The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-01-28
The GOLDEN rule
SHOULD Be USED.
sunday Theatre Closing Agitation
Brings Some Remarks From
Keokuk Citizen on the
Question.
MAKES INTERPRETATIONS
II Theatres are Bad for Sunday Night,
Why are They Not Bad for
Every Night Of the
Week?
To the Editor Of the Gate City:


I have read carefully the pros and
cons of this Sunday closing question,
but there is an element in it which
have not seen discussed yet, that OF
religious legislation, or the forcing up
on some by civil enactments the re-
Hgious ideas of others. There is in
this an inconsistent mixing of sacred
and profane things, of civil and relig-
ious interests, to which I would like
to call the attention of your many
readers.
No one probably has less use for,
or less to do with, these questionable
amusements than the writer, but
wish to ask a few questions in order
to get at the real root of this Sunday
crusade. / believe the whole effort is
for the purpose of trying to uphold
and enforce upon all classes the sup
posed sanctity OF Sunday. Were it not
for the supposed holiness of that day,
these efforts would not be made. do
not at all question the very evil char
acter of many of these entertain
ments; but the question arises, Why
stop an evil thing on Sunday only?
Are these questionable amusements
worse on Sunday than on all other
days put together? Are they more
harmful to morals on Sunday than on
all the rest of the days of the week
Why not oppose and fight wrongs on
all days alike?
L., 1o% IL
rest on and sanctify Sunday at crea-
ton, nor command it to be kept in
the decalogue; that Christ never kept
Sunday, nor the apostles, nor the early
apostolic church. But if it were the
day commanded in the fourth com
mandment, or if it had been kept by
Christ and the apostles, even then
there would be no civil or God-given
right to enforce its observance upon
unbelieving and irreligious people, OF
upon other believers in Christ.
Are people who are compelled tc
rest from business or recreation on
Sunday made better thereby? Is il
wise to give non-Christians the idea
that because we have monopoly o.
religion, therefore we are tie lords
of the earth in the matter OF rights Of
conscience, and they --.-st therefore
knuckle to us; and that because the.
are not so religious as ourselves, the,
have no claim to religious liberty
Why not rather try to win them b.
love, and Christian persuasion to ODE.
the law of God and keep his holy Sab
bath from love? In Gods sight, love i
the only meritorious motive in man
obedience. To obey from con1pulsiol
or fear of civil pains and penalties vii
make no man Christian, neither vii
st make Christians better Christians
but stultify the manhood of both
If any church considers Sunday
sacred day, and holds either homes
work or questionable shows to b
wrong on that day, let it set the worl
the good example by disciplining it
own members for any and all SUI
posed dissertations of the day 1t doe
not impart very much grace to III
believers to punish them for the yer
things they see church members d.
In closing let me say that if we wis
others to recognize our rights, W
must recognize theirs also. Row woul
we like it if the tables We're turne
and the non-believers in Christ shoul
all combine and frame and enforc
laws that would deprive us of OF
rights as Christians? Let us heed til
golden rule, and do to others as W
would have others do to us Let i
try in every Christian way to win sil
ners from wrong, but leave off tryin