Arrested for Working on Sunday by K. C. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 27, 1910

Arrested for Working on Sunday

By K. C. R.

Recently Brother Eugene Ford, of Colonial Beach, Va., was arrested and fined two dollars and costs for doing some quiet and necessary work on Sunday. Learning of Brother Ford’s refusal to pay the fine, one not of his faith paid it. This Brother Ford refused to accept, and the case has been appealed to the Circuit Court of Westmoreland County, Virginia.

Evidently the mayor before whom this case was tried was not conversant with the provisions of the Virginia Sunday law, which exempts from its penalty those who observe the seventh day of the week. Hence it will be seen that the mayor himself, in imposing the fine, was violating the provisions of the law.

We would commend the following worthy example of a Pennsylvania magistrate to all officials who may be called upon to prosecute those who violate the Sunday law, even though it does not contain any exemption for those who observe the seventh day. Chief Burgess Harvey, of Lansdale, Pa., tendered to the town council his resignation of his office as chief burgess, rather than enforce the old Sunday blue-laws of his State. His letter of resignation was as follows:—

“GENTLEMEN: I hereby tender my resignation as chief burgess of the borough of Lansdale, the same to take effect upon the appointment of my successor. I take this action only after very careful consideration of a petition placed in my hands, signed by various voters, women, and children, praying me to enforce what are commonly called the blue-laws. “Since issuing a proclamation dated June 16, 1909, calling for a limited enforcement of the law, I have been reliably informed that every ice-cream parlor and soda-water fountain, fruit and

candy counter must be closed on the sabbath if the law is to be consistently administered. That is a task I am unwilling to undertake, and was not contemplated by me when I asked the support of the voters for the office. Hence I step aside very cheerfully, I assure you, to make room for any one who feels equal to the emergency.

“While I believe in keeping the sabbath as a day of worship and rest, I can not persuade myself that it is a part of my duty as a good citizen to hold an office where I am expected to prosecute citizens who may differ from me in that particular.”

Every State official has solemnly sworn that he will be faithful in carrying out the law as long as he retains his position as a servant of the government; but he has the right and privilege to resign his position, and thus escape the responsibility of executing a law that he believes to be pernicious.

No official of civil government should be deceived with the idea that because of his official position he will be excused at the bar of God for his act in enforcing an iniquitous law. “We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

K. C. R.