The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-12
EDITORIAL
The SUNDAY Law.

We have a letter from Mr.. B. l.. House. Secre-
Stary of the Religious Liberty Association of Viz
gaia, in which he says that he takes issue with the
8 position of The Nirgnian the Sunday observance
y law, set forth in article published the 9th
y Inst.
Secretary House encloses extracts from Sunday
Il Mail Reports" adopted by the United States SEN
ate in 1890 and afterwards by the House Of Repre-
sentatves in 1880 These reports, he further says,
y we're published throughout the country and framed
= and hung UP in dwellings like Declaration of
\ independence, and further that in 1890 and 1881
the reports were approved by the legislatures of
Indiana, Alabama and Illinois.
We have not the room TO print these extracts in
full. interesting though they be, but few quota,
tons will indicate their puTport.
* In the report communicated to the Senate. jan
uars 10Th, 1920 it is said that THE proper object of
government is to protect all persons in the enjoy
ment OF their religious we'll as their civil rights
and not to determine whether they shall esteem one
day above another or esteem all DAYS alike holy"
We are aware, continues the report, that va
riety OF sentiment exists among the good citizens of
this nation on the subject OF the Sabbath day; and
our government is designed for the protection of one
as much another.
hi committee would hope that no portion of the
rfts..ts e Off country weela willingly introduce
system OF religious coercion in civil institutions;
the example OF other nations should admonish to
watch carefully against its earliest indication.
With these different religious views. the committee
AZ Is not the legitimate province OF the legislature to
determine what religion is true what false
The House document communicated March 4th
and sth practically the same. and in part declares
that If Congress shall, by the authority of law,
sanction the measure recommended il would con-
stitute legislative decision of a religious contro-
1 versy. in which event Christians themselves are at
issue
And again, IF Congress shall declare the first day
of the week holy, it will not convince the Jew the
Sabbatarian 1t will dissatsfy both, and conse-
quently, convert neither. Human power may ex-
tort vain sacrifices but the Deity alone can command
the affections OF the heart. II solemn act OF the
legislature shall in point, define the law of God
or point out to the citizen religious duty, it may
Of divine revelation and enforce every religious obi
CATION
There is absolutely no conflict between the doc
trine thus declared by Congress and the doctrine
declared by The Nirgipiaa in the article TO which
our correspondent refers mo one pretends we said
that the Sunday Law in Virginia is a religious ordi-
nance. or the enactment Of the Fourth Command
ment. Our statute does not command men and
women to keep holy the Sabbath day. That is an
affair OF the church. The State does command
however, that men and women shall rest on Sunday
and that they shall abstain from all labor, save
works OF necessity and of charity.
Ihs Virginia law Is civil law and in sense a
religious law. 1t does not interfere in any way with
the religious rights OF any person persons of any
organization. 1t does not enjoin men and women
to go to church to abstain from going church or
to engage in any religious work or not to engage in
any religious work 1t simply provides that secular
work shall cease upon that day and that the day
shall bc observed not holy day, not as a church
holiday but as day OF rest. There is nothing in
the statute that infrnges any mans religious rights
or that NEEDLES in any way with his religious affairs,