The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-04

at some time are required to do Sunday SER
vice. The results of thus requiring 100000
persons to violate the Sabbath, soley to make
money for corporations and this by direct
corporate command, are of incalcuiable
injury, not only to these parties but to soci-
ETY. at large. Men within my knowledge are
every Sabbath day compelled to do work in
direct contraventOn OF their religious
scruples. 1t is safe to assume that one-half
of these employees are Christians; and this
evil therefore becomes the more appalling.
When you consider how these men,
from fear of losing their places, are
compelled to do this labor (much of
which is totally unnecessary, and
is the result of indifference or cupidity on
the part of the managers and stockholders,
it becomes monstrous wrong against the
religion and family rights of these employees.
And this compulsory violation of their
duties as Christians and citizens teaches
them to violate all other laws of the State
and prepares them not only for indifference
to the interests of corporation itself, but
for the manifestation of a disregard for all
wise precepts and restrictions. This is prob
ably the worst feature of the whole custom.
No man, in the nature of the case, will be
true to an employer who, for mere gain, de-
mands of him violation of his conscientious
scruples, and who forces him, through fear
of losing his employment to submit to SER
vice on day which, by heavenly and hui
man laws, he feels that he is entitled to en-
JOY as day OF rest.
Fifth-It will be universally conceded I
think, that men who have families are more
constant fixed and faithful in any service,
as a rule, than those who are not 50 81 tuated.
Men with wives and children have given
hostages to society for good behavior, for in
dustry, and for thrift; and the more a labor
ing man is permitted to see of his family,
the more certainly is he to be found subject
to those restrictions and obligations which
make good citizenship. In the nature of the
case the Sabbath is the only day the laboring
man can enjoy the society of his family.
Deprive him of this social communion, this
development of his finer emotions and feel
ings, and you take from him many of those
qualities and inspirations which make men
faithful, laborious and true. Nor does this
wrong extend only to the man himself, but
1T reacts upon his family. The separation is
wrong and injury to them; they are cut off
from his influence and from his guidance
and the injustice in this phase works out a
double evil
And, in conclusion. I have to say that so
great a question as this cannot be considered
merely on the basis of dollars and cents. To
determine its ultimate result it must be
sounded deeper than the mere surface. And
the question of a few dollars more or less
cannot compensate for the religious, moral
and social wrong which compulsory work on
the Sabbath day nHicts.
see that in one of your late issues you
suggest that it is rumored this order of mine
will be rescinded. | have only to say that
SO far as tried, the results are more than sat
isfactory no injury or loss has been sustain
ed; the employees have i'll many ways ex-
pressed their gratitude and thanks for this
privilege which has been extended to them in
the way of a cessation of work on Sunday,
and that so long as l remain in the manage
ment of the road no change will be made
am very truly yours
BENNETT H. YOU'VE, President