Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-05-23
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.

IN ordering a more rigid enforcement
Of the Sunday closing ordinance. fol
lowed BY an attempt Of the council
to pass an ordinance which would
prove more satisfactory. has been the
topic Of considerable discussion by
the press Of the state
The current issue OF The Southern
Argus. published at BroOksville by
4. ~. G. Russell. contains the follow.
ing:
The City Council Of Gainesville
has enacted new Sunday law,
which IS creating some comments In
that city and elsewhere. As 90 the
tstlce OF characterizing Il as a blue
law. unwarrantingly infringing the
rights OF TIE individual. we do not
know. But We 90 know that sunday
iOuld be observed By all classes as
day OF rest. and no work or traffic
Mould be performed on that Gay
hlch could be avoided However. as
hrist taught. Sunday Is subject 20
the law OF necessity like any other
ssy. The hungry man Is entitled 60
read and the sick one to medicine.
even II he has to buy IL out OF a
store on Sunday.
Not because OF It's religious signifi-
canoe should Sunday observance be
compulsory. because this Is a country
OF religious freedom and tolerance.
and there are those who do not ac-
cept the holiness OF that day as a
part OF their creed. No one should
be cOerced in religious belief or con-
duct. AS one day Of the week. TO be
devoted exclusively TO rest and cessa-
ton from daily occupations. IL essen
tial to the moral and physical health
OF the nation, and more people favor
Sunday for that purpose than any
other; and In a democratic form OF
as ours a. the majority
OF the people should govern; there
fore. Sunday should be set apart as
a day OF rest. and its universal obseTv-
ance enforced alike upon all classes
OF the inhabitants Of this country. |
should be permitted that |
would undermine or destroy its char
acter as a day Of rest and relaxation.
The fact that some Christians rev.
erence Il as a holy day In a part OF |
their creed does not Justify contempt |
for Il or It's legal character by those
20 Christianity. or az variance
with those who regard Il as sacred.
while observing IL as a day OF
rest set apart by the law of the land
not by the creeds Of the churches
because they are good. lawabiding
the non-believers are not
its religious Obliga-
lion or sacred character. AMI when
10 observe the day because
n the law, they are not being cOerced.
either In their beliefs or religious
,onduct-unless they are anarchists
opposed TO an law both human and
iivine.
while this Is free country.
where all are al liberty 90 believe and
lct. inside % moral limitations. ac-
,ording 20 the dictates Of their con-
sciences. in matters OF religion. IL Is
also a Christian country where its
avs for the health. safety and pros
Derity OF its inhabitants. while not Of
purpose, are OF Christian
.orm and character. and must be- obey
"a with that understanding.
Thus Sunday becomes the day Of
rest and relaxation % the Christian.
he inhdel and the pagan. Being a
compulsory holiday in the law OF the
and. u Is obeyed By the Christian be-
cause Il Is a day OF rest I'm the law
Df his land. and a holy day In the
creed OF his religion; by the non
believer because Il a. a day OF rest
In the law OF his land. which law ne
Is bound 20 obey 90 be a good. law
abiding citizen. Thus the sunday
law. made for the health and we'll