Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-20
COMMUNICATED.
BLUE LAWS.

COMMUNICATED.
BLUE LAWS.
Il is strange that there are so many
people in the world who fail to see the
signs of the times about them. They
persistently lag behind in the great tide
of moral progress and are never the wiser
for any of the lessons and teachings of
the generations which have gone before
them. Of such, it seems to us, are those
who in their spasmodic zeal for religious
sake are undertaking to resurrect and
enforce laws and regulations which have
been obsolete for half a century.
1t is well for our communities that the
majorities ofthem, both men and women,
are thinkers and liberal in their views
and have no inclination to bring back
the old methods of coercion aud restraint
en- the right of conscientious convictions
OF individuals. Were it not so, we
should be continually alarmed by the
self sufficient accusation ''he is less right
eOus than we. Away with him, cruelty
him."
1t is time that everybody had learned
that the world has been steadily adgsnc-
ing through the ages and is still advanc.
ing encouragingly along all the lines
which lead to the emancipation of all
classes of our kind from intellectual,
moral and religious servitude; and there
is no such thing possible as recession
from our vantage ground. The day of
dogmas and creeds and catechisms is
rapidly passing, and the bigoted and
intolerant men who formulated them, if
living now would be ashamed of them.
If ever there were any need for their
existence that time has passed. In this
age we can we'll do without them.
What is most wanted now by all
classes is more preaching from the pull
pits of plain, practical every day chris
tainity-of the kind that was promulgat-
ed by the Great Master from the Mount
of Olives nearly two thousand years ago;
OF the kind that good old Paul preach
ed to the Corinthians and the other re-
ligious fraternities OF his time; the
kind that makes a better rcciproc-
ity and accord of feeling among
men and women not only in
business circles, but everywhere, in all
the social relations of families and
neighborhoods. That is the only kind
of preaching that can give the proper
direction to kindly and natural impulses
the only kind that will ever make pos
sible the coming Of the long talked of
and hoped for millennium. IT this kind
of religion can be promoted and estab-
lished the proper observance OF the Sab
bath will take care of itself.
More important by far we think than
the making and enforcing of rules for
the Sabbath would be the earnest, faith
full leagueing together of all the inhuen-
ces of the churches of all denominations,
not spasmodically but day by day and
year by year continually until all licen-
ses for the traffic in intoxicating drinks
could be relegated to the fate OF the in
famous indulgences of Tetzel and
prolific source Of taxes and sufferings be
cut of. The selling of milk and ice and
bread on Sunday hurts no one, produces
no misery, increases no taxes but gives
sustensnce and comfort to those who buy
, ; ssiesc pecs.ssss..!ies. us1r,zuu....
1t is not more of the straight laced
puritsnic religion that is needed by our
people, but more of that practical, fra
ternal christianity to enter into and per-
wade all family and neighborhood cir
Giles and relations and all business
relations as well. Mankind has had
enough of blue laws, enough of that
spirit of blind bigotry which from the
days of the "Holy Spanish Inquisition"
down through the oppressive reigns Of
Charles the First and Second aud Crom-
we'll of England filed the earth with
pangs and groanings from the victims Of
racks and stakes aud dungeons and
scourgings and cropping of ears and slit
ting of noses.
II the mischievous pettifogger who un.
earthed the dead and buried Virginia
statutes which caused so much trouble
in Alexandria on Sunday last feels that
he has been rewarded by the unenviable
uotoriety he has gained he is welcome to
his compensensation. TOLERANCE.