Committee Hearings on Sunday Bills by J. E. Jayne

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1913

Committee Hearings on Sunday Bills

By J. E. Jayne

In New York State public hearings on five bills in which Sunday legislation is involved have been held by the committees to which these measures have been referred.

In New Hampshire similar hearings have been held on six bills of like character.

These hearings have afforded excellent opportunities for the discussion of the fundamental principles involved in religious legislation. These opportunities have been improved to the utmost of our ability and of the time available. Our representatives have received respectful attention, and the principles advocated have occasioned very favorable comment. The following-named brethren have been in attendance in their respective districts: W. H. Holden, E. L. Cardey, and E. A. Raymond, of New York; L. T. Nicola, of Greater New York; F. W. Stray, E. G. Farnsworth, and D. K. Royer, of New Hampshire; and the writer.

A Victory in New Hampshire

New Hampshire House Bill No. 515 proposed to so amend the existing statute that it would read as follows:— “SECTION 5.— No person shall keep his shop, warehouse, cellar, restaurant, or workshop open for the reception of company, or shall sell or expose for sale any merchandise whatsoever on the Lord’s day; except in case of necessity or mercy.”

This bill was supported by the Lord’s Day Alliance, represented by Rev. M. D. Kneeland, of Boston, Mass., also by a good-sized company of New Hampshire clergymen. Although each succeeding speaker emphasized religious reasons for its enactment into law, an earnest effort was made to impress the committee with the idea that there was really nothing religious about the bill itself.

For us, Elder Stray very effectively presented the real character of the measure and urged that in order to enforce it properly, the civil magistrate, in determining what in each individual case shall and shall not be deemed works of necessity and mercy, must of necessity become an inquisitor. After the hearing, a Roman Catholic member of the committee held a long interview with Elder Stray and expressed himself as very favorably impressed with the principles we advocated. Since then the committee has reported upon the bill, “Inexpedient to legislate.” Its report has been adopted, and this measure is dead.

In New Hampshire also, on the eleventh instant, two hearings were held at the same hour. One of these was before the House Committee on Labor and the other before the House Committee on Fisheries and Game. We divided our forces, Brethren Stray and Royer remaining with the committee on labor, and Brother Farnsworth and the writer appearing before the other committee.

House Bill No. 427 seeks to enforce by law one day’s rest in seven. It was associated with several other measures relative to labor problems, and was considered by the labor committee at the same hearing. In this instance the representatives of the Lord’s Day Alliance were assisted by representatives of laboring men. This particular bill is so drawn as to appear to enable an employer to require his employee to work on Sunday, provided he allows him to rest one other day in the week. When attention was called to this fact and to the principles involved in legislation of this character, labor representatives and employers present became very much interested and urged the committee to grant another hearing on the bill. This request was granted, and another hearing is to be held soon.

The committee on fisheries and game considered at the same time House Bills Nos. 111, 133, and 164. The former of these bills does not mention Sunday or the Lord’s day, but seeks to secure a certain amount of Sunday legislation by prohibiting certain forms of labor and amusement except upon “the first twelve week-days of December.” The two other bills define Sunday as the “Lord’s day” and the “Sabbath day.” This gave opportunity to consider the real character of the proposed legislation and the lessons of history in connection therewith.

This is the first time hearings of this kind have been held before the New Hampshire Legislature, and the discussion has aroused much interest in both the senate and the house. Brother Farnsworth is supplying the members with appropriate literature.

One of the most prominent speakers

of the Lord’s Day Alliance assured the committee that Seventh-day Adventists are an excellent people; that you can safely trust them with your pocketbook and your soul, but that they are fossilized, thousands of years behind the times, and seek to engraft an ancient institution upon the life of to-day. Again, when we made reference to the fact that the national government has never provided a Sunday law for the District of Columbia, Rev. M. D. Kneeland interrupted to assert that it would do so immediately, that the bill now before the national Congress will certainly be enacted into law.

In New York State, last year, very little religious legislation was attempted. At this time they seem to be trying to make up for lost time. However, there is considerable agitation favorable to liberalizing the existing Sunday legislation. About one half of the bills introduced have this object. Democratic Assembly Leader Mr. A. J. Levey introduced a bill modifying the existing exemption clause so that those who observe Sabbath day from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night may not be prosecuted for Sunday labor upon the ground that they worked Saturday evening. The codes committee for the assembly granted a public hearing upon this and three other bills involving Sunday legislation. Mr. Levey appeared before the committee and spoke for almost an hour in support of his bill. He dwelt at length, eloquently and logically, upon the fundamental principles involved in religious legislation. He said many most excellent things, and we were reminded of what is said relative to how God will influence men in places of public trust to speak strongly for the truth in the hour of need.

The committee granted much more than usual liberty and latitude to the discussion. The writer improved this opportunity to deal directly with fundamental principles. Although the committee had been in continuous session for several hours, it gave excellent attention, and several of its members openly manifested approval as the character and work of the true church of Christ, the character, purpose, and limitations of civil government, and its proper attitude toward all religions, were set forth. This committee has since voted to report favorably those bills seeking to liberalize the existing statute; so this matter will be discussed on the floor of the assembly.

Senate Bill No. 247 seeks to further extend Sunday restrictions. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Codes, which granted a public hearing. The writer appeared for our people. The friendly questions asked by members of the committee indicated they thought the principles sound and the cause righteous.

Other hearings are to be held the coming week in Boston, Concord, and Albany. Certainly, the present is a time when our people living in these States may well engage in “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks . . . for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,” and that we may the most effectually prosecute the work entrusted to us. J. E. JAYNE.