The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-02-12
SUNDAY LAWS
Jacksonville Observer

IFCHIISIS LsCo IILdI OdDDdth-nCCPlilS
is not civil but a religious duty. |
Congress therefore has nothing what
ever to do with the question of its
observance. Such legislation is for
hidden by the first amendment to the
constitution which declares that "Con-
gress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof"
The Fourth of July, Washington's
birthday, Memorial Day, are civil in
situations, and their observance is
never made compulsory. But the Sab
bath is religious institution. Its OBJ
sevance is not civil duty, but re-
ligious act. 1t is worship rendered to
the Creator. Its violation is a spir-
itual, not civil offense. Its obser-
vance includes the very thoughts and
purposes of the heart, and its viola
ton is sin, not crime, and can be
punished only at the tribunal of the
Universal Judge. Only those whose
hearts God changed, can truly keep
holy Sabbath. AS no legislation by
Congress can change the human heart
to make citizens perform a religious
act when they are not religious, is to
enforce hypocrisy by law.
The only divine Sabbath law there
is was spoken by Jehovah from Sinai.
This law declares that the seventh
day of the week is Gods appointed
rest day. To enforce by law the OBJ
servance of Sunday, or any other day
OF the week as day or rest, involves
an Interpretation of the law of God,
and the deciding of a religious con-
troversy. But defining the laws of
God, and determining what dogma or
religion is true, or what is false, is not
the legitimate province of Congress.
Such legislation is a step toward the
union of the church and the state, and
however distant it may be from the
inquisition of either times, it pre-
pares the way for the exercise of re-
lligious bigotry and intolerance. It
was the following of this wrong prin-
ciple that darkened the world for
more than a millennium.
Sunday legislation is a returning to
colonial days, when the religious dog
mas of few were enforced by law,
and so-called witches were burned,
Quakers whipped and hanged, their
property confiscated, and the prisons
checked with those who dared to wor-
ship, according to the dictates of con-
science. Others were banished, the
untutored red man of the forest be-
coming the conservator of religious
freedom. AS our constitution recog-
nizes that every person has right to
choose his own religion. or to have
no religion, and be free from police
molestation, we are therefore opposed
to any legislation compelling a day
of rest, knowing that it is in principle,
union of the church and the state,
and lays the foundation for a desola-
ton scourge similar to the. dark ages.
j Sunday laws result in persecution
as the past clearly shows. In num-
Der of states where these ubiquitous
laws are on the statute books, devot-
ed. God-fearing persons have been
spied upon, meddled with, imprisoned
and even worked in chain gangs for
no other reason than exercising their
GoG-given and constitutional right to
work six days, and rest on the sew
enth day of the week as the Lord
commanded
1 Companies of worshipers and other
reaceable gatherings are protected by
law every day in the week. No spe-
cial legislation is therefore necessary
to afford civil protection to citizens
on Sunday more than on other days
of the week. That which is civil or
other days is civil on Sunday. Honest
labor is no more uncivil on Sunday
than on Monday. 1t is only religious
preiudices which are disturbed by
labor on this day more than on other
days. Religious services are held eve
ry day in the week. Funerals are
held daily in churches while work is
continued as usual, and no special leg
lislation is necessary. Then why
Thought necessary for Sunday? For
no other reason, it would appear, than
to protect a day which the majority
regard as holy. But bolstering of
some particular theological dogma,
and protecting the religious preju-
dices of citizens is not the business of
Congress.
We believe in Sabbath-keeping and
that it is the legitimate work of min
listers and all the religious elements of
the nation to bring all the moral per-
suasion possible upon young and old,
believers and unbelievers, to keep
holy the day of rest which they be-
live to be divinely appointed.
\ But moral suasion is the only
|, weapon of force the church can legiti-
mately use. All are not even agreed
as to which day is the Sabbah, and we
are opposed to the national legislature
entering the field of religion, and de-
leiding a religious controversy. and
Establishing precedent which, If
followed to its legitimate end. viii