SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT NEWS AND COMMENT
By John D. Bradley
The New Orleans Diogenes of November 28 reported that “Sunday-law violations” was a matter under examination by the grand jury then in session in that city. It was reported from Lestershire, N. Y., on November 28, that “the chief of police intends to see that Sunday is observed by the hotel men.” Four barbers were fined $10 each in the municipal court of St. Paul, Minn., on November 30, “for shaving men on Sunday.” “The arrests were made on complaint of J. M. Lockwood, business agent of the barbers’ union.” The New Orleans Item of November 28 reported that “the police continued their rigid enforcement of the Sunday law yesterday, with the result that eight alleged violators were arrested.” The Cincinnati Post of November 28 reported that the barbers’ union of that city had just “solicited the financial aid of the Methodist ministers in the effort to enforce the Sunday closing law.” There is no doubt that the union will receive the support of the Sunday clergy in the accomplishment of this object. One of three specific charges upon which ten American fishing craft were seized and fined by Canadian fisheries authorities for illegal fishing near St. George, New Brunswick, recently was that “they had fished on Sunday.” On the two charges of having illegally-caught fish in their possession, and of having fished on Sunday, the boats were fined $100 each. On November 24 it was announced from East Liverpool, Ohio, that the mayor of that place, “the only prohibition mayor in the State,” had “issued an order against the transaction of any kind of business in the city on Sunday.” Only eating places and drug stores were excepted in the closing order. “There is much opposition to the edict and a strenuous endeavor will be made to have it rescinded.” The Hackensack (N. J.) Record reports that “complaints come from New Milford about certain11carpenters who work at their trade in that village on Sunday just the same as on any other day in the week, to the annoyance of the peace and quiet of the community, and thereby depriving other men of a job on regular work days.” It is remarkable how harmful honest industry on Sunday is. Of course it would be much better for the community if these men spent Sunday in idleness or carousing instead of honest work. Idleness and vice is better than industry on Sunday, according to the logic of the Sunday enforcement propaganda. A DISPATCH from Jackson, Tenn., under date of November 26, reads: Baum Brothers were acquitted in the Circuit court yesterday of the charge of doing business on Sunday. This firm was indicted last summer, when the crusade led by Rev. de Armond, a young preacher, was made under an old statute against all selling on Sunday. Several paid their fines in the magistrate’s court, but Baum Brothers appealed to the Circuit court with the result stated. At a meeting of the ministers’ alliance of St. Louis, Mo., on November 28 a letter was presented from “Rev. J. H. Leiper, of Portland, Ore., secretary of the Southwest Sabbath Association,” stating that a meeting was soon to be held “by the Portland ministers of the different denominations” in the interest of a movement “to close the gates on Sundays at the Lewis and Clark Exhibition next year,” and that “some expression as to Sunday closing was desired from the ministers of St. Louis.” In response to this communication, the following, “formulated by the alliance’s board of counselors,” were “unanimously” adopted: The ministers’ alliance of St. Louis, composed of all the evangelical bodies in the city, in this closing week of our great Exposition, desires to express itself touching the value to our city of having the gates of the Exposition closed every Sunday. In compliance with the Christian sentiment of the country, the National Government has closed the gates of the St. Louis Exposition on Sabbath, and we believe this has been the greatest testimonial to the Christian convictions of America and a notice to all the world that this is a Christian land. We believe that the Christian sentiment of this country having been respected as to its convictions touching the Sabbath, the people have responded in a larger patronage at the Exposition than would otherwise have been given. We have had the visitors at our churches on Sabbath, filling our churches all the summer, and thus the Gospel has had a far better chance to be ministered to the multitudes than would have been possible if the multitudes had been tempted by an open Exposition. In our churches we have had an inspiration through the widening acquaintance with Christian brethren from the larger kingdom of Christ. We have had quiet Sabbaths on our streets. St. Louis homes have been less disturbed by coming and going of people than would have been the case if the Fair were inviting their presence, and this has preserved to the St. Louis housekeepers themselves better opportunities to observe the sacredness of the day and to attend to their own spiritual life. We join most heartily with the ministerial association of Portland in its efforts to secure for the Lewis and Clark Exposition the closing of the gates on Sabbath. Such a document serves the very useful purpose of exhibiting the thoroughly religious nature of the Sunday-closing sentiment. If by “the Christian sentiment of the country” be understood the religious sentiment of the great portion of the church people of the country, and by “Sabbaths” be understood Sundays, nothing could be more accurate than the statement that “in compliance with the Christian sentiment of the country, the National Government closed the gates of the St. Louis Exposition on Sabbaths.” But by what right does the National Government enact into law and enforce religious or “Christian” sentiment? However it may be as to this being “the greatest testimonial to the Christian convictions of America and a notice to all the world that this is a Christian land,” it is certain that it is not a testimonial to American consistency and loyalty to American principle, nor is it a notice to all the world that this is a land where the principle of separation of church and state is kept inviolate. A “UNION service of the Protestant churches” of Woonsocket, R. I., was held on November 27 in the interests of “Sabbath observance,” or more accurately in the interests of the Sunday enforcement organization of that part of the country, the “New England Sabbath Protective League.” The meeting was presided over by the Methodist minister and was addressed by the secretary of the above organization, Rev. Martin D. Kneeland, D.D. He began by speaking of the work the league had done in closing the St. Louis Fair on Sunday, altho religious services are allowed to be held there. The league is trying to have the United States Government maintain its past attitude toward this great question. He mentioned the fact that the late Senator George F. Hoar was the president of the league, and other members and officers were Senator Frye, of Maine, and Senator Hawley, of Connecticut, and many other prominent persons. He told of the work of the league, and a subscription was taken for the work. A set of resolutions was adopted which deprecate the use of Sunday by political parties for political rallies and debates. And yet if this be a Christian nation, and politics the business of the Christian, one can hardly see the logic of preventing the agents of that Christian institution from doing a “Christian” act on Sunday. No. 60 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.