A Unique Sunday Bill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1913

A Unique Sunday Bill

BRIEF reference was made in an article that appeared in the last issue of the REVIEW to a Sunday bill which had been introduced into the legislature of the State of Connecticut. In order that all the provisions of the bill may be clearly understood, we reprint it entire:—

“Section 1. The first twenty-four hours of the week are hereby designated as Sunday, and Sunday within the meaning of this act is hereby defined to be a day for general rest and the more convenient exercise of religious and charitable duties and offices. On Sunday no person shall, except as hereinafter provided, keep open any shop, warehouse, or mechanical, mercantile, or manufacturing establishment, or engage in any sport or athletic games, or entertainment, or any secular business or labor, except works of mercy or necessity, or such as shall be required for the maintenance of public order, or the preservation or promotion of health or safety, or necessary for the general welfare or convenience of the community.

“Sec. 2. The selectmen of the town, warden of a borough, or mayor of a city, shall upon the presentation of a petition signed by twenty-five or more electors of the town, borough, or ward, or voting district of the city, call a meeting after ten days’ notice of the electors of the town, borough, or ward, or voting district of the city, and if the majority of the electors present at said meeting so votes, the selectmen, warden, or mayor may designate one or more places in said town, borough, ward, or voting district of a city, where it shall be lawful to sell, except where wines or malts or spirituous liquors are kept or offered for sale, milk, fruit, ice-cream, prepared tobacco, confectionery, non-alcoholic beverages, flowers, drugs, medicines, surgical appliances, newspapers, or food sold to be eaten on the premises, where it shall be lawful for regularly established retailers of fresh meat and fresh fish to sell fresh meat and fresh fish up to 9 o’clock A. M.; where it shall be lawful to conduct or engage in any sport or athletic games between the hours of 2 o’clock P. M. and 5 P. M.; where it shall be lawful to give musical or picture entertainments between the hours of 7 o’clock P. M. and 10 o’clock P. M., and shall issue a permit in writing to the person or persons in possession of the said place or places designated; said permit shall be valid only in such town, borough, or ward, or voting district of the city where the selectmen, warden, or mayor signing the same hold office, and shall be in force for not more than one year from date of issue.

“Sec. 3. The provisions of this act shall not affect the service or issue of any original complaint, or any proceedings thereon, nor the performance by haywards of their duties, nor the issue or service of complaints for injunctions and orders thereon, nor the issue or service of other civil process, except between sunrise and sunset on Sundays.

“Sec. 4. Every person who on Sunday keeps open any shop, warehouse, or mechanical, mercantile, or manufacturing establishment, or engages in any sport or athletic games or entertainment, or any secular business, or labor, not excepted under the provisions of this act, shall be fined not more than $100, or imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both.

“Sec. 5. Sections 1369 and 1370 of the General Statutes are hereby repealed.”

This bill is certainly a unique one. It begins by defining Sunday, and declaring it to be “a day for general rest and the more convenient exercise of religious and charitable duties and offices.” Inasmuch as the time set apart in the Scriptures for rest and religious worship is the seventh day of the week, the last twenty-four hours of the week, it seems quite fitting that the same authority which proposes to enforce the observance of another day should first define the new period of rest and worship.

The provision made in Section 2 for special exemptions, is a kind of local option arrangement, so arbitrary in some respects that the striking of the clock will change what was, up to that time, a lawful act, into a crime. According to this section the sanctity of Sunday may depend, in a large degree, upon the majority vote, although this “dispensation” is limited in its character.

Taken as a whole, this bill is one more illustration of the difficulties which are met, and the absurdities which are involved, in the effort to regulate a religious observance by law. The many possible exemptions, and the peculiar conditions under which they may be granted, remind one of the rules, regulations, exceptions, and dispensations in Roman Catholic Church law. It is quite natural that there should be a close parallel between the two cases, inasmuch as in both instances it is the attempt of a merely human authority to direct the consciences of men.

We hope that an effort will be made to enlighten the members of the Connecticut Legislature concerning the real character of this proposed legislation.