New-York tribune., 1913-07-21
THE AMERICAN SUNDAY
Commercialized Sport Has No Place
in It. Asserts Reader.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit a word Of reply to your cor
respondent, Mir. James f. Morton, jr. re-
gardns the relation OF Sunday baseball
to the union Of Church and State. Church
and State are separated in this country
in order that Christian morality and
Christian ideals may be the more thor
oughly promoted. While the law recog-
nlzes no religious sect it does most posi-
lively recognize Christian ethics and Is
most dlstinctively a Christian nation
Justice David J. Brewer, Of the United
States Supreme Court, said in his Yale
lectures in 1851: This is Christian ma
tion. The dominant thought and pur-
pose Of the nation accord with the great
principles taught by the Founder OF
Christianity. It's first settlements were
made in its name, and while every one Is
welcome whether a believer in Chris
tianity or in any other religion, or In no
religion, yet the principles of Christianity
are the foundations OF our social and po-
litical life" He says further that the
Republic Is "as truly a Christian nation
as is England with its established church,
or as is Turkey a Mahometan nation.
Indeed the very fact that 1t has no
established church makes one OF its nigh
est credentials to the title Of a Christian
nation" other authorities in abundance
may be quoted TO the same effect
Now the American Sunday is Chris
tian institution which the law seeks 10
protect. That law as interpreted by the
courts places no ban on private sports
and has no word TO say against playing
baseball on Sunday any more than play
ing lawn tennis II is not the playing OF
ball. but the witnessing Of an exhibition
game Of ball where large crowds assemble
and money IS paid 10 witness the .exhlbl-
ton This the law declares tends TO make
the day like other days OF the week when
regular business is transacted and com-
mercialized sport IL carried on. Hence II
excludes these features. That such an
exclusion is not antiquated nor out OF
harmony with the views Of the people Is
shown by the fact that the strongest kind
OF protest has gone up. from the people
when business interests have bombarded
the Legislature in the attempt TO repeal
the law In the interests Of commercialism.
Commercialized Sunday sport always be-
gets Sunday labor
Il is evident, then, that Mr. Morton has
mistaken the principles which underlie
the whole question. His entire reference
TO personal religious observance of Sun
day is altogether irrelevant The ques-
tions OF church attendance. observance OF
Lent Biblical quotations, do not touch the
OF "a
protection Of the American Sunday, which
is a Christian institution expressive OF the
ideals and ethics OF a Christian nation.
Church and State are separated in order
that no particular sect Of Christians snail
receive governmental support at the eX-
pense OF another Christian sect. The
legal prohibition OF the sale Of meat on
Friday would be unjust discrimination in
favor OF the Roman Catholic sect Just as
the recognition of the Methodist Episco-
nal Church as the State Church would be
unjust discrimination IN favor of the
Methodist sect That is entirely distinct
I'm kind from the legal protection OF the
Christian institution OF Sunday which fos-
ters the ideals and morals OF the common
Christianity OF the country which all
Christian sects unite TO promote.
Mr. Morton forgets that no man is re-
quired by law 10 do anything personally
religious whatever. lie may never darken
the doors OF "A church and may live the
life of a perfect heather: he may play
baseball or tennis or golf 10 his hearts
content But when he assemblies hundreds
OF people TO witness his favorite sport,
collects hundreds OF dollars from them,
stimulates them TO noisy demonstration.
he IL not engaged I'm private recreation,
but is taking the national institution OF
Sunday for personal enterprises. and at
this point the law rightfully steps I'm and
tells him what he may and what he may
not do. Pardon this parade Of piatitudes.
but Mr.. MortonN forgetfulness Of them is
my apology W W. T. DUNCAN.
New Rochelle, n. Y, July 10, 1913.