p. 10 | California Sunday Law by H. W. Cottrell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 27, 1912

California Sunday Law

By H. W. Cottrell

By Initiative of the People

UNDER "color" that he would bring relief to certain classes of arduous toilers—"post-office clerks and letter-carriers"—throughout this commonwealth, Dr. George W. Grannis, of New York, general secretary of the American "Lord's Day Alliance," and certain of his associates, are "touring the country in an effort to awaken public interest to the necessity of granting all workers a weekly rest day." Thus he is reported in the San Francisco Chronicle of February 11, 1912.

Dr. Grannis, the Rev. Father McQuaide, pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, San Francisco, and Dr. G. L. Tufts of Berkeley, who has been the chief promoter of Sunday law measures in California for the last three years, were in attendance at a meeting held under the auspices of the postal employees, including the Carriers' Association, the Clerks' Federation, and the Clerks' Association, in Santa Clara Hall, on Leavenworth Street and Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, the 11th instant, the two former addressing the assembly.

Father McQuaide was the first speaker, and in a forceful, impressive, and original manner, referred to a miracle wrought by our Lord on the Sabbath, and said that it was and is always lawful to perform acts of mercy and charity on the Sabbath day, but that it is not lawful to do any other kind of work on Sunday.

Dr. Grannis, in his address, took special pains to inform the personnel of the allied associations that it was their God-given right to rest on Sunday (and of course no one would deign to question the right to rest on that or any other day, or not to rest on any day, if one so chose for himself), and that the Federal authorities were robbing them of their God-given right when requiring their service on the Sabbath day — Sunday.

"Seven evangelical churches [in Berkeley] have united in advancing the Sunday rest movement," the pastors of the several churches forming "The California Central Committee," working toward a Sunday rest bill. This committee says through its superintendent, G. L. Tufts: "The committee deem it wise to seek a reasonable and conservative law. It will be a comprehensive and excellent measure as far as it goes, but it will leave the field of public amusement for future consideration, or to be cared for by county or municipal initiative elections wherever the public sentiment will justify it. The State-wide bill will provide for the closing of all saloons, UNNECESSARY BUSINESS and labor, and secure [Sunday] a day of rest each week for every laborer. It will close the confectionery and cigar stands, barber and meat shops, allow four hours for drug stores, and bring rest to multiplied weary men and women."

Under color that they would bring relief to postal employees, they unearth their concealed purpose to secure a general Sunday law, in the words, "The State-wide bill will provide for . . . [the stopping] of all . . . unnecessary business and labor."

Is it not surpassingly strange that an individual who knows he has an inherent right to rest on Sunday if he so desires, and who desires to rest, will not do so unless there is a civil requirement compelling him so to do?

There is no law forbidding an individual's resting on Sunday. Then why do not those who desire, rest on Sunday, and leave every other person free to enjoy equally with themselves his God-given rights to rest or not, as he may elect for himself?

The people of California, by public effort from pulpit, lecture platform, and the press, should be reminded, and that at once, of their inalienable rights, and that no bill should be enacted into law that would invade those rights.

H. W. COTTRELL.