The Mena weekly star., 1907-11-21
Is History Being Repeated?


 Mir. Editor, I was led to ask my self the above question when l read that at the last term of court, a man was fined S25 for the suppos- edly awful crime of selling a hungry man a lunch on Sunday. Now l should like very much for the honorable court which imposed that fine to rise up and explain just why it is a crime, misdemeanor, or an act of incivility to sell man some thing to eat on Sunday. By so do- ing did he infringe upon the CIVIL rights of any one? If not, then why should he be punished for so doing! The only answer that can be given IS that he was violating the Sabbath.
 But what is the Sabbath? religi- ous institution. I know there IS a good deal of talk about the "Civll Sabbath" but every candid think ing man Knows that it is impossible to separate the religious idea from the institution. Mir. w. F. Crafts, one of the greatest champions of Sunday laws, sad: "A weekly day of rest has never been permanently secured in any land except on the basis of religious obligations. Take the religion out, and you take the rest out"
 Another question: Where or when was the power ever delegated to any man, legislature, or congress to leg islate in things religious? The great Teacher of Christianity said: Render to Caesar (the civil power) the things which are Caesars, and to God, the things which are Gods" Had this principle been strictly ad- hered to there never would have been any phase of an union of church and state, nor Sunday law on any statue book.
 Many of the patriots of our early history clearly saw this principle, and taking warning from the history of the past, sought to establish a nation on the two great fundamen- tai principles, civil and religious liberty. When "a bill establishing provision for teachers of the Chris tian religion" was before the gener- al assembly of Virginia, James Madi- son in remonstrating againstit, said: We hold it for fundamental and undeniable truth that religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and convic- tion, not by force or violence. It is proper to take alarm at the first ex- pertinent upon our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizen. Distant as it may be in it's present form from the inquisition, it differs from it only in degree. One is the first step, the other the last, in the career of intol- erenca."
 When they adopted constitution for the new born nation it was em- phasized that "no religious test shall eyer be required as qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" and then they al- most immediately added an amenda- ment declaring that Congress shall make no law respecting an establish ment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
 Thus the inherent and inalienable rights of man were fully recognized and safeguarded, and nation was founded on the principle, Render to Caesar the things which are Caesars and to God the things which are Gods" But where are we today? Back in the fourth century A. D. go- ing over the same road that that led to union of church and and state, enforcing Sunday laws and persecu- tion for conscience's sake. May the good Lord help us to see the evil consequence growing out of this principle and avoid the consequence by denying the principle.
 l.. w. Felter.