The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-09


The Argus: The majority Of those
who maintain that the state 10
warranted in enacting Sunday laws.
hold that physical rest is the para
mount justification for such lsgisla-
ton. But this cannot be borne out
by any portion Of the history OF
Sunday legislation from the time
that the first Sunday law was en-
acted In 321 to the present time.
Religion ID the actuating inhu-
snce in the whole matter. This can
be the only conclusion in the light
Of the following representative
statements by the Sunday law I'D
vocates:
"Giye us good Sunday laws, we'll
enforced by men In local authority,
and Our churches will be diled full
Of worshipers. and our young men
and women will be attracted to the
divine service. A mighty combine
ton Of the churches Of the United
States could win from congress,
the state legislatures and munic-
ipal councils all legislation essen
tial to this splendid result" Rev.
8. v. Leech. in Homiletic Review,
November. 1892.
THE experience Of centuries
shows that you will in vain en-
deavor to preserve Sunday as a day
Of rest unless you preserve it as a
day of worship" Dr. Joseph Cook,
in Boston Monday Lectures, in 1887.
"A weekly day of rest has never
been permanently secured in any
land except on the basis OF relig-
ious obligation. Take the religion
out and you take the rest out"
Rev. w. F. Crafts. Hearing on
Sunday Rest Bill" Dec. -, 1888.
During nearly all our American
history the churches have influ-
enced the states to make and i'm
prove Sabbath laws" Rev. W. F.
Crafts, in Christian Statesman,
July 5, 1890.
Civil laws compelling the OBJ
servance Of Sunday discriminate In
favor of that religious sect which
observes Sunday Is a day Of rest
and worship. Regarding this point
it is well known that other sects
in the United States observe the
seventh day OF the week Is . day
Of rest and worship.
1t is also a we'll known fact that
there is theological controversy
over the question Of Sabbath OBJ
servance. one party to the contro-
versy holding that, in accordance
with the fourth commandment, the
seventh day of the week should be
observed as the Sabbath, while the
other party to the controversy
holds that Sunday is the proper
day to be observed. Those who are
endeavoring to convince men by
their teaching that Sunday is the
proper day to observe, seek aid
i from the senate to make their teach
ings more effective: and, when con-
gress yields to the demands Of that
class, it aligns itself with one party
to this religious controversy.
The United States senate in 1929
held that 'our government Is q
civil, and not a religious institu-
ton. Our constitution recognizes
in every person the right to choose
his own religion, and to enjoy it
freely without molestation. What
ever may be the religious sentiment
Of citizens, and however variant,
| they are alike entitled to protec-
tion from the government 80 long
as they do not invade the rights Of
| Others"
The house OF representatives in
1880 decided on the matter of Sun
day legislation that IF congress
shall, by the authority of the law,
sanction the measure recommend
| ed, it would constitute a legisla-
tive decision Of q religious contro-
versy in which even Christians
! themselves are at issue. However
suited such a decision may be to
an ecclesiastical council, it is in
compatible with a Republican leg
! islature, which is purely for -po-
litical, and not for religious pur-
poses"
Congress should maintain its
policy of non-interference in re-
ligious controversies; and, by thus
doing, it will be in accord with the
nations constitutional guarantee
regarding religious legislation.
Very respectfully yours,
HOWARD O. BUTTER,
Pastor Seventh-day Adventist
Church