The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-15
JOHN iBLOODGOOD.
ABsURDlTY OF BLUE LAWS.

JOHN BLOODGOOD.
ABsURDlTY OF BLUE LAWS.
jamestown, N. d., Feb. Is, 1917.
To the Editor:
We have noted with much interest
the public agitation of North DakC'
tans over the Sunday blue law men
ace which is threatening their rights
as American citizens. Supreme Court
Justice James r. Robinson and the
newspapers of North Dakota and
Minnesota are doing the public great
service in their endeavors to liberate
American citizens from religious
persecution which dates back to the
days of medievalism and colonialism
| If Americans are to be menaced with
the blue laws of colonial times, when
they tried to run the government un-
der regime of union of church and
state, it is high time that somebody
pointed out the absurdity of such a
scheme now. In the colonial times.
our Puritan forefathers had some
strange ideas as to what constituted
unnecessary labor" and a proper
observance, ;of Sunday. Cats were
hung on Monday morning for catch
| ing rats on Sunday. Others who were
DESTROYS Of saving the cats from such
terrible punishment for laboring on
Sunday would imprison them in cages
all day Sunday so that they could not
catch mice nor rats. If the cider
barrel happened to begin working on
Sunday it would have to be set out
side the gate of the owners premises
until Monday morning. And $50 my
sin committed with a high hand. as
the gathering of sticks on the Sab
bath day. may be punished with
death, when lesser punishment
might serve for gathering sticks priv
lily and in need" -Records of lMassa
chusetts Bay, sVol. II, page 90.
The Puritans' idea sOf "the proper
observance of Sunday" led them to
fine all non-church goers ten shillings
for non-attendance on divine services
on Sunday. Men and boys were pun.
ished in the stocks for laughing and
whistling aloud on Sunday. Husbands
were fined for kissing their wives on
that day. Young men were fined for
walking with young ladies on Sun
day, unless the walk led directly to
the church or the cemetery. No one
was allowed to walk or to ride for
recreation or pleasure. All that any
one was permitted to do on Sunday
was either to 60 to divine serviceseor
sit idly in an easy chair. If he twid-
died his thumbs while sitting in the
y. hoin0
guilty of engaging in unnecessary
labor"
The self-righteous Pharisees OF
Christ's time have heaped more than
$50 extra Sabbath regulations upon
the one Sabbath commandment which
God has given. The Saviour ignored
these Jewish regulations, which we're
against the spirit of the one divine
commandment. He told them that
"the Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath" They tried
to kill Him because He healed bed
ridden invalid on the Sabbath day and
told him to take up his bed and walk.
They condemned Him for permit
ting His disciples to go through the
corn fields on the Sabbath day. and
for plucking the ears Of corn and eat
ing them when they had need md
were an hungered" The Saviour ie-
proved them and told them that they
were straining at gnat and swallow
ing a camel. and that they made void
the commandment of God through
"the precepts of men,
The modern Pharisee's conception
of proper Sunday observance is no
different from that of the ancient
Pharisee Some religious zealots have
succeeded in getting the state legis-
latures to enact such drastic Sunday
laws as to prevent traveller from
purchasing meal on Sunday. They
fine a merchant for selling bread to
the hungry, ice to the sick to cool
the fevered brow, ice cream. soda and
water to quench the thirst.
Recently, a court official fined a
woman S. and costs for carrying sew
en- apples in her apron on Sunday
which neighbor had given to her.
On another occasion he fined an ice
dealer "for giving away on Sunday
ice that was needed for sick baby"
Religious organizatioes are flooding