Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-15
SUNDAY CLOSING.
Rev. George A. Cooke Made Tour
Of Business District
Yesterday.

DeIaware's blue laws were In effect %
a great extent yesterday, IN this city, rs
result Of the efforts Of Rev. George a.
Cooke, former pastor Of Wesley NJ. +.
Church
The police have ordered all cigar and
candy stores to do business behind
drawn shades
AS a result Of these instructions the
dealers did business behind closed win.
dowe. During the day patrolmen VISITED
tnc various club houses about the city to
sec that the law against selling lntoxlcat-
ing liquors was enforced
Mr.. Cooke after visiting Market street
IN the afternoon. stated that he found the
dealers complying with the edict Of the
police department, but that the cigar
and candy store dealers were still doing
business. on were some photographers
Mr.. Cooke conferred with the police
commissioners last week about the Sab
bath laws and he urged that the law be
enforced, stating they we're for men ~
keep and not IN break. In speaking Of the
crusade yesterday, Mr. Cooke stated that
the crusade would continue.
During the conference With the com
missioncrs, Mr. Cooke was asked by
ono II the officials whether cafes should
be- allowed 70 sell ice cream if the icc cream
stores were closed on Sunday NTr. Cooke
stated that icc cream could BE- sold in con-
junction With meal II = cafe, a. he
did not think that this would bc q viola
tion Of the law, being part Of . meal
UNION CHURCH AcTs
The congregation Of Union VI f.
Church, st the morning service yesterday
adopted the following. offered BY Mr.
Cooke, who is member Of that church;
Whereas. The European war in which
the United States Of America is now en-
gagged has seemingly reached a critical
stage, and
Whereas, The future Of Christian
civilization il IN jeopardy in case of Ger
man victory over the Allies, therefore:
Resolved, First that II il essential now
that we have the help of Almighty God
70 win this war
Resolved, Second, that we a. a nation
should show the sincerity Of o,Ir faith in
God by keeping the sabbath day *
provided in our laws We have greatly
sinned in this respect, even this whole
nation. II IS time for sincere repentance
and earnest PRAYER. But faith without
work is dead We should begin in good
earnest 10 obey God. There are Fed
eral laws and laws on the statute books
Of al the States OF this nation, whose
design y 10 protect the sabbath Is a
sacred day by prohibiting secular en-
ployment and amlIsements on the Lords
day. The secular press often sneers at
these laws rs 'Old blue laws" but the
secular press has not been without sin
IN the matter of breaking our Sabbath
laws. The secular press Of the country
IS powerful agency Tor good, but II
should not be allowed TO SIN against God
and destroy the most sacred instItu-
ton OF this republic.
We urgently call upon President Wood
row Wilson and upon our Federal Con-
gress 10 make such procl2mstions and
exact such appropriate legislation as Is
necessary TO secure the uniform observ-
ance Of the Christian Sabbath throughout
the United States Of America. We be-
lieve this will help toward speedy VIC
tory on the field Of battle and a righteous
settlement at the close of the war.
Resolved, Third. that copies Of these
resolutions be sent to President Wilson.
TO our representatives in Congress, to be-
read before the Senate and House Of
Representatives, TO Governor Townsend
OF the State OF Delaware, and to the
public press.
The Wilmington NJ. f. Preachers
Association took no action on Sunday
closing at todays meeting, deferring
the matter for a week.
A motion was offered denouncing Sun
day business, but no action was taken on il.