The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-07
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
This Vexed Question Discussed by
Rev. Anna Garlln Spencer.
Civil Government Has no Right to Legis-
lat: In Regard 10 Sunday Observance.

yesterday afternoon. In brief, Mrs. Spen-
Ger spoke as follows:
1 remember hearing In my girlhood
tale of "a certain Scotchman who was ar
rested. convicted and for lack of funds re-
quisite to pay his fine, sentenced to Jail
tor the enormous crime Of walking the
streets OF his native village during kirk
time. This misfortune proved the first
step in series OF calamites which over
shadowed and clouded that mans life
That incident was the means of causing
me 10 th!ak seriously upon the Sunday
question. Throughout the years which
have since transpired, have been form
ing steadily one fixed opinion. The result
of my personal reflections, i am here 10
give 10 you this afternoon;
First i have been led 20 500 the utter
absurditY and impossibility OF all keeping
the same fixed day OF rest and religious
observance, according TO one Sunday law.
AS long as sects and denominations con-
tinue this will be an utter impossi bility.
The jew will retain the worship ON
Saturday and the Orthodox christians
upon the first day Of the week. While
different people under tie same CIVIL
governments persist in keeping different
Sabbath days the futilitv OF general aud
concrete Sunday law VIII readily be seen.
in this question as in all Others.
No statute can decide in regard to the
days duty.
Now, the laws on our statute books
must agree with the sentiments of the
majority of the people. The law must
be the exact register OF public opinion and
popular thought. In the next place the
law must be enforced; II not, contempt
for law will be bred among the Ieople
and nothing can be more destructive TO
social peace and equity. When laws be-
come obsolete or oppressive or false
registers of public sentiment they should
be repealed. A law must then be enforced
or wiped out of existence and no law can
be enforced which does not completely
mirror the public desire.
Our Sunday law dates back to the time
when Rhode Island possessed state
church and that was not so many years
ago. That church existed until it CON
flicted with ideas in regard 10 individual
liberty which are embodied in our Consti-
tuition. then went out Of existence Now,
If we today possessed state church our
position in regard 70. the Sunday obser-
vance law could be easily defined But
under our present government where
church and state are distinctly separate
bodies. shall we be wholly consistent, or
only in party
III then, we believe in the separation of
then | maintain that we II ust have no
Sabbath observance law except one on
purely social and physical grounds. And
/ believe any man Is an enemy to his
country, although perhaps ii may be
through -iauaraace, Yxha- -helieEes- tire
union OF church and state. There is,
therefore, no justification for the state 20
enact laws upon q religious basis, not
even II there be an apparent Biblical JUS
tification.
l may know that my neighbor's health
would be in "a better condition IL he should
go TO bed earlier, but l cannot compel
him so TO do. But IL he becomes public
nuisance by noise or any other form of
Disturbance i can compel him by law to
desisu from his Objectionable proceed
ings But IL the majority in a town de-
sire 20 become nuisances, the minority
are compelled TO endure it or leave. Such
is the precise aspect of this Sunday ques-
ton. The law can only legislate upon
a few things agreed upon by the people.
Beyond this is the province of education
and personal appeal
Man requires one day in the week for
rest. IL is not necessarily the seventh
day, first day. nor, on a closer view, one
day in seven. The seven DAYS of the
week are not ga Christian institution,
although they have been adopted by
Christian nations. They are all orlgi-
Rally nNtTOnOiulC cunning to US from
the Egyptians through the Latin and
Anglo Saxon. There are nationalities
where the week consists of five days as In
the Chinese and Brahmin. Our inherited
day of rest comes from the Jewish Sat
urday, changed TO Sunday by cur theory
of the resurrection on the first day.
On this question Great Britain and the
United States differ from any other
nations. We have decided that Sunday is
q day of religious observance and rest,
but we have neglected the third point of
view, that il is a day of recreation. In
1898 Charles decreed that all tradesmen
should close their shops on the first day
Of the week, and also prohibited every
conceivable kind of recreation. Our
state law is much the same, as IL pro
hibits the use of all amusements, which
involve labor. take the liberty to say
that such IA law is obsolete and should be
repealed.
We must do away with much inconsit.
ency on this question. We believe that
there is a justifiablo recreatiye use OF
Sunday But there are certain forms Of
recreation which in1nlXe much labor ON
the part of Others as the electric and steam
ears, the steam boat, etc. 10 these there
may be objections which are'not based on
religious scruples because they hinder
others from spending sunday in the way
that they would desire Now, IL we look
at this question fairly ana without preju-
dice we must believe several things.
time for rest ana recreation should
be secured by law to those whose labor
hinders them from taking it on Sundays,
this particularly applying TO the wage
earHor But that docs not say that 10
will give each man the same day Far
from il. That is tho kind OF a Sunday
law that we need that Will protect and
insure To the laborer stated and regular
period OF rest and also recreation.
Because we have traditional sabbath
and on account of its sacredness In the
public eve, IL Is easier 60 restrict vice
upon that day. But do we imagine that
the Greater cares more about having the
saloons closed on sunday than on Mon
day. IL is easier To do away with open
traffic on that day, but not more neces-
sary.
But since we have this national senti-
ment, what are we going 20 DO with itY
Cut OFT the so-oalled soul destroying"
amusements on Sunday They are equally
vicious on Wednesday or saturday. But
blow struck for the right is In order at
any time. so let 10 descend. But what
things shall we cut OFF, MusicY Consider