The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-13
PASTORS CONDEMN
BLUE LAW MOVES
Rev. w. L. Sullivan Denounces
Organized Clerics as Peril
to Religion.

The group of organized clerics" who
hope TO press through Congress a series
of blue laws were denounced yesterday
as a peril TO freedom and religion alike
by the Rev William L. Sullivan. pastor
Of All Souls Unitarian Church, Fourth
avenue and Twentieth street. In his
morning sermon. The minister said he
believed that Sunday should be OBJ
served with decency and decorum, but
that we may become a nation of neuras-
themes If the day is not regarded as one
of recreative rest. He declared that
wherever clerics gained political power
they have aimed at obtaining laws that
are oppressive to the masses.
Human liberty still has to be on the
watch against the enemy. the black bat
TALON. the clerics." he said. These
people are a peril and menace to our
Constitution and our freedom. Our Con-
stitution was not meant or intended to
be made a bag for police ordinances.
Put this kind of thing into our Consti-
tuition and it will be broken not only
frequently but defiantly. When that
comes a good deal of what has been
sacred IN America will have gone for
ever These men are a peril to the
freedom of the United States and are
danger TO religion"
DR.. Sullivan said that as long as the
hours set apart for worship are not in
terfered with he could see no harm in
moving picture shows or baseball games.
Condemns Fanatics.
DR.. John Haynes Holmes. pastor Of
the Community Church. which meets in
the Lyric Theatre, condemned both the
methods Of the reformers and the de-
- - IL. -. III
sermon.
1T am not a particle surprised that
we are witnessing to-day a powerfully
organized movement for the revival of
the Puritan Sabbath he said. "In Its
specific proposals l have not the slight
est sympathy with this movement It's
psychology of repression is unsound Its
fanaticism is arrogant and hpocritical.
It's specific proposals Of reform are
based upon an utterly false and super
stitous idea Of what Sunday Is and how
ii should be observed or used.
But while recognize these facts. /
would not De so foolish as not TO recog-
nize as well that this movement for a
Puritan Sabbath is an expression, how
ever perverted and ignorant, of revolt
against the moral debaucheries of our
time. Ours is a corrupt period OF history.
We are degenerate people. We seem to
have lost all sense of anything in life
but money. pleasure and excitement
Idealists are among US. There are many
who still feel the call of duty and SER
vice, but these touch but indirectly the
moving forces OF the age.
Signs of Lowered Morality.
Certain signs Of the times, such a.
the ugly indecencies Of women's dress
the spectacular and luxurious vulgari
ties OF our theatres the growing laxitI
of sexal relations points as surely II
our age, as in previous ages, to los
of moral and spiritual standards. W.
no longer seem to know what is RICH
and wrong. decent and Indecent worth,
and unworthy. We seem content TO lie
anything go so long as It adds excite
ment and thrill 70 life That there are
such things as self-respect purity
honor-al this we have forgotten"
4 revival of the Pilgrim spirit \
needed. DR.. Holmes said, but not In tn
foolish and dangerous forms proposed BY
the Sabbath enthusiasts. He favored
positive movement. leading men from
low levels OF dissipation and indulgence
70 high levels OF physical. intellectual
and moral exercise.
"But IL Puritanism is revived amoni
us IA its uglieSt rather tnan It's IdlreS
form, we shall have nobody to blam
but ourselves" he added. Every ex
cess must bring its own reaction ant
correction. What we need is a mora
purging. The Pilgrim saved the rae
once We need his spirit OF unfiinchini
moral idealism to save 1t once again"
Blue Law Men shun Debate.
The Rev. L. Il FRANKIE, who invitec
pr Wilbur +. Crafts OF the Internationa
Reform Bureau. Or. Harry l.. BowlbJ
and other proponents of the so-calleo
blue laws" 20 talk Il over with HIN
before his congregation. had the stage
all to himself last night at the Broad
hurst Theatre. where he Holds his meet
ings
The inability OF the reformers TO conn
did not deter Mr. FRANKIE from orator
ically sweeping them OF the platform
as intolerant and bigoted religio-political
agitators. He declared that the ultimate
aim for which they are striving Is
union here between church and state.
This Sunday law is a mere feeler. ar
antering wedge" he declared. They
want 70 get Congress to pass one re.
ligious law so that they may introduce
others much more restrictive. Yield "a
them once and you'n have special spy
committees looking into your window
10 see 10 YOU 20 10 church on sunday"