The Jews Urged to Activity

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1909

The Jews Urged to Activity

THE following is taken from the Chicago Israelite of Jan. 16, 1909:—

“The Johnston Sunday bill is now pending before the United States House of Representatives. The bill is styled ‘An act for the proper observance of Sunday as a day of rest in the District of Columbia.’ It was introduced in the Senate, May 1, 1908, and was passed in that body, May 15, 1908. The bill is innocent enough in itself, but there is no telling to what it will lead when once it receives the sanction of both houses. There is scarcely a session of Congress at which some such bill is not introduced.

Every one knows that these bills are introduced under the instigation and whip of rigid orthodox Christians, and are simply entering wedges.

“The Seventh-day Baptists and the Seventh-day Adventists are fully aroused to the situation, and are securing signatures to a petition appealing to Congress not to pass the law. The Jews of the country should take a similar stand, and circulate petitions, get the signatures of their constituents, and present them to the congressmen of their districts, urging them to vote against the District of Columbia Sunday bill.

“As said, the measure is by no means drastic in its demands. But that is not the point. Congress has no right to deal with questions of this character, no matter how lenient they may be in their application. By doing so it is overriding the First Amendment to the Constitution: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or permitting the free exercise thereof.’ The Johnston Sunday bill has passed the Senate. It must not pass the House of Representatives. Every champion of the separation of church and state should use his influence with the congressmen of his district to see to it that the Johnston bill is defeated.”