The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-29
COMMON SENSE
SUNDAYS ASKED
BYLOCAL PASTOR
Rev. Cunningham Pleads for
Legislature to Pass En-
forCeabIe Laws.

Declaring that it is the duty Of the
State to protect itself from moral
decay and physical deterioration by
legislation regarding Sunday, the Rev.
Edwin Cunningham Of the Central
UniversaIst Church Sunday spoke on
Common Sense About Sunday"
Unless man is an anarchist he will
welcome some legislation in regard
to the observance of Sunday" the
Rev. Cunningham said. No one ques-
lions the right Of the State to protect
itself from ignorance and promote the
intelligence Of its people by a com
pulsory school attendance law. It is
also the duty Of the State to protect
Itself from moral decay and physical
deterioration by legislation regarding
Sunday"
Continuing, DR.. Cunningham said:
This legislation should have to do
for the most part with the protection
OF labor. There are thousands of Ia
borers in Indiana who have TO work
seven days a week. This number
should be reduced by legislation to a
minimum For example consider the
clerk in the cigar store. His hours are
long. The goods which he sells are not
perishable The public can be trained
10 buy its tobacco supply on Satur-
day as il now does its groceries or
clothing. But no owner Of cigar
store is going to close his store while
all his competitors are permitted to
sell their goods.
THE cOmmOn-sense way Of prOtec-
ting the right of these cigar clerks
to one days vacation in seven is by
prohibiting the sale of tobacco any
where at any time on Sunday. The
great work Of the press and the church
is to educate the public to a better
valuation of Sunday and its impor-
lance to tie stability Of business and
the character of our Nation.
Emerson called the observance Of
Sunday the core of civilization It is
the one day Of the week related TO rest,
recreation, social service the family
and religious worship. With public
opinion aroused TO make a better use
Of Sunday and extend its blessings to
a greater number laws regarding its
observance viii be found enforceable.
States Views on
LOCALIZED Sunday Shows.
NO Legislature should legalize Sun
day theaters If the request 10 do SO
comes only from the managers or
owners. Neither should they be pro
hibited in order to benefit religious
organizations. If Sunday theaters
are Iegalized 1t should be done
with the approval Of all those who
have to labor to put on the enter
tainment. and with the understanding
that they are TO be given one days
vacation in seven with TO reduction
in pay. It should be further pro
vided that no theater manager or
owner be allowed To receive any profit
from the performances Of others on
Sunday. With Sunday entertain
ments served to the public on a strict
" cost basis, it is doubtful if there
would be much agitation for Sunday
movies
But better than legislative acts is
a real concern on the part Of the com
rnunity TO organize and direct the
leisure of its people on Sunday and
other vacation days. These days
should be the busiest of all days for
such institutions as the public libra
ries, art museums, community cen
ters The very best of musical enter
tainments could be given free Of cost
on Sunday afternoons, and repeated
again in the evening. Large, down
town churches can include the motion
picture machine as a part If their
continent and offer TO the public a
free religious picture service not only
on Sunday nights but other nights as
well.
Makes Plea for Day of
Rest, Play and Worship
1.-THE Sabbath IS the Jewish day Of
worship. It begins at shutdown on
Friday ana ends at shutdown on Sat
urday. Sunday the first day Of the
week, became the day Of worship for
the followers Of Jesus soon after his
death. Common sense tells Us that
our day of worship could be much
better observed if we had but the one.
The late Dr. Emil @. Hirsh held pub
lie worship on Sunday instead Of sat
urday. He was one of America
foremost Rabies. May the trail he
blazed lead the way To a common day
Of rest, and play, and worship, for
all" he said.
~ OIL