Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-19
WANTS ALL STORES
CLOSED ON SUNDAY
South Orange Pastor Would
Have Blue Laws En-
forced.

In a further endeavor to have the
South Orange Village Board of Trus-
tees enforce the blue laws in South
Orange Rev. David DeForest Burrell
pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, that village, in his weekly
letter published In the church weekly
asserts that as authorities, the trus
tees have no choice but to make
South Orange a law abiding com
munity. He ADDS that there is moth
ing so greatly needed in the village
as a law abiding spirit.
Rev. Mr.. Burrell holds that the
present method of the village fathers
in enforcing the Sunday law is "a
rank injustice" Moved by the failure
of the trustees to adopt a local ordi-
nance specifying that all barber shops
be kept closed to trade on Sundays
and the reason given by the ordi-
nance committee for declining tc
introduce such law. Rev. Mr.. Bur.
rell made an attack on the governing
board last week. The ordinance COM
mittee refused to prepare such an
ordinance because the blue laws now
'antiquated" provides for the Sunday
closing, and because the hoard de-
slres to do that which is truly repre-
sentative OF the best sentiment of the
people"
Not only barber shops. but candy,
drug and grocery stores should be
kept closed on the Sabbath in the
Opinion of the clergyman. In a Liter
made public yesterday said he hell nc
brief for the ordinance req Tested by
the BARRIERS requiring Sunday closing
on their part.
LET me go into the matter far
enough" he continues, "to point out
to the committee In ordinances the
fact that recently at the request OF
the BARRIERS the cities of New Bruins
wick, Camden, Elizabeth. and only a
month OF SO ago, Paterson, have
passed Just such ordinances. Evil
IDENTIFY the authorities in these, some
Of the largest and most cosmopolitan
cities of the State. do not feel 1t is
Unnecessary 70 pass the ordina. &c In
question:"
THE larger question. however" Mr.
Burrell continues. rs that of enforc.
ing the Sunday-closing Ivy through.
,ut the village Again venture t.
remind the trustees that there are
good reasons whv they should make
the law become law:
First as the authorities thy have
no choice but to make this law.
abiding community.
Second. there is nothing so greatly
needed here as a law-abihine spirit
What we want ard must have. in tt.
next generation, is such a deep sea tee
respect for the law as shall aeTeo
every side of the life OF the village
That can never be had If it is to b,
the policy of our high officials to dis
eliminate between laws wien 1
comes to enforcement. All the in
struction in citizenship that can b.
crammed into our children will b.
breath wasted if every Sundar give
| the youngsters an object lesso in tn
disregard of law.
"And third. the present m tho7 o
enforcing the Sunday law is prod3c
| tive of rank injustice. Gladstone sal
It was the duty of the government t
make 1t easy for the people to do RICH
and difficulty for the people to d.
wrong That appeals 10 US all a
sound doctrine | am sure t will an
neal to the Village Trustees as su"h
But is the local government ma''in
# easy for a local business man to d
right? or difficult for him to
wrong? If he closes his shop or stor
on Sunday he must see his custcm
| ers go to his less scrupulous neighbol
"If. under the financial pressure h
| opens on Sunday. both he a~d the vii
| lage are the poorer. say it deliber
ately: The failure to enforc tn
Sunday -cluosing law makes it Difficult
for this citizen to dc right. and cas-
to do wrong; and for this 1 cannot BIZ
feel that the indifference % the au
thorities is largely responsible VIVA
IS needed is a just and fair enforce
| mani of the law"