Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-03-26

Rev. DR.. E. e. Jackson Sunday
Evening in the First Baptist
Church.
The Gazette has been requested to
publish the following extracts taken
from the sermon delivered on Sun
day evening last at the First Baptist
church in this city by Rev. Dr.. E. 3.
jackson:
Shall the Sunday Law be Observed in
Alexandria?
"The powers that be are ordained
Of God. Therefore he that resisteth
the power withstandeth the ordinance
of God" Rom. 1873.
81 am to speak to you tonight as
Christian citizens and sometimes we
feel that our duties as citizens seem
not very clear I am sure that we are
all earnest and honest and we want
to know where our duty lies | want
to say in addition that the ministers
as the moral leaders OF our comruni-
ty, met together the other day to con-
slider this Sunday question, and | am
going to voice the conclusions at
which they arrived. II the Sunday
law is in question let US ace the ques-
tion squarely: but l want Us to real
ize tnat we have no option IN the mai
ter for the Legislature Of Virginia
has written the law on the statute
books. Our Corporation Court has an
nounced its interpretation cf that law
viz: no places cf business shall be
open on Sundays and those only for
the sale of drugs. We need not at
tempt any defense of that law but
only say that 4 serious attempt was
recently made 20 abrogate It IN part
before the Legislature ana which Call-
ed of accomplishment and therefore
the law has been virtually re-estab-
lished. With the facts settled let rs
consider some conclusions:
I. Respect for the law never, was so
necessary for The World.
Germany IS at this very moment
making scrap heap out Of the laws
Of nations. and international law Is
a mere sham to hide the designs o.
wicked men. Our army is fighting for
liberty--that Is the big word--but t
is a liberty to be won only by the
re-esta ablishment Of Law. We can
not afford, in this great contest TO lg-
more old established laws here IN
America. Certainly this old common
wealth of Virginia must not be party
to the violation of any law on our stat
ute books and above all, the city OF
George Washington must stand 10y
ally behind our state government. II
every man IS to become law unto
himself we shall set ourselves adrltt.
III. The question of good law or bad
one does not affect the main cues
tion.
It is not for Alexandria to decide
whether the law was written JUST
right or not-AleXandr.a has not the
law-making body on this Sunday ques-
tion-but the fact before us is that
we have this law made for uS by the
recognized authorities. The Corpora
tion Court has no option in the matter
but to order the officers of the law TO
execute this law with other laws.
Somebody says: "Well, | do not be-
lieve it is a good law and ! shall try
to break it." But that is dong evil
that good may come, and the history
Of the world shows that Jesuitlsm mas
worked untold injustice and wrong.
II is not for you to decide whether it
is good or bad, for Virginia has de-
clarcd it to be good
III. To violate the Sunday law par
tally may mean breaking down the
entire law.
If we violate the principle involved
then we have destroyed the nerve OF
the law. The technical lawyer may
find some way to evade the clear in
tent ST the law. but it is to be remem-
borcd that our Corporation Court has
spoken and cleared away all amoisHi-
tv on the subject. Il We allow any
partial violations cf this law then we
make it very difficult for the Corpora
tion Court 20 execute it in any othef
mart. Thus indeed we may bring our
Corporation Court into contempt WITH
those who desire TO play fast and