The Washington times., 1921-02-03
SEE EFRAME-UP
IN Blue FIGHT
EpiscopaIians Say SUNDAY"
Interests Throw "Smoke
Screen"

The board of social service Of the
Episcopalian diocese Of Washington
today went on record against tho
present blue Sunday law agitation.
The Rev. DIR. C. r. Stetson, rector
of st. Marks Episcopal Church,
read the report at the second day
session of the annual convention OF
the Episcopal dioceses OF Washing
ton. >,
1t is quite evident the report said,
that the present agitation in the
press and movie theaters concerning
the Sunday blue laws is part OF a
carefully considered scheme To
arouse public opinion to the active
hostility against any restrictions
| on commercialized Sunday amuse-
ments.
CREATING SMOKE SCREEN
"Things are stated as facts which
are mere imaginings," said DR.. Stet-
xon, "and the interests concerned In
enterprises are we are
lied to believe, creating what might
be called smoke screen behind
which they may be able TO carry
through various laws OF their own
making.
"That is one side OF the matter.
| ON the other are various organiza-
tions which have prepared measures
| to restrict work ana amusemepts on
|Sunday OF various degrees OF igor.
These agencies do not agree among
themselves as to- what II is they want
and what is wise to do"
-rHn g,mE u. our or JOINT 4
The report OF the committee leaves
the Impression that proposed blue
law legislation is too sweeping in its
provisions. According to such legis-
Iation, the report stated, boys would
be forbidden to play baseball and ten
mis- on Sunday. The committee De
lieyes in restricting commercial
amusements on Sunday, but 1t does
not "think this is the opportune time
to pass legislation Of a Sappatrian
character"
There were three reasons advanced
by the committee as to why the cler-
gymen should refrain from entering
the blue law muddle at this time. The
first was that the committee fears a
trap has been laid for the unwary by
those interested in maintaining the
present state of things.
"If we fal Into this trap and pro-
ced to agitate for drastic Sunday
laws" the report stated, "the church
es and religious people Will be heid
up to ridicule. We shall arouse re-
sentiment among many who have "a
vorabIy approved churches and shall
lose all chance of passing reasonable
laws at later time"
ALIENS BREED SPIRIT.
In it's second reason, the committee
states that a considerable of the por-
ton of the population is not Chris
tian and that still others come from
countries where Sunday Is the one
day in the week for amusements after
church hours.
The third reason cites the fear that
public Indignation will be aroused
over the energetic efforts of an over
jealous minority and that the Sun
| day law measure will not only be de-
| feated but that drastic counter
Legislation will be passed in the ex-
citement Of the moment.
MORE MINISTER'S NEEDED.
Bishop Thurston. of Oklahoma,
made an earnest plea for additional
| clergymen in the church. He SAID
there are only thirty ministers in
the state of Oklahoma, while more
|
carry on the work of the church.
| "As a result of the nation wide
drive we have the money to pay the
| salaries of all the men we can get
| the Bishop said, but there seems to
| be a reluctance on the part or
mothers to give their sons to the
church. Another result of the drive
was to make the missionaries inde-
pendent and to permit us to carry
out the work in our diocese without
going outside to solicit. We have not,
however, sufficient funds to build one
complete church. and this is a matter
to which we must give our atten-
ton"
Routine matters of the diocese were
taken UP after the noon session yes
terday. The committee on the house
Of churchwomen, which was con-
sidering granting suffrage 10 the
women of the diocese, was continued.
This action was taken as good
omen by those in favor OF enfranchis-
ing the women OF the church.