The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1920-12-17

We are hearing echoes of &
strict observance of the Sabbath
and of those who would make us
good by legislative edict. Rev
Arthur c Baldwin a Baptist
minister of Philadelphia has
gotten to the root of the matter
in the following paragraphs:
Times have changed since the early
laws were made. Their literal en-.
forcement is impossible. But it is 6
dangerous thing to engage in q
selective process, to choose some
parts for literal application and
neglect others. Either the laws must
be enforced in their entirety or there
must be an Interpretation of their
spirit, as the mayor is attempting
according to the changed conditions
of modern life. l favor the latter
method until wiser laws can be
| framed. Religious observances should
not be enforced by laws. If we
Christians can do this, we should
not deny that the Jews may do II
with Saturday, or Mohammedans, it
there were enough of them, with
Friday. But that would soon be
prosecution for somebody. There
should rather be a separation of
church and state. We would appeal
to the law only when our own definite
rights are attacked. Let us have
laws that protect us and gives to
each a day of rest from secular toll;
laws, therefore, that reduce business
affairs to minimum. Then let
each one use the day according to
his conscience and with liberty, so
long as he does not interfere with
another's rights. The present attacks
are negative. They merely aim to
prohibit. The Puritan day was great
because of it's positives. 1t was not
their denials but their devotion, not
their prohibitions but their faith.
The old day will not be restored by
striking something out. Give us
movement within the churches to
put more into the day; more faith,
love and devotion. We shall no.
redeem it by making it vacuum.
Not laws, but Christian conscience,
is the remedy. Only as the day
means more to US will it mean more
to the world.
Human nature hasn't changed
so much as we try to make our
selves think. Reading old docu-
ments makes us realize that
about the same motive sway lis
as swayed our great grandfathers
to the tenth generation. The
Vocational Summary of a recent
date reprints the following quo
tation from Roger Ascham's
Schoolmaster" which was first
printed in 1865:
"And it is pity that commonly
more care is had, yea and that
among wise men, to find out
rather cunning man for their
horse than a cunning man for
their children. They say nay in
word, but they do so in deed.
For to the one they will gladly
give a stipend of 200 crowns by
the year and are loath to offer to
the other 100 shillings. God
that stitch in heaven laugheth
their choice to scorn and reward
eth their liberality as it should.
For He suffereth them to have
tame and well-ordered horses but
wild and unfortunate children
Business isn't as good as il
was and one reason assigned is
that the buying public has gone
on a strike. This is quite
probable because there is very
general feeling that prices arc
coming down. If prices are CON-
ing down why buy anything but
the actual necessities of today
until they do come down. When
the public mind gets to this
point then there is naturally a
reaction on business which is IN
the nature of a slump.
We are very partisan for a
few months and then we forget
all about it and become straight
Americans. The reelection OF
Judge Lindsey, to the Juvenile
courts of Denver is a matter of
congratulation to the whole
people. 1t shows our good sense
as nation for while he IS al
Democrat, even in the Republi-
can landslide, he was picked to
be saved and his services are
still ODE used for the good Of
young American in Denver.