Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-26
Severe Punishment, if Guilty.
CLOSING OF THE CHURCHES.
Decision Against Reopening, a De-
prival of Rights.

Decision Against Reopening, a De-
prival Of Rights.
To the Editor of The Star:
The edict has gone forth that our
churches shall be closed at least one
more Sunday. The citizens of Wash
tngton have no political rights. We
are governed by three officials in
whose appointment we have no voice
whatever. But we still have the right
of free speech. at least through the
should be above criticism in a free
land. Hence, however we may respect
the motives and good intentions of
the authorities in ordering the clos
ing of our churches. we are at liberty
to challenge the wisdom of that order,
and to affirm, as we do, that it is an
outrage upon the religious convic-
lions Of the great body of our cit
liens.
One of the very highest medical au-
thorities in America has declared that
the closing of the churches in time
of epidemic 'is now known to be not
only without efficacy but actually dis
advantageous"
Nothing has so contributed to that
state of panic which has gripped this
community as the fact that the nor
NAL religious life of our city has been
discrganized. And panic is the most
powerful ally of disease. The best that
can be said for the order is that it
benefit for the sake of a small and
very doubtful material advantage.
When a committee of the Pastors
Federation waited upon the Commits
sioners to demonstrate against this
order, we found that the ethical and
seemed to be wholly ignored. The
whole matter was put on material
istic grounds. Prayer was doubtless
a good thing. but it could not stop
The Importance of giving our citi-
zens the comfort and inspiration of
the services of the church in this
time of anxiety and trouble carried
no weight. The eagerness of our
people to gather in their churches in
for the removal Of the scourge was
more or less in the same category
as the multitudes in India thronging
the idol temples to pray against the
spread OF smallpox. That prayer had
any efficacy in the physical world
pitality.
This order. like similar ones in our
country at this time, is without prece-
dent in the history of epidemics.
There have been destructive epidem-
les in America before now. but never
has any authority forbidden the as
sembling of the people for public
prayer. Nor in all the pestilences
that have scourged Europe in past
ages do we know of any such action
by the authorities of a Christian coun-
try. With al! due Difference, we sub
NIT that it is an assault upon the
Christian character of our country,
It is a surrender to materialism. It
is dangerously near an infringement
upon the sacred right of freedom Of
in the first amendment to the Consti-
tuition. At a time when department
stores are wide open, and poolrooms
and bowling alleys. the church of the
Living God is ordered to close it's
doors and virtually admit that the
Lords hand is shortened, that it can
not save!
What will our boys at the front say
IL we acQuieSce In an order which for
bids us to come together to pray God
to bless them and give them victory,
and which proclaims to the world
that this great Christian country has
stepped down to a materialistic plat
form?
hope we will not acquiesce in it,
but that a great tidal wave of holy
indignation will rise and condemn
the unbelief which permits such an
order, so that no future govern
ment in this Capital city of our re-
public will dare to repeat it. We are
loyal and obedient to the civil author
ity, but there is deep and righteous
indignation at this deliberate assault
upon the Christian privileges Of our
people.
I respectfully submit the following
questions for the consideration of the
public:
i. Should the vast and dangerous
churches in the interest of the public
health, be exercised except when the
necessity is absolutely clear, and the
benefit thereby sought is absolutely
unquestionable? And can it be de-
MED that in this case neither of these
9 Is it wise to deprive the people
of the sacred right of public worship
on the plea that modern sanitary
science demands it, when it is a fact
that a very large section of the high
est expert opinion denies the efficacy
of the measure-even considers it
harmful?
8. However firmly convinced some
of our Commissioners may be of the
materialistic view of the universe, are
they justified in disregarding the SEN
timents of the community over which
they are appointed to rule?
is it wise craftsmanship to wound
the deepest sensibilities of the people
in order to accomplish a wished-for
good result by a measure which is of
doubtful advantage?
S. Can the Commissioners expect
the loyal and hearty support of the
people when they discriminate against
the churches in favor of far more dan
gerous assemblages in poolrooms,
bowling alleys and other like places?
6. Can even the materialist deny
that the courage and the morale of the
community are upheld and stimulated
by the religious services in the
churches? And hence that the closing
Of them inhfcts a moral loss. which is
by no means Offset by the doubtful
physical benefit sought to be gained
thereby? RANDOLPH n. AcKIM.t
swift 4 Company's Sales Of Fresh
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