Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-04


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all sldcs tina, oue day In seven ia needed
for physical rest, and II this day can be
utilized Tor spiritual and mental i'm;
provemcnt, 20 much the better.
Unfortunately the refoTmer turns the
matter into direct religious Issue. In
stead Of dwelling Oh the enormiiy Of
open saloons on Sunday by the fact that
disorder, vice and crime are fostered,
and the peace, quiet and harmony Of
the community disturbed, he oxhotts
the religious organizations to band TO-
gc,her to enforce Sunday laws 40 that
'the moses will be- more easily turned
TO the house Of God"
one Of the organs Of the American
Sabbath Union, the Michigan So5ba1
WatoRman, In n recent issue, calls on the
churches Of Its State to contribute
each $4,000 year 10 help enforce
sunday laws. This call II heads "a
good investment for the Churches,"
an says money ~ invested would
soon return TO them with fine rates u
interest. The money now spent In
Sunday pleasures would under the en-
forcement Of Sabbath laws be TUNED
into the church treasury. This ~ talk
ing too much Of com mercial view Of
the Sunday question, aud in place Of
helping the matter actually hurts II.
The National Reform Association II
working for the adoption OF an amend
ment To the National Constitution
'declarinV this TO be a Christian ma
tion," and "plaoing Oh ristisn laws,
institutions and usages ON an I'M
deniablo legal basis." In It's conveD-
ton at Pitlsburg in 1857 II declared
that Socialism, Anarchism aud Ro.
msnism were trying 10 catch the work
ingmen," and that the worklngmon
should not be left TO either, that
they must be secured by the
National Reform, aud the best
way To do II was by agi,atlng the
sabbath Issue, "ior working men do
not want to work on sunday" This
declaration had the effect Of driving
large numbers Of workingmen out Of
the American Sabbath Union aud the
Sunday Rest Leagues. One Of the
labor leaders said short time after,
ave have discovered the hypooflsy In
the claim that Sunday laws are only
designed to enforce tine civil sabbath."
The efforts Of these organizations to
settle the Sunday question gives the
Idea that they are working ultimately
for a State religion or n system Of state
religions, embracing the constituencies
Of which the orders are composed.sAnd
the agitation now In progress In Penn.
sylvanis may bring the Issue TO n
crisis.
a close study Of the constitutions
ofthe various States would reveal some
strange anomalies In the way Of civil
aud religious freedom. For instance,
In the Declaration Of Rights Of the
Constitution Of Tennessee, framed In
1870, the almost usual "natural anu
indefeasible right TO .worhip God &C.
cording to conscience" Is provided for.
Ministers and priests are prohibited
from holding seats In the Legislature
But Section . Of Article . says: "No
person who denies the being Of God,
or future state Of rewards aud punish-
mouts. shall hold any office in the
civil department Of this State" This
is virtually union Of church and
State, with the State dominating. This
section, II incorporated within the
national Constitution, would include
perhaps 100000 OF people In the
United Sthtoa who are not directly or
Indirectly connected with my form Of
religion from holding office. II would
exclude from political privileges many
organized sects, ethical societies, aud
other very excellent and commeudablo
organizations. II would he a bad thing
for the country. Religious tenets and
tests have no proper place In the civil
law.