How the Postal Employees Secured Their Rest Day by C. E. Holmes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1912

"How the Postal Employees Secured Their Rest Day"

By C. E. Holmes

UNDER the above title one of the letter-carriers of New York City, who is designated as the "father of the closing of the post-offices on Sunday," gives quite an extended history of that movement. As to the origin of the agitation he says:—

"This nation-wide movement had its origin in the Fenimore Street Methodist Episcopal church of Brooklyn. In the course of an address on Sabbath observance, by the Rev. O. R. Miller, of Albany, N. Y., the writer was convinced that an aggressive campaign for the reduction of post-office work on the Lord's day, supported by the church and postal employees' organizations, would meet with success."

In seeking for help to push this effort, the letter-carrier mentioned above, Mr. E. A. Eggers, was given a letter of indorsement and introduction to Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, of the International Reform Bureau, who referred him to the Lord's Day Alliance. "The general secretary of this society, the Rev. George W. Grannis, at once became interested, and has been its chief advocate." Speaking further, Mr. Eggers says:—

"The first step taken was to acquaint the National Association of Letter Carriers and Postal Clerks with the Lord's Day Alliance, and secure mutual support and cooperation; and by the presence of Dr. Grannis at postal employees' conventions and other gatherings, a splendid union of purpose and good will was brought about. In order to keep postal employees in close touch with Dr. Grannis, there appeared many articles from the pen of the writer on various phases of Sabbath observance."

It is evident from the foregoing quotations that the inception and growth of this movement for the Sunday closing of post-offices is for religious purposes. The constant reference to the "Sabbath day," "Lord's day," "Sabbath rest," and "secular work" all indicate what is in the minds of the promoters. This is further emphasized by the following quotation given by Mr. Eggers in his pamphlet:—

"An important reason for closing the post-offices on the Lord's day is because of the harm that comes from secularizing the day of rest and worship by the delivery of mail. Business letters are given out, which promotes the spirit of business on the Sabbath."—Baptist Commonwealth.

Of course it would not do to inform the public plainly that the object in view was a religious one. The Constitution of the United States prohibits Congress from enacting legislation of this character. To accomplish the desired end, some other means must be adopted. Mr. Grannis explains how this was managed:—

"Had we approached it [Sunday closing] on the mere matter of service on Sunday, little or no progress would have been made; but we put it upon the humane proposition, and there is where it should rest. I have said to them, We can not go before Congress and ask for legislation because our Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,' nor can we go because this ecclesiastical organization or the other said, 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,' because in that sense our government is not Christian."

In referring to objections to this Sunday-closing movement, Mr. Eggers quotes the following from the Post Office Clerk:—

"The Seventh-day Adventists have petitioned the Senate to defeat this amendment on the ground that it constitutes religious discrimination."

C. E. HOLMES.