Organizations Indorsing Religious Legislation
By C. E. Holmes
ONE of the most striking movements of the present is that of federation. The idea of forming combinations for securing power and influence is manifested in many quarters. The political, social, commercial, and religious forces are binding themselves together in order to carry out their purposes. In many instances a vast amount of good is done as the result of such organization, but in some cases, especially in the sphere of religion, the power which comes as the result of union and federation is being used to enforce institutions of the church which should be left to the individual. This is notably true in respect to the enforcement of Sunday laws. Through the efforts of religious bodies other organizations not supposed to be particularly concerned with religious matters have been prevailed upon to use their influence in securing the enforcement of religious reforms. The following list of organizations that are now lending their power and influence to the cause of religious legislation, will be of interest:— The International Reform Bureau
"The big four evils the bureau fights most of all are (1) intemperance, (2) impurity, (3) Sabbath-breaking, and (4) gambling.5"We attack these by four methods: (1) By legislation, (2) by letters, (3) by lectures, and (4) by literature."—Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent of bureau, in pamphlet. National Reform Association
"Perceiving the subtle and persevering attempts which are made to prohibit the reading of the Bible in our public schools, to overthrow our Sabbath laws," this association is endeavoring to "place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land."—Constitution of National Reform Association. Lord's Day League of New England
"Its object shall be to maintain the observance of the Lord's day as a civil rest day and a day for religious uses," "defending it against encroachments of business and pleasure."—The Defender, January, 1911. Lord's Day Alliance of Canada
"To secure the faithful and impartial enforcement of laws which are intended to procure for all classes the weekly day of rest." "To secure such amendments in legislation as may be necessary adequately to protect the quiet and rest of the Lord's day."—Annual Report, 1908. "There are many Christian issues to which Catholics could come together with non-Catholics and shape civil legislation for the public weal. . . . We should seek an alliance with non-Catholics for proper Sunday observance."—Catholic Lay Congress, Baltimore, Nov. 12, 1889. Woman's Christian Temperance Union
In 1886, the W. C. T. U. added a "Sabbath Observance" department to its national organization, and "aims to secure and maintain good Sunday laws."—"Sunday Rest in Twentieth Century," page 433. The American Federation of Labor
"The American Federation of Labor, representing, as it does, over two million working men and women, has emphatically declared itself in favor of the Sunday-rest day, and it has done as much as any other organized body of men and women, if not more, to enforce the observance of the Sunday-rest day."—Samuel Gompers, president A. F. of L. Lord's Day Alliance of the United States
Object: "(1) To preserve the Lord's day for America; (2) to secure an active alliance in every State not yet organized; (3) to induce the general government as far as possible to set the example of Sabbath observance; (4) to press the rest-day feature of the fourth commandment, until every toiler in the land has guaranteed unto him fifty-two full rest days a year.—Circular. Philadelphia Sabbath Association
"As a result of the work done by the association, the Sunday law of Pennsylvania has been retained upon the statute-books. It is one of the best Sunday laws in any State in the Union."—"Sunday Rest in Twentieth Century," page 429. "The Cleveland Sunday Union was called into existence because of the increasing tendency to secularize the Sabbath and defy the law generally." It "helped to influence Congress in seeking to have the gate of the Portland (Oregon) exposition closed on Sunday."—Id., page 445. Men and Religion Forward Movement
"Thirty-two reforms for the District of Columbia will be recommended by the Social Service Commission. These recommendations are directed at an attempt to mold public sentiment to such a point that Congress will be forced to enact such legislation as the church people believe will be necessary to make Washington the model moral city in America."—Washington Times, Feb. 17, 1912. Number 18 of its social service recommendations is, "One day's rest in seven." The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America
One of its social service reforms is, "A release from employment one day in seven." "The churches could do no more for the cause of human betterment than by working for such laws [Sunday]. They could well initiate a movement for six-day legislation comparable with the old Sunday-observance movement, which resulted in the placing of Sunday laws on the statute-books of most States."—"Report of Special Committee of Investigation," pages 15, 16. New York Sabbath Committee
"It has to do chiefly with Sunday observance as a civil and secular institution. "It aims to combine the efforts of all good citizens—Protestants, Roman Catholics, and others—in the protection of the day as essential to the peace and good order of the community, the rights of wage-earners, the welfare of the State. It seeks to foster a right public sentiment, by means of documents, addresses, and the press; to secure the wise enforcement of existing laws, and additional legislation where necessary."—Circular. Christian Endeavor Society
"We urge all Christian Endeavorers to set the example of Sunday observance, and to throw all their influence in favor of the preservation of Sunday as a day of rest and worship. We most heartily commend and indorse the action of the Postmaster-General in closing the post-offices on Sunday in large measure, and pledge our united support as representing four millions of young people in the United States to this action in the interests not only of the post-office employees, but also of public morality and proper respect for the laws of God. We urge also upon civic authorities the enforcement of Sunday laws without discrimination."—Christian Endeavor Convention, Atlantic City, July, 1911. Woman's National Sabbath Alliance
"In days so crowded with activity as are ours, few will rest apart from a time provided, ready, and waiting for this express and sole use. Hence the great importance to all of a legal rest day each week, which can be demanded of reluctant employers of labor."—"The Young and the Lord's Day," page 3. The Sunday League of America
"This organization seeks to preserve the Sabbath [Sunday] for every American citizen. It also has for its object the enforcement of the Sabbath laws and the strengthening of these laws wherever it is possible."—Baptist Standard, Sept. 8, 1910. International Federation of Sunday Rest Associations
In a letter to Theodore Roosevelt, when president of the United States, this federation asked that in his next message he would "call attention to the great necessity that a Sunday-rest law be enacted for the national capital, corresponding to the laws of most of the States of the Union."—"Sunday Rest in Twentieth Century," page 454. Writing in the United Presbyterian (Jan. 26, 1911) regarding the different federations, W. H. McMaster said:— "The organized movements on behalf of the Sabbath are almost world-wide. The Lord's Day Alliance of the United States and Canada covers North America. The Lord's Day Alliance of Scotland, the Imperial Alliance in Great Britain, the New Lord's Day Defense Society in Germany, together with various alliances and federations in Europe, all point to a world movement of mighty force on behalf of the day God made for man and his own great glory. Recent enactments have been made in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Japan in recognition of the weekly Sabbath. . . . All this is preparatory to the formation, eventually, as now suggested by the world's committee at Geneva, Switzerland, of the International or World's Lord's Day Alliance." Thus we see the forces at work that will soon attempt to boycott those who will not respect and observe the first day of the week as a day of rest.