The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-23
The Sunday Theatres.

Public sentiment, as expressed in the recent Pc
ttion OF two hundred of our prominent citizens of
all classes, asking the enforcement of the Sunday
theatre law, has already produced most eucourag
ing results. The Djunctions restraining the police
from enforcing the law have been removed in two
out of the three cases in which they had been is
sued. On last Sunday the places of theatrical
entertainments, which had been lately open, with
single exception, were closed or gave merely mu-
steal entertainments which are not forbidden by
the statute. The attention of the community is
aroused to this matter, and it is to be hoped that
the police authorities will continue impartially to
enforce the law. Paul Falk one of the most fla.
grant of the offenders, and who was indicted four
months ago. is to be tried, we believe, this week.
and if convicted lis example will have wholesome
effect. Chief Justice DAILY ofthe Court of Common
Pleas, in vacatng the injunction in the of the
Stadt Theatre gave an able opinion sustaining the
law. His views deserve the careful consideration
of any who may have been in doubt about the law,
and are all the more significant because as Roman
| Catholic he cannot be suspected of any Puritan
bias. After meeting technical objection against
the constitutonality of the law, he says:
| 1t is argued that in the majority of Christian
countries public theatrical performances are per-
mitted on Sunday to which may add that in
many or most of those countries, after certain
hour, shops are also allowed to be opened and all
servile employments carried on the same upon
any other day of the week 10 nearly all the States
of this Union, however, as well as in the country
from which our institutions are derived no such
practice exists for Sunday is regarded not alone
a day of religious observance, but also as day of
rest. 1T is mistake, says Bishop. to suppose
that Sabbath keeping is thing merely of religious
observance, especially tenet OF some particular
sect On the contrary, he remarks. " the setting
apart by the whole community of one day in seven
wherein the thoughts of men and the physical &C.
tivities shall be turned into another than their
customed channels, is thing pertaining much
to the law Of nature is the intervening OF the
nights between the days. Bishop on criminal
law, VOL l. p. 946 4th ed We have statutes in
this State forbiddiDg any servle laboring or work
ing on that day, excepting works of necessity or
charity unless done by those who keep Saturday
as their Sabbath, forbidding the sale Of goods,
wares or merchandise, and forbidding many things
from being done which would otherwise be harm
less-such as shooting, hunting, fishing, &c, &C.,
Il Rev. Statutes. PIP. 675 60 and like statutes
exist in other States and in Great Britain. By
long established usage, moreover, in this country
and in Great Britain, the theatres have been closed
universally observed as to dispense with the ne
cessity of statutory enactments until one or more
theatrical proprietors 10 this city undertook to dis
regard it some few years ago, which led to the en-
actment of the statute in question. The quiet and
order upon that day incident to the shutting up OF
all places of public amusement, the absence Of all
traffic, and the cessation from ordinary work and
labor, are in marked contrast with the mingled
pursuits of business and pleasure on Sunday in
many of the cities of Continental Europe In
those Cities when the morning religious service is
over in the churches, all parties are free to work.
labor, traffic, or amuse themselves as they think
proper but in our cities the great bulk of the
community attend public worship not only in the
morning, but in the afternoon, else in the even
ing, so that by very large class the day is OBJ
served throughout as day of religious obligation
and duty, while 70 all it is day of rest from their
ordinary employments. and, if they make it so, of
quiet and repose. 1t is this well known feature
which gives to the Sunday with US a characteristic
element OF order, suff GENTLY distinguished and I'M
derstood to indicate generally what is meant by the
preservation of order on Sunday as expressed in
the title to this act. Previous laws have forbidden
all work and labor on that day, except works of ne
cessity and charity but if the theatres are opened
for the giving of public performances, the actors
and all employed in giving them, violate the statutes
forbidding work and labor on Sunday, and an ele-
ment of order which it was the design of these
statutes to maintain, is disturbed. There is there
j FORE feature of order which preserved by keep
ing the theatres closed upon Sunday, and that be-
Ing the object Of the act it is expressed by the
title.--NeaO York Evangelist.