Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-14
A Sunday for Rest
Advocated Before the Senate
Committee on Education.
BRIEF NOTES OF THE ARGUMENTS.

General Diven Again Takes the Floor
Two Anti-sunday Men Heard, One a
Seventh Day Adventist Professor-Rev.
Derrick johnson, of Chicago, Thinks
the Sunday Press a Mercenary Concern.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. l4.-The senate
committee on education yesterday gave a
hearing to delegates of the Sabbath" con-
7ention, in support of the Sunday rest bill.
low pending before that committee
Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, of New York.
opened the hearing with few brief re-
marks in support of the bill, and presented
Cardinal Gibbons letter indorsing the petit
tons of many organizations throughout the
country in favor of the measure.
Mrs J. C.. Banton, of the national W. C.
7. u, followed. She claimed that the bill
was supported by all Christian people, all
leaders OF education, and by the wage. work.
ing people of the country.
Rev. G. P Lloyd then spoke and was fol-
lowed by Gen. A. S. Owen. ex-vice president
of the Erie railroad, who made very inter-
esting argument on Sunday train service.
He said that it was quite possible to do away
with the handling Of tine mail and general
merchandise on Sundays He proposed the
establishment of relay stations on long lines
where Sunday trains could wait over Sum
day. In regard to the transportation of
fresh meats, he said that the refrigerator car
had been brought to such perfection that
meat was now transported to London with
out danger OF spelling. He saw no necessity
of mali service On Sunday, because all ex-
changes, banks and places of business were
closed on that day, and in cases of emer-
gency the telegraph could be used.
q. P. Stephenson, D. D., said that efforts
were being made in Belgium to reduce the
the work Of the postal department on Sun.
day, and that these efforts had thus far been
successful
DIR. Lewis, of Piainfisld, n j., spoke in
favor of an amendment to the bill giving the
Jews the same right to the observance Of
Saturday that Christians have to the obsorv-
ance of Sunday. He believed in the sup
preston of Sunday games, excursions, etc.
Rev. George Elliott, of Washington City
Rev. Herrick johnson, of Chicago, and Rev.
Byron Sunderland, OF Washington City, ad-
dressed the committee at some length, They
were followed by DR.. Payne, of New York,
who made an address on state and national
laws.
Mr.. John B. Wolff, representing anti-ec-
clesiastical associations, was opposed to the
bill. He claimed that no one had any right
to interfere with the personal belief of any
other individual. Ecclesiasticism, he said,
was tyr mt more despotic than any other
1t had DR., nched the earth with blood, and
would do it again if conditions were favor
able
The Rev. DR.. Sunderland expressed his
surprise at the speech made by Mr.. Wolf,
and especially at Mr.. VOLTS references to
ecclesiaticism. Mrs Bateman said that this
bill was not an ecclesiastical move
ment. The bill originated among
the workers of the Woman's Christian
Temperance union, and was designed solely
to give the working people of the land day
of rest The only active opposition bad come
from those who wanted to make Saturday a
day OF rest
Professor Alonzo I. Jones, of Battle Creek
university, Michigan, was then granted one
hour in which to place before the committee
the views of the Seventh Day Adventists on
the bill he claimed that the operation of
the bill would cause confusion by entangling
the religious with the secular He declared
himself opposed to all Sunday laws, because
the civil law had no right to compel the OBJ
servance OF any day or festival.
At the evening session of the convention
the principal event was the speech of Pro-
fessor Herrick johnson, D, D., OF Chicago
| who spoke on the Sunday newspaper. As to
why the Sunday newspaper is here Professor
johnson said it is pleaded that a necessity
exists for it, but that plea, he said, was one
of ahsurdity. The newspaper is here for the
money that is in It. The Sunday newspaper
he claimed, is keeping large numbers of work
ingmen from the njoy ment of day to which
they are fitted. The Sunday newspaper, he
| said, is thrust upon the people in the street
| on Sunday. Why Is 1t that IT WAS allowed
| to be thus sold on the street while the oriin
| AIRY pedder is required to keep the Sabbath
| day by stopping his business 1t keeps th,
| people from going to church aud makes i
| harder for hose who attend to do so regu
| larry. 1t has invaded the quiet of the coun
| try to the detriment of the Sabbath. Tn,
boys who sell the papers are encouraged Il
trample upon the Sabbath and its tendency
is to deaden the sensibilities of tue people u
| God
| Resolutions iudorsing the petitions for th,
passage of the national Sunday rest bill auC
the proposed amendment to the constitution
| of the United States forbidding the manu-
fscture. importation, transportation, and
sale Of alcoholic liquors in the United States
were adopted, after which the convent ion ad
| journed.