Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-09-15
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Rest Day Laws.

Mr.. Editor: Persons who have learn
ed the rules of composition know that
| in order to exclude entirely irrelevant
! matter, first a general subject must
be chosen, then a narrowed subject a
process known in everyday speech as
coming to the point" Thus, under
the general subject of rest-day laws,
the narrowed subject is the rest day
laws OF Connecticut. What has the
position of the Catholic church or the
Episcopal church to do with the orig
inal code of Connecticut? Nothing ex-
cept as a side line. by way of the gen
eral subject. 1t does not require a
wide acquaintance with Connecticut
history to discover that it was a dis
tinct object of the New England COL
onies to be Independent of the rule of
both of these churches, and also to fall
back on the Bible as the counselor and
authority in matters of government.
The principle which underlies their
model existed before the organizatio
of any church as SUCH and the law
was distinctly civil, to be executed both
in the original and in the copy. by
magistra ties, nor by priests or ecclesi-
astical officers.
The laws of Connecticut were en-
acted by the vote of the people, and
the power to vote in this colony was
not restricted to church members. At
lacks are now being made upon laws
thus enacted by men who not only
We're successful practicers of seif-gov-
eminent but founders of the best gov
eminent for great nation. If any
body of men in this country We're en-
titled and qualified to make laws they
were. OF course, it is possible that
their laws may be attacked, now that
they are dead, by those who know next
to nothing of American history or any
| other, nor even of the elementary prin-
| ciples of organized society or of civil
| government nor of the difference and
distinction between anarchism. MOI
| rule, and sound and genuine govern
ment.
A vital point is. have we the law
abiding spirit? Have we any respecT
| for laws conscientiously intended for
the good of the people as a whole. and
accepted as good by generations of in
| teiiigent and law abiding people? Have
| we any respect for others, and then
conScienceS. their Judgment their in
| telligence. their reason? Religious lib
| erty applies only to persons who have
| some religion to be free. Religion is
| by no means synonymous with ecclesi-
| asticism. 1t is the business and duty
| of every person of normal intelligence
| to have a conscience, which is tbs
| foundation of religion, to exercise it,
| and to enlighten it. The feunda ton
principle of our treatment of our fal-
| lowmen is summed up in one sen
| tence: Thou shalt love thy neighbor
| enounced by layman to lavmen, and
| is of worldwide application The
man outside of church relations is nc
moro absolved from his duty than the
! church member. 1t is the duty of every
| person of natural ability to do SO, to
| work either for his own or others
| benefit: and it is the right of every
| worker to have necessary rest. without
| disturbance by the law1ess and riot
| Gus; and the state government has a
| right to restrict and restrain the dis
| turbers, and the causes of disturbance
| and of riot. on the rest-period or al
| any other time. no matter what they
/ believe. when it issues into disorderll
| acts, those acts are to be stopped
! Both in the original Bible rest day Law
| and the Connecticut Sunday law sug
| gested by it the rest is indissolubIS
/ associated with labor. il is not an in
! fringement of religious liberty for tho
| state to say to the Sunday drunk
! who. wishes to disturb the cot1arSltnitv
! 0r the wild west" raTrSser3+ati1e VIII,
! believes he has q right t. shoot ~
| the town on nights or SUNDAYS .Hasj
| thou faith2 Have it to myself" Oh
| what was intended as an equivalent.
| Let every man be fully persuaded il
| his own mind since the en-, al'asis il
/ both these verses and 81 tlae whole
argument in which they occur. is to
be fully sure of being right ourselves