The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17
SUNDAY. AUGUST II, 1902.
APLEAFoR SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

z NPIEEf oh SOFNDAI OBSERVANCE
The city of Petersburg has been
hafshly criticised for enforcing the or
Ganance regulating the observance of Sun
cry. The Times does not believe in
s.blue laws so-callcd, but 1t does be-
iiere IN reasonable regulations to pre-
vent the Dissertation Of Sunday, and it
IS In sympathy with the spirit at least
OF the Petersburg ordinance. The Times
ccnfesscs so n feeling of alarm at the
growing disregard OF Sunday observance
in Virginia We have always been a
God-fearing and church-going people
j: has ever been our custom as people
to close Our places of business and our
places OF amusement on this day. and
at the appointed hour to attend church,
and to give ourselves over TO picus med
itation. The children have been taught
that Sunday is to be reverenccd as the
Lords day, to be kept holy, according
to tho manner prescribed in the fourth
commandment, In teaching them this
we have taught them the lesson OF ODE
dience and the lesson of reverence. Nor
have we taught these lessons in vain.
Reverence and obedience are the corner
stone of character and of civilization.
without the spirit of reverence and the
sririt of obedience in the people. there
were no civilization and no law. II we
should cease to teach these lessons to
the young our civilization and our gev-
eminent would soon perish. Without
recognition of Gods authority over US
We should soon come to recognize no
authority; without reverence for Gods
1nws, we should soon hold all law in
contempt and refuse to obey it. Then
inarchy would come and it is but step
rom anarchy to savagery.
Sunday observance lies at the founda-
ton OF the church. Abolish Sunday as
n holy day. turn the Lords day into
a day of frolic and dissipation, and the
church would receive a staggering blow.
But some may say that church and
State must be kept separate and distinct.
Quite true, yet the State has perfect
right, without violating its principle. to
make rules and regulations Tor the good
Of society and The promotion of public
Gene under this classification. Our sys-
ten OF law is based largely upon the
Ten Commandments. II the State may
enforce the eighth and the ninth COM
mandments, why not the fourth also?
But the Stale does not seek TO enforce
this commandment in such a. way as TO
Interfere with any mans personal lib
say that he shall go to church. or that
he shall keep the Lords day holy.
Every man is permitted to observe the
DAY according to his own taste and con-
science. The State simply insists that
he must not observe it in such a, way
as to give offense to the large and re-
spectacle element who believe in keep
ing the day holy.
1t is a public offense in Virginia for
men to make Sunday a day of amuse-
ment and traffic. and God grant that
st may ever be. Let us of Virginia cling
TO our traditions. Let us resist all the
innovations from the North or elsewhere
which tend to destroy our sacred Gus
toms, which tend to impair our rever-
ence for sacred things, which tend to
relax our Sunday observance laws, which
tend in any way to destroy our chivalry
or change our manners, or weaken our
morals. or draw US away from the wor-
skip Of God. according to the manner
and teaching OF our. fathers. Let us not
be intimidated by the cry of bigotry
and Pur!tanisnL The old ways in which
our fathers and mothers walked are good
enough for us. They are the paths of
safety, and happy for us If we continue
to walk therein.