Imperial Valley press., 1921-04-18
TAKE MONEY
OUT Of THE
Saba TIL
D A !
Local Pastor Pleads ElO-
quently for More Religious
Observance of Sunday.
Not Against Healthful,
Wholesome Recreation.

Sunday morning a large congrega-
ton greeted the Rev. Andrew w.
Shamel, pastor of the Methodist church
when he preached sermon on the SUBJ
Ject Flow Blue Should the Blue Laws
Be-"
The following is brief report of
the outstanding features of the min
ister's sermon, which was an eloquent
plea for more religious observance
of the day:
"The Fourth Commandment is as
essential to the moral health of the
race as any other of the Ten Com
mandments. And not one of them
could be abrogated without the certain
decay of civilization. The Israelites
Sabbath was written briefly on cold
marble and Was monumental. 1t rec
'ognizes the fact of God 1t is a fixed
institution. The nation or individual
who ignores the day, ignores God. The
Jews made it's observance a burden.
The character Of the day should re-
fleet the character and purpose of
God. Jesus did not erase the command
ment, but he did put life and meaning
into it. Sunday superceding Sabbath
is for our good He was at variance
with the Pharisees. They said that
Sabbath was made for God. Jesus
said, Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath
These are the prime issues in
voived in the present discussions. n is
evident that any Sabbath that man
would make would leave God out of it.
But the Sunday God has made, is for
mans good. We must accept the
God-made, rather than the man-made
day.
"The agitators against the Sunday
reforms parade under the broad term
of personal liberty If they make
the day, it will be wide-open con-
tlnental institution in which every
man preys upon the public rights, and
exploits the liberties of the people for
gain. The real fight is not between
the public and the church. 1t is be-
tween the public welfare and the small
number of protiteers who would COM
mercialize it by seizing the unmort-
gagged hours of the masses, and by
appealing to the lower passions, en-
couraging desecration which is des-
truction.
the blue law agitations by direct at
tack upon the church and decency,
They may we'll fear the church's atti-
tude and influence, but they win moth
ing in the end by bowling blue laws"
Not all movie concerns are so depraved
as to ridicule the church and picture
the clergy as the clown at the wedding.
Or block up the sidewalks with bill
boards depicting train robberes and
nude figures enflamed with passions,
illicit love and murders. These filthy
creations should be kicked into the
street by an indignant public on a
week day, and will be before the public
gets through with the subject. The
church is singled out for attack be-
cause if it should not defend the pub
lie against such encroachments of the
immoral, there is no other institution
in their way
"Will the movies reform them
selves? Did any vice ever do it? Not
on your life. Public interest must as
sert itself and the church is merely
on the side of public welfare The
Christian has his own ideas which are
sacred to himself Then he has cit
izen's obligation and ideal which he
maintains toward society in general.
He believes that blue law is true
law. But he does not wish to enforce
black law. He insists that the day
was given him from God, and by his
right, he will not have it stolen from
him. 1t is neutral day for the busi.
ness man. He may plead immunity
from competition by other business
men. The laborer has right 10 six
days pay for six days work, and a