HUMANITARIAN METHODS by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

HUMANITARIAN METHODS.

By Editor

THE Congregationalist of August 22 says:—

"Some Hebrew tailors of this city have just been tried, and several of them fined, for working at their trade on Sunday. Several others offered the defense that they had abstained from work on Saturday, their Sabbath. As the government could not disprove this, and as their Sunday labor could not be shown to have annoyed anyone, they were discharged. The prosecution was at the instance of the Boston Clothing Operatives' Protective Association, which . . . is attempting to put a stop to Sunday labor, although from only humanitarian motives. The case has revived the interesting question how far the prevalent custom of a community—in this case that of resting on Sunday instead of Saturday—may legally and fairly be allowed to affect those who conscientiously prefer to do differently. In this particular instance the law seems plain and accordant with justice, viz., that whosoever conscientiously observes Saturday as his Sabbath, and annoys no one else by his labor or pleasure on Sunday, may keep the latter day as he pleases."

The "humanitarian motives" are probably purely selfish motives. The members of the Protective Association do not wish to work on Sunday and they are determined that nobody else shall. It is the same dog-in-the-manger spirit that crops out very frequently in efforts to enforce Sunday laws.