The Brookhaven leader., 1886-02-04
Sunday La VS..


Editor Brnokhaven Leader:
The prosecution during the January
term of our Circuit Court of a number OF
yonng men for violating the Sabbath by
playing u game of baseball on said day.
shows us what obnoxious laws are on the
statute books relating to the observance
of Sunday. r.
The founders of our Republic in FRAN
ing tho Constitution took care TO ghaTu
aTnipst the union of Church aud stare,
and this was wise precautIon, for u ~
an established fact that the recognition OF
any particular mode of worship by the
government is an injustice to citizens on
different religious convictions and WORKS
detrimental to Church and State. NJ"
more tlagrant violation OF the right grant
ed by the Cons titutiOn to every citizen to
believe in religious matters as his CON
science NAV dictate, can be imagined
than the laws relating to the observance
of Sunday. When we take into consider
alton that outside of Jews and inhdels
there are over 200 scots of Christians ~
the United States, all of them differing as
to the observance of Sunday, ana thai l"
act in accordance with the spirit anu let-
ter of the Constitution we must respect
their belief and not interfere WIN tAelr
manner of observance, il is certainly as
touiShinp to see certain CLASS ol ChfISt-
ians. prompted partly by overhead aud
partly 10y persecutlve spirit unworthy
the dignity of trne Chrlstlah' oesieSe
Tho legislative halls and practically force
their convictions upon their fellOw-citi-
zcns through the Vaccinations of the
law.
The religious convictions of the parties
indicted for baseball playing on Sunday
were such as should Justify them i'll in
dulging i'll this little recreation, but even
if they acted contrary to the dictates of
their conscience, they were responsible to
no civil authority
| will not attempt to show the absurd
Ity of the views of those religions bodies
on this stand point who are interested III
the framing and execution of these laws
from a religious stand point nor will |
dwell on the fact that under the present
circumstances the working man, for
whm Sunday is particularly intended,
is deprived of his right to get the rest
and recreation so necessary for body and
mind, but will content myself to show
that these attachments are uncOnstltu-
tIOnal make an earnest appeal To every
well-thinking and liberty loving citi zen
to take an active part towards getting
these obnoxious statutes repealed, and de-
strOying the last vestige of Intolerance
and bigotry. Our just indignation IS
aroused when we read of a Nero, Henry
VIII or Queen Bess and other prominent
historical characters noted for their per-
secution of those who differed with them
on religious matters, yet we submit with
ont even Il protest to the daily execution
of laws 10 less tyrannIcal than the noto-
rious Blue Laws of Come cticnt.
The Hon. j. i. ChiSman was prompted
by a truly laudable spirit when he charG
ed the grand jury to get through as soon
as faithful discharge of their dutics
would warrant, ana not tribe away time
in investigating trivial matters which
would cost more than the Impoverished
condition of Lincoln county would juStl-
fy. 1t vas, however, a strange deviation
from his original proposition whcu lie
chaged the grand jury to investigate sun
day baseball playing, bat he WAS 30
doubt urged to do SO ut the instiGation ot
"A few fanatics who would sooner afford to
see the county plunged few hundred
dollars deeper in debt than allow the
young men their recreation after six days
close confinement to their places OF bust
ness. But this is the result of unEulded
zeal and would concern no one If 1t were
confined to the pulpits of the respective
denominations, for no one is prohibited
under the Constitution to preach amy doc
trine not in violation of the laws OF the
the country, but whenever the
the pulpit and step into the legislative
halls, there to have laws enacted i'll ac-
cordance with their views, then il is the
duty of the lovers of religious liberty to
enter Il solemn protest.
ANTI-PURITAN.