The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
poWHATAN wYMDHAM ROBERTSON.
Sunday Legislation Inconsistent with
n Free COyerun,cuf


Editor OF The Times dispatch:
Sir,-The numerous Sunday bills be-
fore the present Legislature are an evil
aenee OF ehang ESQ of sentiment coming
mined by the character Of the he bills.
House B!ll No. 25s. To prohibit pub
Patron. Mr. Old, by request. Reported
from Committee on General Laws:
BE 1t enacted by the General As
s sc OF virginia. that 4 any per-
permitting per- 1T Ing in public exhibition of
eharEeyd he eor sba Wh bic admissiGn Is
a misdemeanor. and upon conviction
thereof punished by confinement in
jail. not less than fifteen days nor
or by both"
seventh-Day Adventists are opposed
to the above bill for the following
LIST. Because 1t is religious meas
ure. in. that it prohibits on Sunday
that which 1t permits on any other
dent fer further religious Legislation.
It's purpose Is to. make Sunday a
sacred a; a., day by legislation m Back Of
cause they think the day is desecrated
by amusements. and so. with the hope
Of ,I bringing n more people into the
sports. This Is what the bishops did
In the fourth, century, when. as Neand
err says: Church teachers F.
were, in truth. often forced to com
plain that in such competitions the
theatre. was vastly more frequented
than than the church" History OF the
IL. section 3. Part II. division ILL.,, par
agraph 4.
The same writer again says: I'm
this. way the church received help from
ends" Id. section 3. Part H.. division
liz. paragraph 5.
From the above quotations 1t may be
easily seen how the proposed bill can
be made an engine OF tyranny to de-
prive the people of their rights and
compel dissenters to violate their
q broken law. AS Madison once said
Distant as 1t may be in its present
form from the, Inauisition, II differs
from it only In degree" American
I'd. 1t Is opposed to the natural
rights of free people: and to. section
Of the Virginia - DECLARATION OF
by nature equally free and independ-
ent. and have certain inherent rights
:. !. namely. the enjoyment of
life and liberty with the means Of
and safety" ID. mage Is.
Equality Of rights grants the pleas
ure-seeker as much right to Sunday
amusements as 1t does the church
eoer to attend the house of Worship.
The enjoyment of life and liberty"
is as sacred to the one class as to the
other Each must give an account
of himself to Cod" and not to the
state, 50 far as the sin may be con-
cerned. Rom. xiv. ~.
The proposed bill is inconsistent.
because 1t permits the playing Of
games and sports on Sunday so long
as no admission is charged, but the
moment admission is asked for II be-
comes misdemeanor Under the Bill
of Rights. has not the player of
games equal rights to acquiring and
possessing property" that the clergy
have to receive collections on Sun
day? II the one be wrong the other
| is also. or the proposed bill provides
for class legislation.
The bill is, contrary to, the gospel
| of God which gays: proclaim liberty
| throughout all the land unto all the
| inhabitants thereof" Lev. XIV. 10.
| And whatsoever we would that men
| should do to you. do we even so to
| Them Matt. vii. IL.
| II. ]. FARMAN.
"Locnl Option" and Communion
yVinc!"
| Editor OF The Times Dispatch: