The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-17
LAW WOULD BE A
RULE OF TYRANNY

Rabbi Julius T. Loeb. Of Adath-IsraeI
Hebrew Congregation. says:
The Sabbath day Is now again made
bone of contention. Congress has been
asked TO pass the bill making it compul-
sorry on each resident of the District to
cease his bushes occupation on Sunday
and while organized tradesmen urge the
sanction Of The measure by the Senate
committee. others known as opponents
To 'blUC laws. Will make every effort
10 combat f.
Il see no reason why each member of
civilized soSicty should not have il as
his rule of duty. for his own goJd. to
observe the SABBATH one day each week.
The 'libertines, who would insist
upon thorough annulnent Of the meas
ure, are by no means defenders OF hu-
man liberty on the contrary, Saba tn
breakers are perfect tyrants. They
tyrannize the poor wOrkingman In their
employ; they tyrannize themselves. and
stunt their moral being.
Sabbath Is the blessed possession OF
man divinely ordained for his uplifting
and edihcation. A violation thereof is
in no way characteristic OF the cody
freedom FOR which man is to strive. but
rather a shameful abuse Of self and or
Others Those who value not the holy
Sabbath are neither religious nor moral;
neither Jews nor Christians.
The Jew. he must be especially ap-
precIative OF the sancuty and inviolablt
ness Of the day, since through his means
and through no other code in existence
the Sabbath was promulgated among
men. But in the sight Of Judaism. the
seventh day and no other day in the
week is the holy Sabbath.
ITO the member Of the Hebrew faith,
as also TO many others OF the Chris
tian denominations who agree with him
In this view, a Sabbath on any other day
In the week is not of divine origin, but
of mere human making or establish
ment. and Is direct contradiction OF
the teachings Of the Pentateuch and
even of Christ himself.
The Seventh Day Sabbath Is, accord
ing TO the TalmudicaI sages, the funda-
mental principle upon which rests the
entire supcrstructure of the Judaic faith.
If. therefore. Sunday become the only
day appointed as Sabbath in ,his country
the religious freedom upon which its
institutions are based VIII be utterly
subverted.
IF religious liberty govern the laws
Of this free republic let each man be
granted the privilege to observe the
Sabbath day I'm accordance with the
tenets of his own particular creed.
"A strict observance Of a day OF rest
once a week should be the duty incum-
bent upon everyone generally, mas
much as this is a civilizing principle. no
less than an element of faith, but at
the same time consideration must be
had for the diversity in the selection of
that day, since Sunday alone viii not
satisfy the conscientious feelings Of a
large number Of citizens, here or else
where, IN the United States.
TO compel a Jew, 4 seventh Day Adj
vyntist. or Baptist TO relinquish his Sab
bath, TO keep two days rest In the
week, or close up his business. is tanta-
mount TO forceful conversion. No right
minded person and typical American viii
entertain the least objection 10 4 pro-
vision that shall be made in the act OF
Congress to the effect that those who
cOnscientiOusly observe the seventh day
as a day of rest, be exempt from the
above rule, and be allowed TO pursue
their usual vocaUons during all the
rest of the week. SO long as there shall
be no disturbance Of the pubic peace
on Sunday. which is the accepted Sab
bath of the majority of citizens in this
land.
'All this is an easy matter to adjust
Competition on the part of reckless
characters will thus be averted. as there
Will be none to take advantage Of means
Of transacting business on both Satur-
day and SUNDAY. The act Of Congress
in the matter viii doubtless be regarded
as precedent for all of the United States
TO be guided by IN general and local
legislation Should then the Sunday
closing bill pass without the necessary
provision for Sabbath day observances
IT will assuredly affect the interests and
fortunes of a large portion of citizens
of the land and It may lead 10 serious
consequences and a return to religious
hatred and persecution.
If the citizen Of the land be now
deprived Of his right To observe the day
of Sabbath as directed by his own con-
science and the religion of his faith.
there is every reason 10 fear that gradu-