SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT NEWS AND COMMENT.
AN item that appeared recently in the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal stated that "the councilmen of Hornick unanimously favor an ordinance for closing of the barber shops on Sunday, with not less than a $5.00 fine as penalty, and a committee has been appointed to draft said ordinance." It was recently reported from Elgin, Ill., that "there is a movement on to do away with Sunday funerals. Funeral directors and every driver in the city have decided to take no part in funerals held on Sunday, and it is understood that the ministers are also in favor of the movement." Chairman Amundson, of the town board of Emerald, Minn., recently issued this "Public Warning:" "To whom it may concern: Several complaints have been sent me regarding Sunday hunting and shooting, and requesting me to notify all concerned in a friendly way to be kind enough to discontinue the same. Those concerned please take heed." The clothing dealers of Faribault, Minn.,7"have agreed to close their places of business every Sunday during the year 1905." "The movement was inaugurated by the retail clerks' association, to which the proprietors acquiesced"—in obedience to something in the way of compulsion, it may be depended on. The Indianapolis News, of December 9, reported that "the war of the union barbers on Sunday work shows no indication of ending," and that "seven affidavits charging barbers and proprietors with keeping open their shops on Sunday" had just "been filed in the court of Justice of the Peace Stout." The cases of three barbers previously arrested on the charge of violating the Sunday law had just "been taken from Stout's court to that of Justice Sheppard on change of venue." "For selling shoe strings on the Sabbath," two men were arrested in Minneapolis, Minn., on November 28, according to the Times of that city, which remarks that "there should be no law against selling either shoe strings or collar buttons on any day," and that such a law "is provocative of more profanity than good." On December 8, Mayor Cullom of Duluth, Minn., notified the manager of a local theater which had advertised a Sunday performance, "that such was the will of 'the powers that be' in Duluth, that if any theatrical companies are caught laboring on the Sabbath, within the city limits, they will be prosecuted according to law." The manager "at once complied with the mayor's command, and had the Sunday show stricken from his list of theatrical engagements." It seems that the action of the mayor was due to "a storm of wrath among the religious element" because of the proposed Sunday performance. In Brooklyn, N. Y., on December 21, "Magistrate Furlong held James Rollo, a barber, accused of having violated the Sunday barber law at his shop, 1840 Broadway, on Sunday, December 11, for the court of special sessions." Rollo was given until the next morning "to furnish $200 bail." He was arrested as the result of a complaint by barbers. At Joliet, Ill., on December 17, "information was filed in the county court by State Attorney Heise against fourteen Joliet saloon-keepers for violating the Sunday-closing law." Capiases were at once issued and the papers filed with Sheriff Ray for service. Labor Men Using Sunday Laws to Force Favorable Settlement.
In Atlanta, Ga., on December 4, "cases were made against several railroad employees under the ordinance which prohibits manual labor on the Sabbath day." "During the trial of the cases before Judge Broyles an abrupt postponement was secured by consent of all parties, upon the statement that the case would probably be adjusted without the aid of the courts." The prosecutions were made at the instance of Secretary Puckett, of the Georgia Federation of Labor, and were for the purpose, it seems, of bringing the railroads entering Atlanta to terms with the labor organization regarding Sunday work. This statement of the matter by the attorney for the labor organization appeared in the Atlanta Constitution, of December 9. The Georgia Federation of Labor was made acquainted with the fact that the yard men, or a majority of them, were required to work nearly all day Sunday, and, after investigation, decided to have cases made against the railroads for violating the Sunday laws. Pending the trial before Recorder Broyles, overtures were made for a friendly settlement of the matter. These overtures were met in a conciliatory spirit, and, having been informed as to the hours which would be satisfactory to the railroad employees, I was authorized and directed to negotiate with the railway companies. After several conferences an agreement was reached, entered into by every superintendent of the railroads entering Atlanta, that no switching or work would be done in the yards between the hours of 10 o'clock A.M. and 2 o'clock P.M., and between 6 P.M. and 8 P.M. on Sundays, all men affected to receive pay for a full day's work. The entire matter has been adjusted satisfactorily both to the railroads and railroad employees, and there will doubtless be no further trouble in the premises. "WHAT IS CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP?"
This is a question that frequently occurs to me, and it has again been very forcibly impressed on my mind from reading an article in a little pamphlet, entitled, "Christian Citizenship, or the Moral Regeneration of Society." The article referred to advocates the doing away of evangelistic work among individuals, and converting men by nations; that is, passing religious laws, and compelling men to obey them. Will that not lead to religious intolerance which will end in persecution? Is there any nation on earth where all the people agree as to their religious doctrines? Then, how is it possible to convert a whole nation to any one religion without trespassing upon one's rights? Are you acting up to all the requirements of the Golden Rule, when you compel another to obey the dogmas of your religion whether he believes it or not? The Golden Rule says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." Matt. 7:12. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil. 4:8. Supposing that some one of our law makers should get a bill through Congress, requiring every one to observe the ordinance of baptism by immersion. This would do infants no good, and it might kill some adults to baptize them against their will. But you say this would not be right. But is it not as much right as to compel one to do as you say on other questions? What do you think about it?