The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-19
Proper Observance Of Sabbath Topic In Local ChurcheI

4, ual help and profit of humanity? Il
| II really a matter OF conscience after
all. or Is 1t the attempt of insincere
men to render unpopular a law which
they do not approve. but which they
fear not to execute because a failure
to do so would bring about their own
legal decapitation?
Fear OF the Custer Law.
rs 1t matter of their oath of Of
nee and of conscience or is IL the
fear of this custer law that has awak-
ened these gentlemen to this sudden
desire to execute, and at the same
time ridicule, the Sunday laws of the
Commonwealth? l fear that In the
| light of past records the impulsion of
the oath of Office has had less in
| fiuence than the fear of losing the
office itself, and what the public good
could not accomplish has at last been
effected by the fear OF recall from
! positions of public trust and honor.
But whether conscience or fear, or
both, has effected 1t, we are confronted
| today in the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia with Write Sunday law, which
promises to secure to us a better and
more careful observance of the holy
| day"
What Does This Law Propose to Dot
II wish to say frst of all that II
| proposes to enforce the day as one of
rest and quiet This It to be done by
| requiring the suspension of all I'M
necessary employment At this point
the variance Of opinion as to what is
necessary must be determined by COM
petent authority. I believe in a real
Sabbath day. but would regard the
pharasaicol and ancient puritanical
conceptions as equally dangerous with
4 hA "a
What is needed is to recognize the
fact that the sabbath Is made for man
and not man for the Sabbath With
this recognition there should be no
difficulty In determining the units
within which the law shall be en-
! forced.
| Nor do I conceive II to be an in
fringement of any mans rights and
| privileges, religious or otherwise when
( the state rega!ns a suspension of all
ordinary occupations on the Lords Day.
More than s5 per cent of the popula-
\ ton of the State recognize the Chris
tian Sabbath as the day of rest and
worship and II 10 mere anarchy to put
the supposed rights OF such a small
/ proportion OF the people as one left
! In the balances against the public good
! We have great respect for the religious
convictions and scruples OF any pro-
/ portion of the people. We are glad
! that religious freedom, to even the
religions freak r. guaranteed under the
constitution. We are glad that quo
/ batting" Is neither a popular nor per-
missabie thing in this great country
/ of ours IT is horrible to think OF that
ancient faith. and that chosen people
as being ground under the despotlc
I heel OF prosecuting higot, but Is IL too
/ much to ask of them that for the
freedom and rights of conscience grant
1 ed freely and fully here they should,
as a people and race. respect the re-
/ ligious convictions and rights OF more
than s5 per cent of the public by clos
/ ing their places OF business on the
( Lords Day7 We think not and TO the
! honor OF many OF them be II said that
! they do not violate the public sense
! OF right and propriety by doing so.
Certainly no special class legislation
| permitting one class OF people to be
example from tho provisions of a gen
eral State law would be wise.
| should BE safe from Ridicutc.
The State law does not say how
a man shall spend his Sunday. 1t
: simply prescrihes what he shall not
do II Is negative in its provisions,
Ii is purely a matt>r of secular CO.
, cupation on that day which the law
seeks TO regulate. NO CompulSiOn iH
applied in the effort TO promote spirit
uai worship. That would constitute
an improper interference with the lib
critics and religious rights OF the In
dtvtdual The cultivation Of the spirit
! ual life is matter OF education and
/ individual conscience. and the State so
! recognizes it, II Is passing strange
! therefore that either through ignor-
| ance Of this fact or by deliberate per
version of the truth certain sects and
! individuals will persist in designating
the Sunday laws as an invasion of the
religious rights and liberty OF the peo-
4 Pile 1t WAS on tn. contrary an eff
J fort to protect the public in the ex-
ercise of those very rights. that these
( laws were written. And for that rea-
son, at least. these laws would TO be
[ safe from ridicuie and disrespect on
the part of the constituted authorities.
! They cannot be whistled down the
wind. Christian people are entitled
| TO a Christian Sabbath. and will de-
mand a reasonable enforcement OF that
law which the state has made to safe
guard and protect ~"