Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-07-02
THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE sun.
DAY LAWS.
A Lecture by Judge w. o. FOrrist OH
Sunday Afternoon at the Epis.
cOpal Church.

nized and the religious convictions of
many over-run, as well as the theories
of many lawyers who have not ex-
h~austively considered the legal as
pect of the Sunday laws, and his
apology was that fidelity TO bis sub
iect demanded such Il course.
The status of u system of Sun
day laws cannot be determined by
definition. To intclIigentiy accom-
plish this there must be analysis of
its constitutional elements, Try which
it will he demonstrated.
1st, That all religious considera-
tons are foreign to it.
I'd, That the Sabbath is only acct
dentally associated with it.
Sd, That our system of Sunday
laws exists only by force and effect
of legislative enactment.
4th, That Sunday laws can only be
enacted by an exercise of the police
power of the state notably limited so
as to take from the legislature all
authority to even permit religious
conviction to become a part of them.
In short our Sunday laws exist by
the exercise of the same authority
and for similar reasons and no others
as do the gaming, fishing and fores-
try laws of the state and employ the
same methods of enforcement.
The speaker then proceeded 10
quote from various legal authorities
of South Carolina, Pennsylvania and
Ohio, viz: from the decisions of
their supreme courts extracts album
dainty ~upholding his propositions
which need not be reproduced here,
as our supreme court has on numer-
Gus occasions quoted and applied
what was read and finally said. The
: leading consideration for the adop-
. ton of any system of Sunday laws is
to provide as regularly recurring and
uniform a day of rest for man and
I beast, as the exigencies of life and
: business will permit. Such a day
, necessarily becomes a day of enfran-
Y chisement and jubilee. It makes
e humanity its own master for the day.
. Debts may not be forgiven 10 obi
, cations discharged but for the day
4 they are taken from mems shoulders,
d and SO in all the range of reasonable
L conception under our constitution no
I system of Sunday laws will impose
any burden or prohibit any harmless
and appropriate amusements but
rather invites them. Another object
= of all Sunday laws is to provide stated
times wherein unobstructed families
can re-unite in social and domestic
b intercourse.
It The Sunday laws of Missouri are
composed of five sections under the
head of crimes and criminal proceed.
Il ings and involve only twenty-five
lines but little understood, and con,
thin restraints so light as to gall nc
more than docs the ar we breathe
d crush US with its weight. They pro.
1t hiblt physical labor, except in house.
hold duties and works of charity and
necessity, and merchandising Will
exceptions that embrace vastly more
than is withheld. They exempt also
from their operation all who belong
to religious societies observing an.
other day of rest, and thus protect
:, their rights and feelings. They pro-
hibit hunting, horse racing, CHECKER
fighting and playing cards, the open
: ing of ale or porter houses, groggerie'
and tipping shops and the retail o:
Intoxicating drinks. Thus relieving
all as far as possible from ordinary
burdens and leaving them free t.
rest and enjoyment, no amusement
whatever being interdicted beyond
ii such as have been recited. OF cours,
D., it is not to be forgotten that tn
v doors of our courts are closed ant
Ill that civil process and it's service az
Id suspended, making of Sunday a heb
o.. domadal jubilee. There are not AM
n there cannot be religious sanction
for the vindication and enforcement
re of such laws. Their only sanction
is are secular and civil. No n ca
of read these laws and fail to understan
cs their legal aspect and make the log
b. cal deduction that the church an
the theatre, the camp meeting an
the political mass gathering, the sci
mon and the lecture, the service {
song and the opera, the pleasure an
the funeral excursion are all equal
lawful, as we'll as o thousand othe
things capable of being mentione
The citizen manumitted for the da
may attend and enjoy either at b
pleasure and thus find rest and rect
q peration for succeeding duties, obi
is cations and burdens. In short til
legal Sunday was made, as Chris
u declared, for man and not for sur
d day, and every lover of good neigl
borhood will see to it that he and b;
n observe them in the spirit and for til
- end for which they have been enacted
m And while he enjoys his day of email
nd cipation, privilege and jubilee he wi
ly do SO, carefully regarding the right
feelings and convictions of his fe