The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-03-02

opposltlon OF many good people, the
various English parliaments have
steadily refused to close the licensed
pubic houses all of Sunday, while in
closing is called for. The handling OF
me liquor traffic on Sunday has ever
peen n of the most difficult of the
many problems combining to make the
sunday question seemingly impossible
of inal solution to the SATISFACTION 81
all concerned.
Tho Fight Against Sunday Mails.
Undoubtedly the most extensive and
concerted movement in this country
against Sunday transportation was that
OF 1879. directed against the carrying
or n mails. Congress was flooded
with no less than ACT petitions praying
that Sunday mails be stopped. and, as
a pamphleteer OF the time wrote, these
petltions spoke "the voice OF conscien-
aous n rejecting citizens from YER
mont to Alabama, and from Maine to
the banks OF the Mississippi"
numerous reasons We're cited against
Sunday mails. They were not neces-
sary-.London. the worlds metropolis,
got along very well without them-and
all our other federal institutions, ever
courts OF Justice, were closed on Sun
Gay. Supposed convenience did not
abrogate a law OF God. The general
government had not the constitutional
power to authorize a violation of the
Sabbath. The example of the govern-
ment was pernicious, causing young
men to break away from church going.
But, though thousands Of bankers, ca
MAJ presldents there were w horse
power railroads them, physicians and
business men generally, as well as
clergymen. were among the petitioners,
the movement resulted in failure. as
aaa ,ne previous one, started shortly
after n close of the war OF 1912.
(1 COllrEa Tho oor1p -.1Al--
to Sunday rest, since they were the
work OF autocratic rulers. We're really
IN OF the temper of the large
body OF people. The Sunday law Of
g narTs ,ba II. nsr GSso = practically
which Is necessary for humane reasons
Is legal or proper or beneficial men.
tally and physically or Sunday.
This old law. somewhat. but not ex-
tensively amended. as one might nat
force In England, and the so-called
blue laws" OF the various states follow
many OF Its provisions more or less
closely. ~
The Sunday and Sabbath Questions.
In connection with the Sunday ques-
ton, 1t Is interesting to note that, Just
as ~ was slow In cropping up after the
institution Of Sunday, so its predeces-
sor: the Sabbath question. did not dis
turb the peace OF mind Of the ancient
Jews until long after they had been
keeping the day holy and resting in ac-
cordance with a broad and liberal In.
depreciation OF the fourth command
ment. By h time OF Christ. however,
they had become divided into different
sects, largely over the Sabbath question
and all sorts OF hair splitting regula-
tons Tor the proper observance OF the
day had been instituted.
Tho Oor1ha. lA.-s.-, --.,--
with the clause enjoining rest, had
orawn up a set OF rules in which thirty
nine kinds Of activities were forbidden
on the Sabbath day. It was a sin to
tie or unite a knot. To write two let
ters so that they would make a word
Jehovah. The greatest amount Of food
that could be carried without breaking
the commandment was-a fig! Only
enough water SUFFICIENT to moisten one
eye could be taken. Travelling and
riding on animals were condemned. To
week days was breaking the Sabbath
day. 1t was forbidden to lake a loaf of
bread from a neighbours house, to ex-
tinguish a fire, though the roof over
head was In danger Of being destroyed;
or to give medical aid to anyone unless
life was in danger beyond the shadow
OF a doubt. Thus, Christ violated h
Sabbath. In the eyes of the ScrIbes
and Pharisee, when He healed the sick
on that day. and He was equally sinful
when He let his disciples pluck corn
to satisfy their hunger. since harvest
ing was under the ban.
Ihere was one sect whose members
were so fanatical on the subject Of
rest that they maintained absolute mo-
tionlessness on the Sabbath and the
Phar1sees were 80 enamored of their
hair splitting DETERMINATIONS that when
the besieging Romans began on a Sab
bath to dig under the walls OF Jeru-
salem. they met with no opposition
from the Pharisees. for 1t would have
been work for them to defend their
gained access to the streets the Phari-
sees suffered themselves to b. put to
the sword rather than break the in
Junction Of rest by so much as lifting
their little fingers in attempt TO pre-
serve their own lives or the lives OF
their helpless women and children.
Mo- ever the Puritans. nouted as they
have been for their niceties, were SO
i%nsistent on observing the command
ment to rest, for whenever they CHANGED
to be attacked In meeting by the red
skins-which was not infrequent, by
defend themselves vigorously with
b~lundcrbuss and pike. Nor have any
of us stood for such bigotry On the
Sunday question AS obsessed these dis
putantS over the SABBATH lay Ques-
ton of ancient Israel.
a Famous Sunday Recreation Decree
But at no time during the long period
OF dispute over Sunday observance has
there been anything like even similar
partial concurrence concerning Sunday
recreation among English speaking ma
lions, although continental Europe long
since, by common consent, adopted the
idea of the socalled Continental Su1-
day. which gives wide individual lati-
tude In the matter OF recreation and
pleasure.
Perhaps the most famous decree on
Sunday recreation ever promulgated
was that Of James l.. OF England and
Scotland. since by formally u%pholding
his fathers views Charles 1. thereby
made more certain the coming of the
civil war tina cost him his crown and
his head
While on his way back to London
from Scotland. King James discovered
much discomfort in Lancashire because
the people a been deprived of their
customary Sunday sport after service.
the prevailing English idea OF the day