Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-15
The Country Home
BY MRS. W. I'll. FELTON,

blue Laws and Sunday Observance
The letter I inclose is evidently
written by a person who has given
the subject much attention. 1t is fair
and Just to allow both sides hear
ing when such a matter is brought
forward for public attention. There
fore I am giving this critic all the
space he needs in our Country Home
Column.
HIS argument is not a new one, we
hear it very often. I appreciate his
kind feeling for me and doubtless
Bishop Gambler would not object, if
he ever reads what appears in Tri-
Weekly Journal.
Let me emphasize my own words
once more.
less than fifteen years of the CEN.
fury mile post. 1 have watched the
workings of Sunday observance in
the history of families. I have also
been familiar with the failures in
other families. 1 am impressed more
than ever, in my very advanced age,
that the people who remember the
commandment which reads "Remem-
Der the Sabbath day to Keep it
Holy"-are in a safer line of duty,
both to God and man than those who
use the Sabbath day without atten-
ton to the Sabbath Commandment. l
stand in the same relation to the
use Of intoxicants. Nobody ever got
seriously hurt by abStaining from
liquor drinking, at least that is my
observation. 1t is the safe paths for
the youth of our land that 1 am try
ing to find. Religion should not be
placed on the statute books to fur
Their or uphold religious organiza-
tions, but obedience to command
ments, is necessary to properly
discipline the youth of the land for
righteousness eXalteth a nation. |
(have had two dissenting letters, only
and both written by people who evil
dence culture and Intelligence. L am
UNFOLDING safe paths for human
feet, because the way of trangressors
is hard.
CuIberson, N. c., Route 2, January
10, 1921.
| Mrs. w. H. FELTON,.
Gainesville, Ga.
MY Dear Madam: Your articles
that appear so often and regular in
the Tri-Weekly Journal are always
read with interest, not only because
but because they come from one SO
hoary with age. My grandmother
| was eighty-five on the eleventh inst,
so 1 always stand with barred head
in the presence of grand DANES.
By far in the majority of your
| articles I heartily agree with you
but L certainly disagree with your
| article in the last issue of The Jour
nal where you write under the cap
ton, Blue Laws and Sabbath OBJ
servance." I have been reading
Bishop Gamblers articles for years
ton and the reason for it, but he
| seems to be the most Illogical rea-
soner on this subject that [ have
every read after. L believe in Sab
| bath observance to that extent, with
my family, that we make full prep
| food prepared, etc. the day before and
| devote the day to worship and medi-
tation of divine things. But while
do this, I would be the last fellow
in the world to ask the state tC
pass a Law making my neighbor act
The Sabbath is wholly religious and
the state has no right to interfere
in any way with matters religious
Christ drew the line between civil
matters and matters religious when
He said: Render therefore unto
Caesar the things that are Caesar s
and unto God the things that are
Gods" In his statement, as quoted
above, he forever drew the line be-
tween church and state. When the
state enacts a religious law it takes
to itself power that belongs to God
alone. If man can pass one religious
law that will help man to higher
| and pass laws that will finally save
him? Sunday laws make crimes OF
work that is right and honorable on
any other day of the week, thus put
ting premium on idleness. Sunday
laws put a club in the hand of re-
lijgious zealots that many are not
slow to use upon their neighbors be-
cause they do not act just as they
want them to act. Just few weeks
ago, according to the papers, a fell
low by the name of Page was ar
rested in Georgia for working in
his field 500 yards away from the
public highway, and hailed into the
court to answer for his religious be-
lief, which he did and the case was
dismissed on motion of the solicitor
general. This man was a Seventh
Day Adventist, and argued that the
command that said that 1.-THE seventh
day is the Sabbath Of the Lord thy
labor" and was he not right? II
seems that he had rested the seventh
day Saturday and was at work
Sunday, did he not have to work Sun.
day if he kept the command?
What brought about the persecu-
ton of the Dark Ages? Was it not
that the civil power, by direction of
the church, passed religious laws and
then enforced them? You know that
like cause will produce like effect. II
we are to have more stringent Sun
| day laws in this country. then away
goes religious liberty and in comes
religious persecution.
Yours for religious as well as
civil liberty,
W. L. G.