Working on Sunday by American Literary Churchman

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 18, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 36.

Working on Sunday.

By American Literary Churchman

WE are continually assured that Sunday is the workingman's day; that he prizes it above all others, and that any relaxation of the Sunday laws would be a deadly wrong to the workingman. We have often expressed a very confident opinion that all this is mere fudge. In fact, it is notorious that Sunday excursions and amusements, whenever they can be had, are patronized almost exclusively by the "working classes." The telegraphers have no objection whatever to working on Sunday.

For Sunday work they want higher, perhaps double pay. To a man who really believes that it is wicked to work on Sunday, the mere offer of double pay, or any amount of pay, would be an insulting bribe. But the telegraphers regard the whole subject as a matter of business. The only reason why employers are compelled to pay wages at all is this: That work involves a more or less painful sacrifice, and nobody will put himself to inconvenience for somebody else without remuneration. Now to work on a day when everybody else is playing, is a peculiarly unpleasant sacrifice. It means giving up the only holiday in the week. It means, for the operative of Baltimore, or Philadelphia, or New York, giving up the only chance in the week of going to church, or to a country beer garden, or to the park, or down the bay, or to Atlantic City, or Coney Island. It means that, while the little party of which he expected to be one, is "having a splendid time," the Sunday-worker is "wiring messages," or handling freight, or driving an engine. The bodily fatigue is the same as on Monday, but the mental discomfort, the total sacrifice involved in working, is much greater. Therefore, and therefore only, he demands higher remuneration—and he is sure to get it. Sunday laws do not secure for the workingman absolute rest; but they do secure for him what he values much more—the chance of double pay if he chooses to work. This is a very good thing in its way; but it has nothing to do with religion or with the fourth commandment.—American Literary Churchman.