The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-07
Sunday Observance.
Edilor 1The Nashlngton HeraId

| Editor The Washington Herald:
The question which above every other Is
presented by the Johnston District Sun
day observance measure Is. 4OD. which
] recently passed the Senate and on which
a public hearing is to be held by the Dis
trict Committee Of the HOUSE on Tues
day. March 8. is Shall there be enacted
by the Congress OF the United States and
be in force at the Capital of the republic
a law inspired by, embodying. and de-
signed 70 support and enforce religious
and theological dogma and sentiment
the religious and theological dogma and
sentiment OF Sabbath observanee?"
This Is true. Notwithstanding the fact
that in a communication appearing in
your issue Of January "A. on the eve OF
the consideration Of the measure in the
Senate, a prominent clergyman. and the
leading spirit In the District OF Column
bia for years past in the effort to secure
such legislation. asserted that the meas
ure In question 'fs distinctly a civil and
not religious measure" and pronounced
the idea that II involved in any degree
the principle of union Of church and
state as ''preposterous" and possible only
TO "a perverted or prejudiced mind"
And 1t is true. notwithstanding the as
sertion Of the author Of the measure in
the Senate on January 2S when II was
under consideration in that body. that "it
involves no religious question whatever
and "compels no man 20 observe any day
as religious festival"
Shortly after ION January y, 1909 the
original introduction Of the Johnston bill
| this clergyman delivered a discourse at
the leading church Of which he is pastor
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
church, in advocacy OF the legislation
proposed by the measure. He appealed
to the religious and theological law of
Sabbath observance" asserting that THE
Fourth Commandment is as binding upon
the government of the United States as
IL is upon the humblest individual" and
that the law must look to the Bible,
to religion, to God" IN attempting TO
justify the proposed legislation, he de-
elared that the Decalogue'' is the basis
OF our civil legislation. that this is a
Christian nation" that the welfare and
perpetuity Of our republic is dependent
upon religion" and that religion is
dependent upon the maintenance OF the
Sabbath" that religion is not here by
sufferance." and that Christian institu-
tons and Christian people must be upheld
and protected tn this country" The dis
course abounded with the phrases desc
Grafton of the Sabbath" proclamation Of
the Sabbath" violation Of the Fourth
Commandment" and other expressions
which exhibited Enthusiastically that the
matter was one Of religious and theolog-
ical dogma and sentiment.
The most recent exhibition which he
has given of the fact that this matter OF
the regulation Of Sunday observance by
law is one of religious and theological
sentiment and dogma with him Is his
strenuous objection" to the proposal Of
Representative Godfrey to permit harm
less athletics and sports in the District
OF Columbia on Sunday on the ground
that such legal permission would be a
SIM and would be a violation OF the
Fourth Commandment"
In conclusion. permit me 20 observe
that, as IS known TO every one conversant
with the periodical and persistent at
tempts which for twenty years have been |
made to secure from Congress a general
Sunday law for the District OF Column |
bia. these attempts have proceeded al |
most entirely from religious sources, and |
have had their dominating motive, in |
spiration. and support in religious and |
theological sentiment. The one class in |
the community which has devoted itself |
to the promotion Of this end are the pro-
fessional representatives Of religion-the |
clergy-and those Of this class most active /
in the matter have been those most in