New-York tribune., 1901-11-23
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
SUNDAY OPENING"

NOT A RELIGIOUS QUESTION. But PURELY
cNE OF MORALS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Please let who is past seventy years OF
age, who has been from boyhood familiar with
the temperance movement and has often taken a
part in it, say a few words about Sunday open
ing"
F4rst-Sunday is not the Sabbath" the seventh
day." whose observance commanded to the
Israelites-and never to any one else-by the Mo-
sale law of the Ten Commandments.
Second-It is nowhere in the New Testament as
serted that Jesus Christ reiterated this command
meat, laid it upon His disciples; and there Is
no man. no church, body OF men In the world
which has the smallest particle of right to impose
this commandment upon in His name or by
His authority.
Third-There is in the New Testament. not one
word OF authority given to any man or church TO
change the Sunday-"the first day Of the week
into a Sabbath, or to demand of any any of
those observances which, in the Fifth Command
ment- required on the seventh day OF the
week OF the Israelites, and of them alone The
only mention In the New Testament Of 1.-The first
day of the week is in order-more properly
called counsel-of Paul TO the Christians OF
Galatia and Corinth to lay by that day such of
their earnings they would intrust TO him for
charity. when he should visit them. Whatever
authority Paul may seem on one or two occasions
to have claimed, the New Testament nowhere de-
clares that he was given divine authority to legis-
late concerning any change any observance of
the Sabbath. The New Testament is absolutely
the only authority in existence which has any
rightful claim the religious obedience OF Chris
tian people.
Fourth-The obligation. therefore, to observe
Sunday as a day OF rest and of religious worship
and in view OF its exceeding benefits. most pow
erful obligation it isis a purely moral one ono-
ing only upon the individual conscience. or upon
any company OF who may choose to take IL,
Ntlo ion IN
which there is evidence that God has given
any man the right judge his neighoor or
course the State has all the rights and authority
that State can have in preserving order on that
iigious observance. And SO the question of closing
drinking places on Sunday is not IN any seiise, q
pedency. -,
FifthA to drinking The oommugity s ggs has b,n6 no
contain more or less alcohol than ii has to torpid
him to drink fluids containing strong yegefsPle Ia PIE
drinking of these fluids he makes nulsahSe a tt
2upeF Pc sPporf 9T hs FAMILY 9l the community
most justly and should most unfinchingiy. punish
him. And if drinking place makes @ nuisance 9 9l
Grafton, decency and proprfety which the com! CON-
may Justly. and should severely, punish those who
In my judgment after many years Of observa-
ton. and after having been OF a different opinion
such Legal masgss s6 to oI tae things that men
drink from being adnterated or oisoned consti. o
slightest use in promoting the temperance cause
in lessening the evil effects ot orinhng .s+, of
Sunday opening can properly be decided, not on
not on InS IS
all the @ II in m the & eaS Of TeS Gh e fs po5sby
through evasion bribery or Indifference. The habits
epd eT neaf Srinkne Whch for ages nave been are still
and for ages viii be- the habits of r,.1, VERY lsTge
portion of the human race, ,or VETERAN
Morristown. n. j., Nov 10 l90l