. R.