SUNDAY LAWS IN SWITZERLAND.
By H. P. H.
[From our own correspondent.] ALTHOUGH inferior in size, Switzerland is not one whit behind her large sister republic, the United States, in fulfilling her part of Rev. 13: 11-18. There is here a well-organized effort to secure Sunday laws to insure the observance of the wild solar holiday wherever its pretended claims are not voluntarily respected. As in most countries of Europe, almost unobserved the camel's nose was thrust into the tent through laws regulating the operation of factories. In the different nations, these factory laws are modeled on the same block, and, while some variations appear, the Sunday clause is almost invariably retained. This regulation of Sunday observance by civil law is chiefly fostered by “committees for the better observance of Sunday,” which were partly originated and chiefly inspired by similar organizations in America. A general committee of this character having charge of the work in all Switzerland has organized sub-committees in the leading cities. These consist chiefly of pastors of churches. Besides urging all ministers to preach at least once a year on the importance of Sunday observance, these committees hold special meetings, circulate literature, but above all seek to influence legislation in favor of Sunday. These Sunday committees have set themselves with great vigor at the task of removing from the Sunday institution all the rubbish heaped upon it by greed of gain and a pleasure-loving world. They propose to clear the day of all abuses and hold it forth as the bright banner of the millennial dawn. In this, their dreams run parallel with those of socialists, who look for Edenic times to result from the execution of their theories. During the past summer, efforts have been made to have transferred to another time the special schools held on Sunday for the benefit of young people that desire to continue their studies while engaged in business. Some of these schools are in session at the time of church service; in cities where there is little hope of having them transferred to another day, it is requested that the hour be changed so as not to conflict with the hour for church service. Thus it is evident that here, as elsewhere, the ultimate object of these efforts in behalf of Sunday laws ostensibly for the protection of the enslaved laboring classes, is to remove every rival of church services. Another object aimed at during the past summer was to free the customs officers along the frontiers from Sunday service. But this is a hard point to carry; for the government has learned that people will smuggle on Sunday as well as other days. Of course, the object of these laws is to make everybody keep Sunday; but the question quite naturally arises, What good will it do to compel people by law to keep Sunday so long as they smuggle, steal, lie, blaspheme, etc.? What the people need is to be converted; then they would observe a rest day in obedience to God’s law; then there would be no need of a human law to compel them; but if they are not converted, what virtue is there in forcing them under penalties to observe the day? There is virtue in such work only where a premium is placed on hypocrisy. In addition to secular schools and the frontier patrol on Sunday, the committee sees three great giants in the way,—the railways, the postal service, and the army. But it has with much spirit attacked these giants, and has already scored some victories. A law has been secured which requires that railway employees must have a given number of holidays each year, seventeen of which must be Sundays. In some cities, the number of mail deliveries has been reduced; in this, Basel is among the foremost, having but one delivery on Sunday. But the worst element of all to capture and manage is the army; when men have little or no religion, they much prefer the excitement and display of drill in the open air to the church service. Again, the whole tenor of war is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the Gospel. Nevertheless, the army has been attacked and some points scored in favor of Sunday. This is not because the army is growing better, but because Sunday friends are farther from the Gospel. Being wearied of the long struggle with giant obstacles, the Sunday-law seekers have taken a new tack, and endeavored to reach their goal by a shorter road; they make an effort to have the principle of Sunday rest embodied in the national constitution. This is indeed a bold step, and is indicative of the strength of the Sunday movement. When once this principle is incorporated in the constitution, the nation is committed on the question of Sunday laws. With the principle thus firmly riveted on the nation, the Sunday committees will soon see that it is respected in all the details of social and commercial life; and the day when this will be an accomplished fact is near at hand. Basel, Switzerland, December 15.