The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-24
DENnUvciNG TaE BLUE LAWS.
Rev. Robert Coiiyer Chnracterizes the
Penal Code as Infamous.
New York star ]

Rev. Robert Collyer's lecture at the
Church oi the Messiah last evening was
IN " Defence OF Sabbath Breaking" and
the novelty of its title had evidently
piqued the curiosity OF a large number of
people, judging from the attendance.
The reverend gentleman directed his at
tention particularly to discussion of
the newly-eniorced 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 if 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 were show.
ing so much leniency in their nterpreta.
tion 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 Sabbath. The
| enforcement OF the old Puritan 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
advance 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 l like some
of them, but if tine ordinance is to have
| any semblance OF law, it is not the news
boys but the editors should be arrested,
for there is precious amount OF work
done in Printing House Square on Sum-
| day that is work Of neither mercy nor
necessity" The Sabbath is not made
for small majority Of men who would
force us to look through 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 religious
observance. The old spirit of intoler-
ance 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 oppresses the poor and exalts the rich.
There is no authority for it in the Script.
ure." He then went on to show that
under the present system New York has
not as much Sunday liberty as London,
but must rather be compared to the big.
otry 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 i;
only the words welded to it that can de-
file it. He would have Sunday set apart
for life and not for religion only. HI
said he had no more right to stop mar
from going to the theater on Sunday
than any one had to stop him from goine
to church.
| In his peroration he declared that New
York was now the auietest city on Sun
day of its size, but if these Blue Law
are enforced the people will rise as they
rose in France during the revolution, ant
license will run riot. There must be
law for the rich and poor alike, not
narrow, bigoted law, but law for tn
broad, free-thinking men, which shal
give play to the arts and science, an,
afford general liberty to all.
; The editor of an Illinois paper took