Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1921-01-25
"BLUE LAWS"

There has been a great deal of dis
cuSsiun recently concerning proposed
blue laws" As usual the Graph,
holds a position in this matter essen.
TALLY different from either the strictly
religious or secular" viewpoint
using the terms more for convenience
than strict sense. Taking middle
ground the Graphic's viewpoint would
find few enthusiastic supports because
the enthusiasm is all on the side of
those with fractional feeling
Amang these whn hold Sunday 10 be
the sabbath 10y divine ordinance and
who hold II simply not Ia keep II holy
according To the most strict iuterprc-
tation. there is little inclination IN sym
pathize with those who look upon sun
day a. holiday Ia be used for rest and
recreation as well as worship and other
religious exercise. However. there are
few today who hold the strictly Script
Inl views; bnt there are many who
would rather live under the restraint
~ so-called blue laws than To see the
sabbath set apart as jazz feast day
to be desecrated by the irresponsible
and irreligious.
Even in Bible times IL was consider
cd permissible 10 rescue ones faithful
OK from the slough, and the OK repre-
scented about all that primitive time
Knew about transportation and applied
power. Times have changed and even
The most Puritanical have had 90 read
Just their opinions and habits 10 chang
ed conditions. Even the Bible could
not be allowed tG stand in the path Of
progress and be- used as Il reaCtiOnary
force 10 paralyze invention and organi-
zation ON which the very lives OF the
people depend IL is not surprising that
those who were both deeply religious
aud also progressive should try 10 just
ify apparently forbidden customs with
the teachings OF the Bible. How far
they have succeeded is matter Of con
troversy into which the Graphic neith-
or has time nor inclination to enter.
II Il necessary 10 take ones environ
men; as one finds It using sane efforts
10 influence Ii according To the dictates
IL right reason. II is certain that with
out religious restraint Sunday can
has heen-used as a day Of idleneSs tie
voted 10 the most Wanton
wickedness. degrading rather than ele'
waiting humanity II is evident that
such prostitution Of a GOd-given re-
Sprite from the burdens Of labor, Is
what those seek who live only for
pleasure. or who hope To benefit from
n Sabbath given over to traffic. Such
can be considered as the accredited
agents Of the devil that seeks always
10 deprive man Of his privilege Of con-
trmplating the higher things ~ life.
offering in exchange the glittering TIM
sel OF pleasure and profit that turns To
fishes and dust. When men die they
turn their faces 10 the wall that they
may be alone with their souls at the
rarting. that is, II they have not bar
tered their souls away.
But there are Christians who hold
that Sunday is not the sabbath ara
they ground their conscientious bcllei
ON their understanding Of the script
ures Besides there are many thor-
oughlv religious persons who are NOT
christians. What Of their beliefs ana
tacticesy Certainly they have rights
thar must be- respected. An othodoN
low has a full right, and Is 20 he COM
mrnded for adhering to his ordinances.
II is by no means wicked for him TO
use Sunday for business pursuits ana
any laws that infringe his rights are
an attack on human liberty.
II would seem that the main cohSld- |
Grafton j. 10 preserve one day ot resi-
from every week. without which the
intellectual and spiritual gains OF the
privilege Of day Of leisure was pre-
.arypd even In the dark ages when the
sons Of toll were required by hard task
masters 10 labor in the fields twice the
number Of hours now customary. Inc
Observance 81 sunday has come 10 pe
considered one Of the inalienable rights
of man which no power. however evil
vould attack directly. II 1t is heihg
assaulted the force Is being eNeried M
directly and in more subtle manner