Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-10

J point, for the very simple reason that
one Of the corner stones of this repub
lie is an absolute separation of the
church and state, and whenever the
church undertakes to establish Sab.
bath observance either by the enforce
b ment Of the present laws or by enact
ment Of new laws the movement is look
ed upon by non-church people as a step
b. toward reunion Of church and state.
There is not that reverence for our
Sunday laws that would be were it not
that they are looked upon as coming
from church influences enacted for the
purpose Of giving support to church
customs and to increase the attendance
at church worship. Whether these
impressions have any real foundation
Is not the question, they exist, and
with their existence what is the best
policy on the part Of the masses?
~
| Evidently the church has no right to
prescribe the Sunday customs Of those
who do not go TO church and it is
equally evident that if the church had
it in its power it would, as it always
has, be intOlerant toward those who
do not choose to be guided by church
discipline. Then is it not evident TO
every fair-minded person that in this
age it is not practicable to establish
Sabbath observance through agita-
tions by the church alone Is it not
equally evident that with a minority
Of voters in the churches Sabbath OBJ
starting from a religious stand
point? The HERALD will not
controvert the right of the
churches to discipline their men,
bers and require of them a strict OBJ
seryance Of the Sabbath according to
the religious tenets of the respective
churches, but when these churches
step outside of their sphere of moral
suaSiOn and undertake TO bring about
Sabbath observance by establishing
laws and enforcing them in manner
that appears to be in the interests of !
the churches instead of in the inter
est Of the masses it is time to suggest !
a compromise.
The nOn-church goers believe in |
day Of rest. In fact, a very large por-
ton of the labor elements are work |
ing for the division OF the week into /
five days for work, one for rest and |
recreation and one for education, con-
temptation and discussion. Such
division Of the week might result in
an agreeable compromise between the
Jews, the seventh day adventists and |
the Sunday Sabbatarians by not in
Guiding Saturday and Sunday among
our work days. But these non-church
people do not advocate a day of rest
from a religious standpoint, but be-
cause it is a physical necessity. If
there are any who are opposed to such
a day of rest their views are not gen.
orally known. For this rest day they
favor Sunday, if one day be thus de-
voted, and Saturday and Sunday if
two days.
-
The difference between the church
people and the non-church people then
IS not as to whether we can have a day
IF rest but how it shall be observed,
and fair-minded people must admit
that neither of these classes should (
be empowered to dictate to the other ,
IN that observance. We are all for .
lay of rest, but we cannot all go into |
he church organization and follow ,
.he dictates Of its leaders in order to Z
obtain the establishment of this rest I
lay, Then why not place it on :
broader grounds and work through ,
'ome general organization where all |
interests could be fairly represented? |
-. {
Six days work is enough for one
week, fVe days might be better, and !
most people could use up their ener-
yies in devoting eight hours each day S
% their occupations, but so long as l
he churches, the labor organizations, I
he business interests, the amusement
interests each try to manipulate these l
est days in their own interests there
viii be an endless clash. Each Of these l
rave the right to use moral suasion in
heir own interests, but when it comes
o making laws on the subject all are !
and compromises are neces- I
AIRY. I
- L
For these and many other reasons i
he HERALD suggests that the de- I
nand for Sabbath observance be based a
IN physical necessities, and that from a
his standpoint the welfare and inter 4
SITS of all no ponsu1ted in tho oe+ob {