Religious Liberty in the Capital of the Nutmeg State

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 3, 1910

Religious Liberty in the Capital of the Nutmeg State

HARTFORD, the staid and quiet capital of Connecticut, has just passed through an interesting Sunday-closing campaign.

The occasion of the agitation seems to have been furnished by the moving-picture shows. These were fast multiplying, and many of the people were attending them on Sunday nights instead of going to their churches. This caused the beginning of the agitation for Sunday closing, and pressure was brought to bear upon the prosecuting attorney to persuade him to enforce the State statutes against labor that was not of necessity and mercy. The starting of this prosecution caused considerable agitation, which resulted in much being said on both sides, for and against the question.

One signing himself “Justice,” pays his respects to the federation of churches in the following suggestive language:—

“If the ministerial members of the federation want people to attend church on Sunday, instead of the moving pictures, let them make their sermons more attractive, so that thinking men and women will be drawn to church. Give them food for thought after they get home, the same as the earlier preachers did. . . . Preach the plain gospel and its requirements, even if it does hit the wealthy member of the congregation who ‘gives liberally.’ Your Master did not spare even him. Don’t dish up a lot of glittering generalities that they will forget before they get out of the church. Such sermons may be fine specimens of oratory and grammar, but they don’t reach the heart of the masses. Then you would not have to preach to empty pews or discuss at your weekly meetings why more people do not attend church, especially men.”