Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-02-13
prNouNclwc THE Blue LAWS.
Rev. Robert Collyer Cbaracterizes
the Penal Code as Infamous.


lNew YORK star
Rev. Robert Collyer's lecture at the
Church Of the Messiah last evening, was
in defence OF Sabbath Breaking" and
the novelty of its title had evidently
piqued the curiosity of large number
Of people, Judging from the attendance.
The reverend gentleman directed his
attention particularly to discussion OF
the newly enforced Penal Code, which
he attacked on the ground Of its narrow
ness, and said that the sturdy old Dutch
burghers of New York would be sur.
prised IL they could come to life now
and see the present condition Of affairs
in New Amsterdam. He was glad to
see, however, that the magistrates We're
showing so much leniency in their inter
probation of the new law. He thanked
them for observing it in spirit and not in
letter, insisting that the Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab.
bath. The enforcement of the old Puri-
tan Sabbath has smitten the poor with
cruel hand. The poor boy who sells
newspapers or blacks boots on Sunday,
or the humble huckster who displays
his wares, are not criminals, although
the Penal Code would make them so.
A barber told him he could not pay his
rent unless he worked on Sunday.
The whole effect of the law was to ad-
vance the rich and injure the poor. He
would strike at the root Of the evil.
Newsboys should not be arrested. 81
know great many editors, and like
them all. know great many stock
holders in newspapers, and like some
OF them, but il the ordinance is to have
any semblanco of law, it is not the
newsboy but the editors that should be
arrested, for there is q precious amount
OF work done in Printing House Square
on Sunday that is neither mercy nor ne
cessity." The Sabbath is not made for
a small majority Of men who would force
us to look through their glasses. Sun
day, he insisted, was no better than any
other day, and he cited large number
Of theological authorities, Luther among
them, to show that Sunday was day
Of rest, but not one of compulsory relig-
ious observance. The old spirit of in
tolerance must be met and combated.
"As for myself" he cried with ring
ing voice, 81 shall fight this infamous
law with all my force. for believe that
it Expresses the poor and exalts the rich.
There is no authority for it in the Scrip
ture." He then went on to show that
under the present system New York had
not as much Sunday liberty as London,
but must rather be compared to the BIZ
gotry Of Edinburgh. He would throw
open the libraries and museums on Sun
days. He would let the boys go swim.
ming or play ball. He would open the
music halls; for good clean music can
hurt nobody, and all music is clean; it is
only the words welded to it that can
detile il. He would have Sunday set
apart for life and not for religion only
He said he had no more right to stop
man from going to the theatre ON Sunday
than any one had to stop him from going
to church.
In his peroration he declared that
New York was now the quietest city on
Sunday Of its size, but if these Blue Laws
are enforced the people will rise as they
rose in France during the revolution,
and license will run riot. There must
be a law for the rich and poor alike, not
a narrow, bigoted law, but law for the
broad, free thinking men, which shall
give play to the arts and sciences, and
afford general liberty to all,