Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-28
SUGGESTS AN EXCEPTION.
DR.. Loeb Asks That Sunday Closing
Law Shall Not Be Universal.

Rev Dr. julius r. Loeb, rabbi OF the
Adath Israel Congregation, on benaif OF
the Hebrew orthodox community OF the
District has presented a communication 10
the board of District Commissioners with
reference to the proposed Sunday closing
law In the letter DR.. Loeb states that ne
favors a Sunday closing law, but suggests
that an exception be made In the case Oh
those who observe Saturday as day Oh
rest and worship. The text Of the commu-
nication is in part as follows:
NO argument is needed to sustain Inc
righteous plea for a strict observance OF a
Sabbath one day each week, which IN hseii
is a civilizng principle no less imam d plac-
tice of religion. The enactment OF law
to this effect surely is in consonance WIN
human reason, with good sense and good
government. !, for one, cannat put De IN
perfect sympathy with the Sunday closing
movement. Let the first day OF the week
be observed as a Sabbath by all those VINO
pursue their daily vocations throughout
the rest of the week. But 1 would humbly
request you, gentlemen, to provide Tor
those who conscientiously observe the
seventh day as a day of rest, as ORDAINED
in the Bible and since Sunday to them is
a secular day / submit that they be not
compelled to keep another days rest
Il make this petition as citizen of the
United States and by reason OF the liberal
spirit which permeates this glorious COM
venture to state that this country is not the
sponsor of any religious creed, but that 1t
is the flower garden Of Almighty ProV1-
dence where the rose, the lily, the carna-
ton and the magnolia all go to make up
complex whole; where the various sections
and spheres of mankind meet In universal
harmony on the broad plains of freedom
and equity. under the reign of justice and
peace, and under the proud and mighty
banner of liberty. tDs
1.-The United States government, we may
assume, stands not for religion with par
ticular dogmas, but for an all-embracing
morality, for faith in God, who is the
Creator and Ruler of all. Let us with eau
ton indulge the supposition that morality
can be maintained without religion These
beautiful words of the founder of our re-
every true American. Andsit is meet that
the District of ColuH1t3fa,s which is the
government seat of thfs sgrand republic
should exhibit an example worthy of the
tolerance for which the republic is famed
True it is the majority rules; but the
citizens of the United States never have
been, and, we hope, never will be-, called
upon to vote as to what religion they would
choose or what day in the week they might
select as day of rest for all. AS an
1sraelite I believe that the biblical injunc-
ton which imposes a rest the seventh
day as sign between God and the chill
dren OF Israel throughout all generations
that In six days He made heaven and
earth and rested on the SEVENTH that this
repeated and explicit statement can have
no other conception, and holds good now
as in times of yore.
Il further believe that the Anglo-Sa xon
race. which may well be the offspring of
our lost ten tribes as some learned men
aver, like Israel Of old, is now destined by
an especial Providence to carry the torch
of civilization and the broad principles Of
liberty and justice to all the corners Of
the globe. and by its humane rule pro-
claim to the world universal peace, as pre-
dicted by the prophets
Nov, gentlemen, I do hope and believe