Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-05-17

Christian who plays progressive enchre goes to the
theater INDUCES in the dance, and he thinks the
Commercial Appeal is fighting Christianity when Il
contends that these are harmless amusements or
altogether insignificant sins, with which religion
has nothing to do. Another holds that a man can
not take drink and be a Christian while still
other believes that the Sunday laws ought to be en-
forced to the letter. Many persons claim to agree
with the latter view on the ground that the law is
the law and 1t ought to be enforced under any and
all circumstances.
The Code OF Tennessee provides that: "If any
merchant, artificer tradesman, farmer or ANY
OTHER PERSON shall be guilty OF doing or exer-
cising any OF the common avOcatiOns Of life, or Of
causing or permitting the. same to be done by his
children or servants acts Of real necessity or char
ity excepted, Sunday, he shall on due conviction
thereof before any Justice OF the Peace OF the county,
forfeit and pay three dollars"
Now, under this law, it is unlawful to street
car to deliver ice or groceries, to sell glass OF soda
water or a cigar, to publish newspaper, to cook
meal to clean up a house, orindeed to follow any
OF the ordinary avocatiOns of life. Servants are
forbidden specifically to follow their calling on Sun
day. This is the law yet what man or woman In
Memphis does not violate it,
The great mass of the people Of Memphis are Op.
posed to any such rigid observance on Sunday; but
there are "a few fanatics here who want a partial
observance of the Sunday law, and there are some
who would deprive people OF the privilege OF play
ing cards socially, Ofdancing, Of going to the theater
and Of taking diink. There are some strait.
laced people like this in Jackson, Nashville Knox
vile, Chattanooga and other cities.
We have hit upon plan for these people, which
we offer to them without extra charge. AS they
are dissatisfied with their surroundings and dis
pleased with the habits and manners Of their neigh
bOrs and fellow citizens, would suggest that they
all band together, some virgin territory out
West emigrate there and establish new Jerusa'
lem.
We can build in fancy the very sort OF a city that
would suit them. The new Jerusalem would have
no saloons and gambling houses as a matter Of
course. There would be no theater in the place,
where plays and operas could be produced. Dane
ing, card playing and other games would be prohib'
tied by ordinance. Cigars would be tabOoed. Street
cars would stop running on Sunday, and everybody
would be compelled to walk on that day. Telephone
exchanges, electric light plants newspaper Offices
and every sort Of business place would be closed up
on Sunday. All servants would have holiday on
Sunday and be compelled to go to church at least
twice. No cooking Of serving Of meals would be
permitted on the Sabbath Day. It would be a cap.
tal 0ffense to 60 to race. Baseball, church fairs
and Sunday School picnics would be prohibited as
generally demoralizind. Any person caught laugh
ing on Sunday or otherwise enjoying himself would
be fined shree dollars. Railroad trains would bs
required to stop outside the three-mile limit Satur
day night and not enter the city till Monday morn
ing. And everybody would be prohibited from
getting sick on Sunday.
In order to give the people Of the gaieties O
ie there would be chapels for prayer meetings anf
halls for lectures and magic lantern exhibitions
There would be a library filed With Sunday Schoo
books and containing nothing in the way-of fiction
poetry OF the drama. No sort Of music would bl
allowed except hymns and OF course there would b,
no mercantile exchanges, where business men could
get quotations, as that would SAVIOR too much o
gambling
Such, then, would be the new Jerusalem, ant
those who find Memphis, Nashville, Jackson anl
otheE cities too wicked for them, would be pravideC
with deIectable home, where they could be com
pletely happy-C Commercial Appeal.
piahnn Iinaa q Neszarl Nauz .Taraau- il addraaa