Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-22
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Religion the Real Basis of Sunday Law,

Religion the Real Basis of Sunday Laws.
 MT. Editor: The majority of those who maintain: that the state is warranted in enacting Sunday laws hold that physical rest is the paramount justification for such legislation. But this cannot be borne out by any portion of the history of Sunday legislation from the time that the first Sunday law was enaced in 321 to the present time.
 Religion is the actuating influence in the whole matter. This can be the only conclusion in the light of the following representative statements by the Sunday law advocates:
 Give us good Sunday laws, we'll en- forced by men in local authority. and our churches will be full of worshippers, and our young men and women will be attracted to the divine service. A mighty combination of the churches of the United States could win from congress, the state ] legislatures and municipal councils all i legislation essential to this splendid re- sult."-Rev. s. V. Leech, in Homiletic Review, November, 1892.
 "The experience of centuries shows that you will in vain endeavor to pre- serve Sunday as a day of est unless you preserve it as a day of worship."-Dr. Joseph Cook. in Boston Monday Lectures, in 1887.
 
 permanently secured in any land except on the basis of religious obligation. Take the religion out, and you take the rest l out t"-Rev. W. F. Crafts, Hearing on Sunday Rest Bill,' Dec. 13, 1888. page 21.
 During nearly all our American his- T tory, the churches have influenced the states to make and improve Sabbath laws."-Rev. W. F. Crafts, in Christian Statesman, July 3. 1890.
 
 of Sunday discriminate in favor of that religious sect which observes Sunday as a day of rest and of worship. Regarding this point. it is well known that otheI sects in the United States observe the seventh day of the week as day of rest and worship.
 It is also a well known fact that there is theological controversy over the question of Sabbath observance, one par. ty to the controversy holding that, in ac cordance with the fourth commandment the seventh day of the week should bt , observed as the Sabbath, while the othe , party to the controversy holds that Sun , day is the proper day to be observed , Those who are endeavoring to convinc, I men by their teaching that Sunday is thu , proper day to observe seek aid from tn state to make their teaching more ef r fective, and, when congress yields to tn demands of that class. it aligns itsel . with one party to this religious contro versy.
 The United States senate in 1929 hel
 that "our government is a civil and nc a religious institution. Our constitutio $ recognizes in every person the right [ choose his own religion and to enjoy T freely, without molestation. Whateve II may be the religious sentiment of cit e zens, and however variant, they are alik IL entitled to protection from the goverr e ment so long as they do not invade th p rights of others"
 e The house of representatives in IS; Z. decided on the matter of Sunday legisl: u tion that eff congress shall by the al T thority of law, sanction the measure re u commended, 1t would constitute a legisls III tive decision Of a religious controvers ie in which even Christians themselves al
 at issue. However suited sJch a decisic
 may be to an ecclesiastical council, it T incompatible with a republican legisl
 ture which is purely for political and m for religious purposes"
 Congress should maintain its policy
 non-interference in religious controve I, sies. and, by thus doing. it will be in a Id cord with the nati1n's constitution i'd guaranties regarding religious legislatio d Very respectfully yours, i'd GILBERT P. COATES 1t Norwich, Conn.,, Feb. Fist, 1921.