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Sunday Legislation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 21, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 16.

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Sunday Legislation

By Allen Moon

THE promoters of the scheme to make righteous by force of law have again permitted a fragment of their designs to come to the surface. It is evident they have reached the conclusion that the public mind is sufficiently prepared, by the constant and untiring effort put forth by their leaders, to now accept and support any measure they might advance, looking to the Christianizing of the nation.
Accordingly there was introduced in the House of Representatives, some months ago, a bill for a District of Columbia Sunday law. This bill forbids all kinds of labor, with few exceptions, on the first day of the week. It has not, however, been urged for passage at this session of Congress, but instead another bill was, later on, introduced. This bill forbids the sale and delivery of meats, groceries, and all provisions on Sunday. It was found that while the great majority of butchers and grocers do not open and have not opened their places of business, they were envious of the very few who were not scrupulous about opening on Sunday. So the organized butchers and grocers were induced to give their support to a bill in Congress for a law compelling all business houses of this class to close. This bill is now being urged for passage.
Evidently it is the opinion of those in this movement that Congress can not resist the demand of these people for a law to compel themselves to rest. And once Congress is committed to religious legislation, the way will be open for any other proposed measure, and especially the general District Sunday bill. For if Congress may make a Sunday law for a class, it may with equal propriety enact such a law for all classes, and this will evidently follow.
At the present writing the prospect is that the butchers' and grocers' bill will pass. The Lord only knows whether we are ready for our government to begin a series of religious enactments and the enforcement of religious laws, and he knows, too, what use we would make of an extension of a time of peace, and we must now leave it with him.
ALLEN MOON.