Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-25
FOR SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES Elk
PRESS VIEWS IN LETTERS
Washington Pastors Ask Taft and
Bryan to Aid Movement-Both
Give Approval.

William Howard Taft and William Jen.
nings Bryan. respectively republican and
democratic candidates for President. have
announced that they are in sympathy
with a proper observance of Sunday.
Representative ministers Of ten denomi-
nations in the National capital recently
sent letters to Judge Taft and w. J.
Bryan, calling the attention of the two
presidential candidates to the Importance
of a strict observance of Sunday and
asking their help in furtherance Of the
movement along that line.
The letters were prepared and sent at
the instigation Of Rev. DR.. c. H. Butler.
assistant pastor Of the Luther Place Me-
mortal Church. They were signed by
Revs j. c. Butler of the Lutheran
Church, Wallace Radcliffe. Presbyterian;
j. NJ Schick. Reformed; Samuel H. Wood
row, Congregational: j. ]. Muir. Baptist:
F. D. Power. Disciples of Christ: Frank
NJ. Bristol, bishop of the Methodist
Church. r. H. McKim. Protestant Epis-
copaI Church, James F. Mackin. Roman
Catholic, and John Van Schalck. Jr., Uni
versalist
The letter sent to each of the candidates
was as follows:
"As your fellow citizens in the capital.
and as Christian ministers. representing
various denominations, we very heartily
congratulate you upon your nomination
for the presidency.
.It appears opportune to US at the
opening of the exciting campaign re-
specially to call your attention to the
increasing secularfzation of the Lord s
day, especially in travel, and to increas-
ing social functions, In circles both high
and low. around US. Gods Sabbath COM
mandment and the Lords day as day
Of rest and worship-reverence for which
runs through all our nations history
are pivotal in the nations life.
with the tide Of lawlessness and wick
edness sweeping through our land; with
the great unrest In the labor world. too
often forgetful of this day of rest and
worship. heavens best boon to our toll
ing. weary. suffering life: with other vi
tai problems pressing. whose only solu-
ton will be found In the Golden Rule. we
owe II to the best citizenship to turn our
thought Godward. God has exalted us
and Righteousness alone can make US a
We rejoice in the evidences of a quick
ened moral sense and in the increase of
civic righteousness. Our moral and re-
ligious forces are power to be reckoned
with at the ballot box.
these and other considerations, not
mentioned that we be not tedious move
us. honored sir. to ask earnestly the help
of YOUR potent example as patriot, states
man and Christian. in securing the better
observance of this day of God.
To Rev. DR.. c. h. Butter Judge TAFT
replied as follows:
81 have the paper that you have in
closed to me, in which a number Of the
ministers Of Washington have sent me
their congratulations on my nomination
and in which they point out the impor-
lance of Sunday observance. I hope that
you will! express my thanks to each on.
of those gentlemen for the kindly tone of
their communication and assure him that
nothing on my part will ever be done
which may be construed as lack Of re-
spect for such a view of the subject"
Mr.. Bryan's letter is as follows:
Il thank you for your letter inclosing
the suggestion made by ministers in re-
gard to the observance of the Sabbath. I
fully agree with you with regard to the
Importance Of observing that day. and
during my past campaigns have used It
as day of rest and shall in this cam
paign as far as circumstances will per-
nit