Sunday Observance and Religious Liberty
Naples, according to the "Western Watchman" (Catholic), is a "very Catholic and a very religious city." Speaking of the observance of Sunday in that city, the editor says: "There was not a store in the whole city open yesterday. We were told that no purchases could be made on that day. We drove thru the city in an open carriage and saw all the people dressed for Sunday. There was not an exception. The people can best be seen in the streets, and of a Sunday afternoon few are found indoors. The whole city had a Sunday air not seen outside of Canada. This was a revelation." This is the Sunday that many Protestants desire. France has held third place in the world's navies for decades, but now it is stated she has slipped down one place. The building of two new cruisers of the largest type, provided for in her budget for 1909, will not bring her back to her former rank. The decrease in population, slight as it is, is adding so much to the financial burden of France that she is unable to keep up her army and navy appropriations. The Presbyterian General Assembly at its recent session in Kansas City passed strong resolutions in favor of the prohibition of the liquor traffic, and voted an appropriation of $35,000 to meet the expense of the campaign they have planned to wage against it. According to the "Philippine Christian Advocate" the Methodists of the islands demand protection or religious liberty. Why should they plead for it there and work against it here in their effort for Sunday laws?