The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-19
A SATURDAY SERMON.
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.

THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
hoiy G SIX days !ne shalt f thou labor and do
all thy work but the seventh is the sap
bath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt
not do any work.-Exodus 2O:S-19
From one end of the nation to the
other there appears to be spontaneous
movement for a more general observa-
ton of the Sabbath. From Maine to
Los Angeles the agitation. extends. Inc
latter city is even more stirred up about
it than is Topeka.
This problem of Sabbath observance
opens UP wide field of ethics in which
much of misunderstanding and intoler-
ance usually arises. Already some very
foolish and unwise things have been
said in the present agitation for Sunday
closing of the theateTs in Topeka, ana
a decidedly unchristian spirit has been
exhibited by some of those who adVo-
cate closing the playhouses.
To consider the ethics of the subject:
In the first place the commandment
concerning the Sabbath is as much
part of the Decalogue-God' law-as IS
the commandment against murder OF
stealing. 1t is a sin against the creator
of the universe to dishonor His day just
as it is to steal, although it may not
d
man-and right there is one difference
between civil and divine law, regarding
which the writer wishes to make this
statement:
No civil law ought to attempt 10 en-
force religious principle
This may sound as though 1t IS op-
nosed To Sunday laws. But wait!
Mans attitude toward his maker is
matter of religion, but not so his atti-
tude toward his fellowman. Law can
not affect the former and should not
attempt it, but it can govern his &C
| lions toward his fellows.
Thue the portions of the Decalogue
that deal with positive acts, man mas
enacted into human law, but those
commandments that have to do with
state of mind human laws cannot en-
act They are purely religious In their
character. Man has prohibited murder
stealing. swearing and adultery, but ne
cannot make laws to enforce love 10
| Cod and honor to parents, nor 10 pro-
hihit idolatry and covetousness.
The commandment relating to the
Sabbath partakes of both religious ana
moral ideas. 1t is both abstract ana
! concrete.
The legislature or the city council
| might pass all sorts of law command
ing people to remember the Saboath
dav to keep it holy, and men would
| nrohably dishonor the day more than
ever for that deals with an attitude
| of the mind Civil law has no business
attempting such thing.
Rut the performance of labor on the
Sabbath day or any other concrete act
| that dishonors the day is a diHerenl
| matter Such laws are not only possi-
| bIe. but most states and cities nave
| them. And if the Decalogue IS 10 De
followed as in other matters, there
| should be such laws.
If is a question, however, where the
line should be drawn in the GAYS oi
This complex civilization of ours. Jesus
| taught that some things must, OF ne
cessitv. be done on the Sabbath day.
Ne also taught that the Sabbath is a
necessary institution for mans good
fact which is established also by ma
ture. Men must rest one day IN seven
| in order to do their best work
AS a general proposition. each indi-
| yidna1 must settle with his own con-
science as to what is right and wrong
| T., This matter, but the same might be
said regarding murder and theft; but
so many men have no consciences with
| which to settle it that it is necessary
for men to pass laws for the good OF
| society.
Coming down to the question OF
! Sunday theaters, the writer's opinion is
that they tend to the Generalization OF
society and that a community would
he better off without them. They are
now nrohibited in many large cities. in
| Guiding New York and philadelphia.
Theatrical men of standing say the bet
ter class of play-goers do not patronize
! sunday theaters, and it is low grade
| of plays that are most successful on
| SUNDAYS OF course such plays IN
| themselves are no more demoralzlns
| on Sundays than on weekdays, put
thew do no good and the amusement
they give is often harmful. This is
question of public morals, however, in
which every man is entitled to his in
| dividual opinion, and the majority
| should rule.
As a general proposition, the OBJ
servance of the Sabbath is desirable
as a means of promoting morality, but
it would be ridiculous to pass Sunday
| laws for the purpose of promoting
/ church-going. That has to do entirely
| with the religious side of the question
which should not be mixed with the
moral and civil side of it. If the
churches cannot compete with Sunday
theaters there is very little of the
spirit of Christ in them.
The most effective and most desir-
able way to close Sunday theaters
would be to promote such spirit OF
reverence for God and his institutions
that men would not wish to desecrate
His day by attending theaters and
sports. In a northern Kansas town
there has recently been such religi-