The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-07-15
A Reasonable View of Sunday
Laws

Laws.
General Di Cesnola has recently said
concerning opening amusements on Sun
day In England, few years ago, this
same question was discussed, and amuse-
ments were thrown open to the public on
Sundays. What was the result? The
very class of people whom it was expected
to benefit held great mass. meeting and
condemned the action. They said that
they did not want amusements open on
Sundays, and 1 must say their reason was
shrewd. 1t will only lead, they said
to other exhibitions, and will tend to
destroy the observance of Sunday. We
want to amuse ourselves as we please,
and we do not care to have the amuse-
ments open. Sunday is our day So,
after awhile, most of the English muse
ums discontinued the practice" The
entire movement to open public institu-
tons on Sunday is in the interest of
irreligion and immortality, though many
well meaning persons do not so see it.
Certainly, entertainments generally
should be free on the Sabbath, or the
public institutions should not be OPEN
The government In a republic has no
right to choose the amusements for the
people. The prohibition on the Sabbath
OF theaters, minstrel shows, and all other
kinds of amusement that are legal at any
time, is an act of Oppressive discrimina-
ton If any amusements are allowed to be
open.
The closing of rum-shops rests upon an
entirely different ground. The sale of
rum at all times, but especially on days
of idleness, tends to the production of
crime, turbulence, and riot.
We hold that all kinds of work and
business not absolutely necessary should
be prohibited on Sunday on the following
grounds, among others
First, that the maintenance of religion
is essential to the morality of the coun-
try, and in republic morality is one of
the two pillars upon which the Govern
ment rests.
Second, the physical yigor of the peo-
pie depends upon the observance of a day
of rest once every week but greed and
competition will destroy chat day of rest
unless the cessation of business is made
obligatory by law.
worship, whicJ is essential to religion,
would be impossible if business, the
courts, and legislative bodies were not
suspended.
Fourth, to prohibit general business on
Sunday, and allow those whose supper
and profits are derived from furnishing
amusements to the public to carry those
on during the day when all other classes
of the population are compelled to be
idle, would be to give them by law most
extraordinary advantages over their fell
low citizens, while at tn same time to a
a very great extent, osf a5ing the pur-
pose for which the ger stal observance
of the Sabbath as day rest is enloin-
ed by the law.
But while we thus maintain the wis.
dom and necessity of Sunday laws, we
recognize the legal right of every man tc
be Jew, or Seventh Day Baptist, or a
Spirituality, an infdel, or a Mormon iii
he does not commit overt acts contrary
to the law, or an atheist. In this coun.
try the law cannot compel man to be.
heve the Bible, to "join the Church, " OF
even to worship God.
But against the cases which promote
immortality the law may justly provide
and also may protect the laboring classes
against the practical slavery which greed
and competition would surely produce i
business were not prohibited on the Sab.
bath.
Hence, we oppose, and ever will, al
movements that tend to destroy the dis.
tinction between the Sabbath and ordi-
nary days.-N Y Christian Aduoaate.