The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-30

The Rev. e. A. WATSON.
The Rev. DR.. e. A. WATSON, rector of
st. Stephens Church, Clinton and
Elizabeth the head of one of the
oldest parishes in New Jersey, and
known as one of the most powerful
ministers in the State, came out strong
today for a free and open Sunday.
DR.. WATSON, whose progressiveness
and modern thought have given him one
of the largest followings, both religious
and lay, in the East, states most en-
phatically that 1t is the right of every
man to enjoy his Sunday in any way he
sees ft. He can, If he had his rights,
drink beer or soda water, play baseball
or golf, go to church or to the theatre.
His announcement of his liberal stand
on the Sunday question, which is ex-
pected to have great weight in shaping
legislation in the near future, appears
over his own signature in The Crown, a
weekly publication which he edits in
the interests of his parish. He says:
Wins Seventeen Battle.
IT count myself happy to have lived
to see his day-when Sunday baseball,
" IN l. DS6oh ~ PiSad v - -
ago, and for which l have been plead
ing over since, is now justified by the
bishop of this diocese, the Right Rev.
Edwin S. Lines. For my damnable
heresy 1 was flayed, and fiayed again,
and yet again (for, Prometheus-like, L
persistently grew anew what vas de-
stroyed); yet read what Bishop Lines
said to his late diocesan convention:
1--WE must accept greater liberty as
regards the use of Sunday for recrea-
ton. 1t does not offend me to see COM
panies of men and boys who have been
shut up all the week in the shops and
factories, at play on Sunday, as it does
to see men and women who have large
liberty, as regards the use of their time,
turning away from their churches to
the golf links on the Lords day.
aThe yindication of the position
which i have long maintained by Bishop
Lines 1 take as n happy augury of the
vindicatiOn of other modcrnist teach-
Ings of mine now as s~avage1y denounced
as was Sunday baseball. 1t is only a
matter of time. 1 can wait, and In the
meantime talk, and 1 will. My principle
lisa free Sunday for a free people. The
spirit that 1 am inculculating is the
spirit that Jesus inculcated and illus
trated. He, too, was denounced as a
Sabbath-breaker. and He was. He gave
mortal offense by his views and uses of
the Sabbath. And l have said nothing
about Sunday that was not virtually
said by Luther, by Tyndale. by Calvin
namely, that there is no peculiar
sanctity in Sunday whatever; that
Sunday is no more sacred than Monday
or any other day; that 1t is merely an
ecclesiastical device, adopted for GER
ain secular purposes by the state; that
society is free to make any use of the
day whatever, solely according to the
dictates of reason.
All Should Have Rest Day.
1.-THE reason Of society affirms the
utility of one day in seven as a day of
rest, recreation and refreshment. What
ever promotes these objects is right.
What business is required to procure
these end is justified; but those who
thus sacrifice their Sunday that others
may enjoy it should have another day
in seven to themselves. Thus, the min
lister who tolls on Sunday should have
Monday for himself. The dispensers of
refreshments and transportation en-
ployees who work on Sunday should
rest and refresh themselves some other
day.
1.-THE distinction which Bishop Lines
draws between baseball by the poor,
who are shut up in factories all the rest
of the week, and Sunday golf for the
well-to-do, is not, l think. a sound one.
If 1t is right for the poor man to sport
on Sunday, 1t is not wrong for a rich
man. The principle of Sunday is the
same for all, The spectacle of the many
poor on the baseball field on Sunday,
while the rich are on their knees, Is
not to be seriously looked for or de-
sired. A rich man ought to have as
much personal liberty as a poor man.
Surely Sunday golf is as j%ustifable as
Sunday baseball. Both are right, or
both are wrong. l think that both are
right. That does not mean that every
body must spend Sunday playing one or
the other. 1t does not mean that any
body must play either. But it does
mean that it is for each individual to
decide for himself, without dictation.
whether and what he shall play. 1t is
his own business. 1t is no n else's
business. Those that prefer to go %
church have the right to go to church.
Those that prefer to play have the
right to play. Those that prefer to go
to church and to play have the right
to do both.
Church lbs Obligation.
s.In the case of a church member
there is indeed an obligation to his
church, as Icing as he remains in its
membership. One part Of that obliga-
ton Is to attend church. If he neglects