The new daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-04
Discourse ON the Sunday Law.

The Rev. George b. Allen delivered
discourse, Sunday evening. on the sub
iect of the Sabbath and the policy of
having a Sunday Law in this State.
Considering the inclemency OF the
weather and the bad walking. the con-
rregation was larger than might have
been expected. We will give synopsis
of his remarks. After the Introductory
exposition of the text: 1.-The Sabbath
was made for man, and not man for the
Sabbath he gave some facts, collected
by the efforts Of individuals and socie-
ties, to prove that one day of rest, IN
every seven, is absolutely necessary for
the physical, intellectual, social and
moral we'll being of the human race.
He differed with those who regarded
the Sabbath as only day OF bodily rest
and recreation, and with those who de-
vote it exclusively to religious exercises.
He had known Christians, not however In
Nevada, that were engaged nearly all the
time on Sunday in what are generally
termed religious duties. He did not be-
lieve in such in observance OF the Sab
bath. If such persons would devote
more time to innocent recreation and So
cial conversation with their friends and
the members of their family they would
be in the sight of God, more pious and
more worthy of His blessing.
He did not approve OF buying and
selling on Sunday visiting places of
amusement or resorts OF pleasure or
riding out for the sake OF ride when it
can be done on some other day OF the
week. While he did not condemn meet
ing together in social intercourse of rel
atives and friends, and especially those
whose principal opportunities OF dolng
so occur on Sundays, he did not APP
prove of Sunday excursions or pic MES
Of any kind He thought such gather
ings should be held when all can attend
them who desire do so, without any
conscientious scruples respecting the day,
on which they are held. He thought
that it would be better to have public
libraries and reading rooms opened
portion of the Sunday than to have them
closed all day.
In regard to working on the Sabbath
he thought that it was impractical, in
the present age to comply with the letter
of the command, I'm it thou shalt do no
manner of work. We can, however,
i've in compliance with the spirit of the
Command We can avoid doing any un-
necessary work What work is abso-
tutely necessary should be left for every
man to decide for himself, if his decisi on
De not incompatible with the rights OF
others. He could not admit that any
man or number of men have the moral
light to compel or require or ask Others
10 work seven days i'll one week for any
length of time. Should they have the
legal right to do it? We come now to
the question Is Sunday Law required
to protect the rights of the laborlns
class ? This is difficult q lestion.
There are strong arguments ON both
sides. If every man worked for himseH
II was entirely free to work on Sunday
Of not, he should oppose any restrictions
being imposed upon any individual OF
number of individuals associated to-
lether. He would not compel any man
to keep the Sabbath. But there are "a
,rge number of the citizens of Nevada,
nat must either work on Sunday or leave
he State. They cannot obtain place
III the mines or mills or on the railroad OF
IN the shops or i'll many of the stores UNI
.ess they consent to do it. What Can bt
lone for them? A representative OF thl
laboring class-a Senator of our county
[ am proud to say-has introduced ii
Dill into the Senate for the protet ton OF
sue laborers in the mines and mills and
hops and stores. Shall it be passed
He had conversed with men of intelll-
sence and experience from different parts
of the State, and all of them favor the
passage of such law sometime. Some
are in doubt in regard to the policy OF
passing it at this session OF the LeSlsla-
ture, fearing that public opinion will not
sustain it: others are of the opinion tina,
"a Sunday law would not only be enfor-
ced, bnt that large majority OF the
working class wonld hail with JOY Its
passage this Winter. 1t is to be regret
ted that they have not had an opportun-
i,y to sign petition in favor OF such
Jaw. He should not be surprised to learn
that some of the laboring class were OPP
posed to a Sunday Law. ..----
There ar. merin every State that have
no abiding home; they are not identified
with its material, social or moral pro-
oress. We are not to legislate especially
for them. Very few intelligent, indus
uleu isNO I" AoiAiy "AAA y
pose Sunday Law. They are the
power of the body polite. Such ale
worthy of legislation. He also had no
doubt that some of the managers and
owners of the railroads and mills and OF
the mines, residing out of the State
would oppose its passage. But the IN
duence of this class of capitalists should
not DE- event the enactment OF any law
which is requisite for the well-belng Ct
our citizens. Most of the capitalists Nv
ing in this State are in favor of Sunday
Law, especially those that intend to
make their home within its borders.
Let Sunday work be stopped, gener-
ally. in this State, and marked social
Improvement would be made in less than
six months-a more permanent pupula-
ton would be identified with the COM
monwealth would decrease, TAXA
ton would be reduced and a better con-
dition of things would be established
among us. This would be the result
even if the saloons or any place OF bus
iiess should not be closed. The bill pro-
vides for the closing of these places.
Most of the saloon keepers would re-
spect the. law after it had passed, how
ever much they might oppose its p assaS
~f ,%bo,,, h,uo r,rnmiSA6 ~ work