The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-08-14
A GREAT AMERICAN EVIL.
Coy. Hoch Of Kansas Thinks Sunday
Dissertation the Worst.
Minneota Mascot.

Minneota Mascot
''The commercializing and secular
izing of the Sabbath is greater as a
question right now before our coun-
try than any other single evil. !"
This sentence was not uttered
century ago. 1t comes not from
crank or a clergyman. It was ut
tered only few days ago by no less
a parsonage than Governor Hoch of
Kansas. What prompted the gov
ernor to say this was the resignation
OF DR.. Nusbaum from the presi-
dency Of the Owatonna Chautau-
qua because excursions were to be
run to Ottawa on Sundays to get
crowds to the chautauqua. The
United States as nation is fast los
ing the Sabbath as day Of rest.
Sunday is being commercialized to
such an extent that to large per
cent. Of our citizens it means day
of strenuous effort and work. Thou
sands of people all over this land
have to labor and toll on the worlds
day of rest for no other purpose
than that of satisfying the greed of
the prevailing commercial spirit.
These people are entitled to their
rest on Sunday. the law expressively
stipulates that they shall have it,
but so needless are systems and
corporations of the rights of man
that armies of wage slaves are
driven from necessity to forego the
refreshing, ennobling influence of
one day of rest in every seven.
Quite apart from any religious con-
sideration the Importance of a day
of rest is apparent. Mans nature
demands it and in response to that
demand the law Of the land makes
provision for it. All the most high
ly civilized nations of the world
have recognized the necessity of
this weekly cessation from toll, this
periodically returning day of recup-
Grafton.
Are we in danger Of losing our
No we have already prac-
tically lost it. A disregard of the
purpose and spirit of the day has
taken possession of the public con-
seriousness and the laws prescribing
its observance have become an OBJ
solete statute hardly to be classed
even among our ornamental legis-
latlon." The effect of secularizing
the Sabbath is fraught with many
dangers. 1t undermines reverence
and respect for law and rnbs people
Of the uplifting element and infu-
ence of a day set apart for mental
and spiritual uses.
There is a wave Of sentiment just
at present sweeping over this state
for Sunday enforcement along one
certain line. This may well be desig
mated as the lid" movement. The
purpose is to make him close his
doors upon the Sabbath as provided
in the statute. But the saloon keep
err alone is the one aimed at. His
business alone comes under the ban.
Is it any wonder that he is pointing
his finger at some of the other vio-
lators of this very same statute
and asking the question: "Why not
he?w What the country needs is a
lid movement all along the line. An
active campaign for sane Sabbath,
Sabbath that will be real day of
rest both for man and beast is what
the country is in need of. Such a
movement headed by men like Gov.
Hoch might do some good, in fact
could not help being productive of
beneficial results.
The men who are undermining the
Sabbath laws and Sabbath observ-
ance are robbing humanity of its
day Of rest. They are dangerous
enemies Of the nation. foes of
humanity. What is there that
the laborer SO needs as one day in
seven upon which to rest from his
toll? One day which he can spend
in the bosom Of his family, one day
which he can call his own? And is
the commercial greed Of this COM
mercialized age to be permitted for
chilly to take this boon, this cooling
cup from the calloused hand Of tot
without protest? Here is an OPP