Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-04-08
Here's Our View
With No Hard Feelings.

Nothing the Herald has said or will
say should be construed as reflections
upon or i'll feeling toward the clergy
of the city The reverend gentlemen
think they are right and have the
courage to say so. The Herald thinks
its view is right and is not afraid to
stand up against one man, seven men
or 700 men. Hard feelings are often
brought about by fear to speak out
1t burns in-sO to speak.
The Herald would just as readily
defend the clergymen if we thought
they were being put upon or belittled
as to disagree with them openly. In
the case of Sunday observance they
think the cause of religion is advanced
by, what we would term, strict Sab
batarian Interpretation The writer
does not. We believe that wholesome
recreation and entertainment are good
things providing the amenities of the
day have been respected. We believe
the Sabbath is properly day of re-
creation as we'll as a day of rest. We
believe that too strict an interpreta-
ton of the "Blue Laws" do the cause
the clergy represents more harm than
good. We are not alone IN this be-
lief
The clergymen need not fear that
Grantland theatre will be opened for
Sunday shows. AS we understand it
the committee in charge favors the
idea and in fact one of them first adj
vanced it. But the committee is diff
fident over opening in the face of OPP
position. Under the circumstances we
see no possibility of Sunday use of the
A., ~ hn RI
paying advantage on steady week
nights Except for the occasional Of
fering of high merit) it will probably
stand as an expensive ornament and
white elephant on the taxpayers
backs.
Potosi, Platteville, Cassville, Pra.
du Chen, Muscoda, Richland Center,
Mineral Point and numerous other
towns in the vicinity have Sunday
evening entertainment in their local
playhouses, none of which compares
with the Lancaster municipal theatre.
We have not heard that a single per-
son who would prefer to attend a re-
ligious meeting has been kept away
or that the morale of the cities named
has suffered in any way or degree.
In such case and where Sunday
evening shows are held the people
hold the fiat as to it's ethical and
legal standing. Public opinion ap-
proves or disapproves, and not liber-
ais, conservatives, prosecutors or
courts. If the public patroniZes a
show to the extent of making it pay
it keeps on. Tests actually show that
Sunday evening performances are the
best attended of the week. In the
event of a prosecution so far not a
conviction has been obtained. It has
been either an acquittal or disagree
ment
The 1854 statute says works of
charity or necessity" No six jury
men can be found who will act unan-
imously on what charity and neces-
sity" is, and no sane person can be
found who will reconcile the incon-
sistencies of law which permits of
winks at Chautauquas, Sunday news
papers, soda fountains, ball games,
open garages, people motoring for
pleasure, and so on, ad infinitum, and
forbids Sunday evening picture shows
or other entertainments indoors.
If those who want entertainment or
recreation on Sunday evening can't
find it in Lancaster they will go else
where. Hence the stream of motor
cars out of town every Sunday after
noon and evening. If they can't get
wholesome diversion at home they go
where they can find it. Here we can
regulate the diversion. Away from
home we can't.
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