Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-15
Wednesday, psosmbsr, IS, 1920.
Making Over Our Sunday

men to become again the rule Of So
ciety?
Evidently yes, IL the plans OF the
Lords Day Alliance materialize.
This organization. which is headed
by Rev. Wilbur ~ Crafts and Rev.
Harry L. Bowlby. two well-known
and energetic men, and which num-
bers among its members and workers
plenty Of men and women of ability
and training, is right in its major
premise that Sunday, as observed by
a great number of Americans is not
entirely day Of rest and worship.
Even the unreformed will admit that
Sunday observance as is, might be
improved and that although they per-
sonally are fairly well satisfied with
things as they are, they would be
glad IL "other people" would show
more respect for the Lords day.
The announcement that the blue
laws may return has, however.
caused more of a stir than anything
else that has appeared in recent news
columns. Theoretical and even vicari-
GUS reform is all right but the real
. thing perched on ones own doorstep is
another matter. Thoughts of the trad
itional New England Sunday with its
long drawn out sermons and it's aus
tere monotony find little response in
the mind Of the modern American
He can conceive of no more irksome
sentence than to be obliged to give
up all the lazy luxury or the spirited
sports, as the case may be, to which
he is accustomed to look forward on
each Sunday. He considers any at
tempt to regulate what he may do
Or not do on Sunday as an invasion
Of his rights and a menace to the
Tree institutions of his country.
This is a point which must be de-
sided by the Supreme Court in case
legislation relative to Sunday shall be
passed as contemplated, but after all.
the only real freedom is self direction
in doing right. Freedom lasts only
SO long as it is not abused and per-
vcrted. Our fortunes lies in our own
hands: if We deliberately continue to
disregard the sacredness Of Sunday
and il we thereby come to disregard
the sacredness of all things. the last
chapter in our history will have been
written by ourselves and may be
easily forcasted. If we temper our
personal inclinations with a certain
sense of solemn duty toward the
Creator and the injunctions Of Holy
Writ there will be nothing for re-
formers to do and we as q people
shall not be recreant to the lofty
spirit and ideals OF our Puritan an
cestors.
Those who advocate the abolition
of all Sunday recreations and amuse-
ments are hardly taking fully into &C
count the usual weekly routine of the
average American. The man or wom-
an who Is confined six days . week to
the stuify monotony OF an Office or a
shop owes It to his or her health to
take time to get acquainted with
fresh air and growing nature at least
once during the seven days. Exer-
else is equally necessary and The So
cial Intercourse OF group play 10 one
/. of the most valuable Of its benefits
One cannot become very enthusiastic
over walking alone or playing = SOL
itary same.N Modern life is 50 full OF
business and necessary activities that
time, for these needful diversions
must come Sunday or not at all. The
Sabbath was made for man, not man
for the Sabbath.
Church going should have q far
larger place in the Americans pro-
gram than it does. The tragic empti-
ness Of the psws 10 something that
should give III pause. To those who
say they can be good Christians with
out going to church. the answer H.:
Why not be az good Christians Al
you can? Why deliberately disre-
gard the Injunction to assemble your
selves together for worship? There
is no especial virtue in that. Perfume
tory though your worship may be.
church going il good habit to form
and one that counteracts the tendsn.
cy to laze away the Sunday morning.
1t Ii very doubtful II people can be
legisiated into church or into Puri.
tan austeSity at this time in the
worlds history. The day for that has
passed. They can be led and educat-
ed through their own intellects to
appreciate the place which Sunday
should hold and to properly evaluate
and balance their activities.
The census shows that one out Of
every IS Is an cmploye Of the Govern
ment Wonder how Il will l1e aln<,sst