Undignified Legislation by A. Smith

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1912

Undignified Legislation

By A. Smith

A. SMITH

ACCORDING to the provisions of the Johnston Sunday bill now lying quiescent in waiting for the action of the present Congress, the sale of cigars, etc., is permissible to Sunday-keepers during the entire day; but the sale of bread and other commodities is a misdemeanor punishable by fine and imprisonment. One, however, who observes some other day as the Sabbath could sell cigars, bread, or any other article of merchandise with impunity. Another provision of the bill limits, during a portion of the year, the lawful sale or delivery of certain articles to the early forenoon, but makes it a criminal offense a few minutes after the time limitation.

Such legislation is a statutory echo of the old Connecticut blue-laws, also of the ancient pharisaical law that prohibited the eating of eggs laid on the Sabbath by fowls kept for laying purposes, but permitted the eating of eggs laid by fowls fattening for roast or pot-pie. Legislation of such a character is extremely elastic in its possibilities, and if persisted in, no one can tell to what lengths of inconsistency and of injustice it may go, or what persecution it may bring upon dissenters.

Grandville, Mich.