Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-07
BETTER SUNDAY LAWS
Meeting Of Executive Committee
Addresses by Representative Hef-
lin and Others.

The executive committee Of the woman's
Interdenominational Missionary Union met
this morning at 10 o'clock at Foundry NJ.
E. Church. 10th street. near r street. Rev.
James E. Gilbert opened the meeting with
a prayer after his introduction to the au-
dienee by the president. Mrs. John N. Gull
bertson. He spoke on the Sabbath in the
South" and gave a short history, mention
Ing the patriarchal Sabbath. the Levitical
Sabbath and the Christian Sabbath.
From the time Of the exodus until the
day OF Christ the Sabbath had completed a
cycle of two hundred and forty revolutions.
falling during the period Of sixteen hum
dred years. he said. Christ arose from
the dead on the first day OF the week. and
the disciples observed the first day Of the
week as the Lords day."
Rev. Mr.. Gilbert read chapters and verses
from the Bible in support of his statements.
Mrs La Fetra. secretary, read the min
utes OF the last meeting and the constitu-
ton OF the union. A motion to recognize
the vice presidents was adopted. motion
to meet the first Monday of each month
rom October to May. inclusive at the
discussion. Mrs. Dubois. wife OF Senator
Dubois, was particularly in favor Of the
motion.
DIR. Wilbur F. Crafts addressed the au-
dience for fifteen minutes. He said that
If he can get nothing else he will be sat-
tsfied II he can have a Sunday traffic bill
passed by Congress. He made reference
to the success of the reform bureau in
bringing about a cessation of Sunday man
uaf work at the new depot. He said fur
Their that 1t is the Districts right to have
a Sunday law.
Representative Heflin of Alabama spoke
In explanation of his bill prohibiting labor
on buildings, etc, in the District of Column
bia on the Sabbath day.
Voice of the Majority.
''In this republic the voice of majority
of the people is supreme-the majority
rules" he said. THAT vast majority OF
the people of America sanction the observ-
ance of the Christian Sunday is borne out
in the fact that every state In the Union
except two has Sunday law. Can 1t be
that these states enjoying the blessings or
Sunday law WILL through their represen-
tatives in Congress, deny them to you?
VIII the membe of this Congress vote for
a Sunday law for the District of Columbia?
I have had many of them tell me that they
would support my bill, but the trouble Is
getting the committee to report the BILL Go
to your Commissioners In the District and
plead with them to report MY bill to the
committee on the District Of Columbia with
a recommendation that it be reported favor
ably to the House, and l believe that the
House will pass It,
There are those in the District who look
upon any day of rest as useless obstacle
in the way of their greed. They OF course
oppose the bill, and agree that any man or
woman who advocates 1t Is crank. This
moderniZed disgusting aristocracy Of the
dollar cares but little about questions OF
good morals and religion. Their own pleas
ure comes in clipping coupons and their
only music is the clink of dimes. You will
find this crowd against the bill, and in
many of the modern contests the weapons
they use with some people are very effect
i've
This is a Christian nation-declared to be
so by the Supreme Court of the United
States. Our fathers and mothers have set
apart the Christian Sunday a day OF
rest. 1t has been observed and sanctioned
by the usages and customs of a vast ma
jority of the American people. 1t is well
that one day out of every seven should be
designated as a day of rest.
Foolish Thing to Do. 4
ITO allow every sector society-to disre-
gard the Sunday of the American people
and carry on their labors as they do In the
six days named in Holy Writ would be a
serious blunder and a foolish thing to do
When the foreigners come to America they
come knowing that this is Christian ma
ton, and that there is a Sunday recognized
by the law; and instead of observing the
time-honored and aforementioned customs
of our people we are informed that these
people should be excused from the observ-
ance of our day of rest-the Christian Sun
day.
1--WE do not propose to compel them to
worship on that day, but we do object to
having the Sunday of the American people
ignored and made a day for common labor
LET us show to the world that in the
mad rush after dollars and dimes in the
capital of this God-fearing nation the
Lords day shall be observed"
1t was moved and adopted that the Wou-
ans Observation-Disclosures Missionary Union
express Its appreciation of the efforts of
Representatives Wadsworth, Hefin and Al
len in behalf of better Sunday laws for the
District. 1t was also decided that Congress
be petitioned TO make an appropriation for
the jamestown exposition on condition that
the gates be closed Sundays.
Condition of Children.
Mrs. Dubois addressed the gathering on
Child Labor" and requested that the
members do all in their power to amel-
iorate the condition of children In this city
by means of appropriate legislation She
said that the Dubois bill will be called next
week, and suggested that the committee
be urged TO report favorably on the bill
and on the compulsory education bill Mrs
Dubois said that during a visit at the re-
form school she learned that two-thirds of
the boys there had been engaged In street
work. She added that the spirit of COM
mercialiSm prevailing in this country is the
worst drawback to it's welfare She offered
statistical data in regard to the cost of
maintenance of boy In the reform school,
and stated that in Iowa last year, there
were 1000 boys confined there, and that
each cost $50 yearly to maintain. She sug-
gested, in conclusion, that the mothers-or
the families Of children have the making
of them in their hands, but in order to
bring amelioration to successful issue
suitable laws should be made and enforced
Miss ]. A. Green. representing the AS
ISOLATED Charities, concluded the meeting
with remarks on the work done by that
organization.
The executive committee of the Woman's
International Missionary Union is COM
posed of the following: Mrs. John N Gull
bertson, president: Mrs. 8. d. La Fetra.
secretary; Mrs. Washington Topham, treas
urer. The past presidents are Mrs Clara
Roach, Mrs. H. P. Viles and Mrs. j. H.
Robinson The vice presidents are Mrs ].
H Robinson, Mrs. NJ. e. Catlin, Mrs. C. w.
Shelton, Mrs. Arthur A. Birney, Mrs ].
G. Butler, Mrs. Clara Roach, Mrs. F. A.
Heartsll, Mrs. o. B. Brown, Mrs. Dabney
Harrison. Mrs. John NJ. Schick and Mrs.
Il. T. Moore. Others present at the meet
Ing were: Mrs. Clinton Smith, Mrs. Julia
T. Barish, Mrs. D. A. Mcknight, Mrs.
Wilbur F. Crafts, Mrs. R. r. West. Mrs.
Emma baltimore, Miss Jane Wilkes, Mrs.
Ellen Foster, Mrs. James E. Gilbert. Mrs.