Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-20
THE SUNDAY REST BILL.
A Baptist Minister Tells Why Congress
Should Not Interfere In the Matter.

To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
I see that Mr.. Crafts represents the southern
Baptist convention as among the largest bodies
petitioning for congressional legislation in
favor Of this Sunday rest bill. This is a mis-
take. am one of the few surviving delegates
who helped to organize that body in 1S45. and
/ am quite sure that nothing was contemplated
by that organization but the propagation of
the gospel of Christ in home and foreign lands.
i have heard, indeed that at its last session a
resolution was got through by the Jealous adj
vocdcy of two or three well-meaning ministers
favoring such legislation, but am quite sure
that such action was pressed without authority
from the constituency of that body. The Bap-
lists have always been opposed to such Iepisla-
ton. except for protection in the exercise of
religious privileges by municipal and state
laws. And now If you'll allow Baptist min
lister, who Is elghty-six years OF age, wish TO
record few objections to congressional inter-
ference on the subject in question:
i. Such action would be plainly unconstitu-
tlonak That instrument tells US: Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof"
=. Restraining laws would be impracticable
for the whole country. Members of Congress
living at remote points would be obliged to
violate their own laws
conclusive argument i'll favor of any particu-
lar day. Gen. 2:23 informs us that God himself
did but there Is not in those words a command
10 Adam, Eve nor to any mortal to keep q Sab
bath. Nor is there any record of Sabbath
keeping for the first $500 years of the worlds
history, according to the Mosaic chronology. I
10 not deny that there may have been a Sab
bath Tor the patrlarchs. but l say there is no
record or example that there was. Some writer's
see gllmpses OF patriarchal Sabbath in a sup
posed weekly period" but the word week
does not occur i'll either the Hebrew or Greek
scriptures. and the numeral ''seven," which
does occur, may connect with days. months.
stars and numerous other seasons with
out necessarily designating q Sabbath. But
at the end of these $500 years God COM
planded the lsraelites to keep a Sabbath in
COMMUNICATION OF their deliyerance from
Egyptian bondage, and urged its observance
by reference to his own rest on the seventh
day after the creation of the world. But this
Sabbath would neither have suited the patri-
archs nor could 1T be utilized as n Sabbath for
CHRISTIANS. In the absence then of a divine
command to observe any particular day we can
not present to Congress any substantial reasons
for invoking their aid in the premises | be-
lleve in observing the first day of the week,
but only on Evolutionary history and apostolic
example.
4. Christians themselves violate, and would
continue to violate, what they petition for.
Every Lords day morning the street cars in
Washington are overcrowded by ministers and
church members on their way to the different
churches. Let them not ask aid for poor work.
ing men when they have no mercy on the brute
animals that drag them to worship.
FINALLY. III common with the great majority
OF Baptists, say: Let US render TO Caesar the
things that are Caesars and to God the things
that are Gods" Joseph W,tKrp
ROCKVILLE, MD.