The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-08-09
THE SECULAR SUNDAY.

THE SECULAR SUNDAY.
Henry King in the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat: The idea that there can be
such thing as strictly secular Sunday
law has never entered the heads OF
great many people. The phrase sounds
to them like contradiction of terms
II is favorite habit of thought among
superficial advocates for entire religious
freedom that there Is necessarily union
OF church and state in all regulations for
conduct on the day commonly known as
the Sabbath. The result is that they
misconceive the nature OF the modern
legal Sunday in the United States. The
theory has been advanced that religious
observances have their root in secular
philosophy; that it was found good. for
instance, by the early Jewish lawgiVers,
or perhaps their predecessors for men to
rest one day in seven, for the reason that
their physical and mental welfare was
advanced thereby. In order to give the
law enjoiniug cessation from labor full
Ter effect than it would otherwise have.
the argument is that the lawgivers call
ed in superstition to their aim and
claimed it to be a special, divine COM
mand. And thus, 1t being thought by
the lawgivers injurious for the people
to eat pork, u divine order was manufac-
tured to more eEectuallY keep them
from doing it. Lent, aud the Hbsery
ances of the class from which it has de-
scended, are accounted for in the same
way, it being supposed to be advantage
Gus, at the particular time of year when
they occur, for the body 10 be given a
chance to relieve itself from a surfeit of
strong food and for diet to be adopted
more suitable to the change in the sea-
son.
Surprising the origin OF these religious
observances to be as set forth above, it
can be readily understood how there can
essary connection with religion than
real estate cOnveyancing has with the
communion table We simply go back
to the alleged first principles and de-
cree that there shall be certain limita-
lions ur Isbor and conduct on one day in
the week for the general health and wei
fare of the community. If it were found
advantageous to have one day in ten, in
stead of one day in seven, day OF rest,
and law were enacted to that effect, the
idea of non-secular Sunday would be
fully illustrated. The schools which
have two days of rest IN the week in
stead of one have simply two legal
Sundays. We find on our secular Sun
day that many people want to go to
church and observe certain rules of
conduct. IF these people are in the
majority, oS form very considerable
class IN the community, it is fair that
they should be deferred to and protected
from annoyance. They-and all, in tact,
on the theory that one day in seven
should be one of rest-have q claim to
be relieved. from the noise and hustle
which attends other days. What might
not be nuisance on other days becomes
one on this. and it is proper that it
should be abated II is a concession
which the minority owes To the major
ity. OF course IN democracy if the
majority decide that Il day of rest per
iodically established is hu,nbug, there
can be no such thing as a secular Sun
day. The majority will rule sooner or
later.
At present the vast preponderanoe Of
sentiment Endorses the idea of one day
of rest III seven, and the majority. with
out trenching on religious ground, have
And this is precisely what slley are do
ing. They permit exceptions wherever
the general coHtnrt or prosperity Is con-
uibui, Il TO by them. fhrre is no moral
difference between Keeping dry goods
store open on Sunday and running
railroad tram. But if it were to be
found that society was better off by stop
ping the train there would be no religi-
Gus expressions OF interference with
personal liberty, properly speaking.
In stopping it. The strictly secular
Sunday is based upon the theory Of Sc
curing the greatest amount of physical
and mental-in which is included moral
-recupsration and good to the greatest
number. So long as this end is subserv-
ed no distl0ctiOn can be made between
church and beer. garden, but where this
end is not subserved. but de feated, dis.
tInclion can be made II is a coDveG-
lent arrangement sbat the legal day of
rest shall fais GU the Christian Sabbath
More people are satisfied with this plan
than they would be with any other.
II is important that the fat should be
kept in rind that the legal Sunday is a
secular institution aud that considera-
ton of the common velfsns, aside from
religious, are amply sufficient ~ justify
certain restrictionsont that day Atpresent
there Is confused idea in many minds
that Sunday laws eFs b4sed on religious
czeed and prohibition. whereas their
true basis is the good of society,
be it Pagan or Christian. The
problem which is being worked
cut with regard to Sunday laws
relates 10 the recreaiions which can be
advahtAseonslY Indulged ia and the oc-
equations which can De permitted with
out detrimeni 10 the msin purpose Of
tue day. Religious service Certainly
forms Que of the permisslll, Occupa
tions Rhe sunday nfthe future Is sciesr-
tiic, not PGritanic. but il. s.n:e things
which are called Ps,riIan.n shall bel
foand 70 be scientifically corltct, theyd
become necessarily fealurrs of the per-
feet seculur Sunday.