The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-04
ADVENTIST PASTOR. REV|EW WS HISTORY
 IF SUNDAY LAWS.
Saturday Observed as the Religious Liberty Day in All Seventh Day Adven-
 tiSt Churches


 Saturday was observed as Religious Liberty day in all Seventh-Day Ad- ventist churches throughout the United States. and in Birmingham the Rev. w. P. McLennan. pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist church took as his subject, The History of Sunday Laws" Addressing his con gregation, he said in part:
 "The efforts of so -called reformers who are continually attempting through legislative process. to force upon the people generally laws which would deny them the right to worship according to the dictates of their con- science. are dangerous. The Saviour never intended that His Kingdom should be established through the the Christian Nation Idea Is the out growth of misconception of politi- cal functions and limitations. Those who advocate compulsory Sunday ob- servance laws may be ever so sin cere in their endeavors, but they are moving contrary to the principles of religious liberty.
 MT. Madison, the father of the American constitution. said, Religion Is essentially distinct from human government, and exempt from its cog nizance. A connection between them Is injurious to both. There are causes in the human breast which insure the perpetuity of religion without the aid of law This principle. applied as 1t should be in America. would wipe from the statute books of all the states of this republic every Sunday law; for the basis of all Sunday leg islation Is religion.
 Nothing Uncivil in Acts.
 "Why attempt to prevent those so disposed from working on Sunday: If any number in given community should do business in regular peaceable way on Sunday, that does not in any way trench on the rights of those who desire to rest or to at tend church services. There is noth- ing uncivil in the act of blowing, or sowing grain, or gathering fruit, or even riding on trains, or playing ball on those days termed working days. What, then, can make such acts un- civil when performed on Sundayi There Is not even a shadow of inciv- ility In any one of these acts.
 The first Sunday law was made in 321 A. D. Constantines law, how ever allowed too much labor on Sunday to meet the demands of the church leaders of the times. They wished the day kept as the Sabbath by all the people, whether believers or unbelievers, in the city and out. So by a law in the year 3s6,' says the historian, Neander, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday was strictly forbidden
 Labor only being forbidden by the laws thus far. the people were free to engage In sports and amusements. Complaining that the attractions of the circus and the theatre greatly in terferred with church attendance, the church bishops, In a convention held at Carthage in 401. petitioned the Emperor that the public shows might be transferred from the Christia n Sunday to some other days of the week. alleging that the people con gregated to these more than to the churches, and that if closed, Chris tians would attend more to things di- vine.'
 Compulsory Church Attendance.
 
 425, and from that time on both work and play were generally forbidden on Sunday. But even then many would not attend church. So later Sunday laws. such as that of Charlemagne's s in 800, required church attendance. In this way, says Neander. the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends In this way, bv rpaaps of Sunday 1auyS cbnrcb and state were united. and the church gained control of the secular power.
 Tt was because of a recognition of the fact that Sunday laws were con- trary to the principles of religious liberty. that such religious leaders as Sturgeon, Alexander Campbell and Roger Williams were opposed to them.
 'The province of the state Is to pro- hibit incivility on all days of the act uncivil on Sunday that is civil on Agr'ersce. tsonEm-toL isti amama t stitutes a crime? Does the day on which a deed Is committed measure the offense? Or does the deed. re- gardless of the day, decide the ques- lioh. Ahc icpiy VI every luteiiiB chl person would be that as far as the state Is concerned, all days are alike, and therefore the name of the day has nothing to do with it. to do a person an injury is just as wrong on one day as on another. The day upon which an act is committed does not affect the nature of the act. For one to be compelled to spend his time ro rO fn iu l. ling involuntary servitude.
 Nothing but the power and love of God can transform human hearts It Is in the secret closet of prayer, and not in the chain gang. where we conquer our enemies. It is spiritual regeneration, and not civil reforma-