Evening star., 1926-03-04

questioned him regarding the number
of Seventh Day Adventists who are
opposing this bill, and Mr.. Livingston
said there are 100000 in the United
States and only 800 in the District of
Columbia, with some in nearby Mary
land, but they should have no effect
on the District of Columbia
Mr.. Mcleod then stated that this bill
prohibits all sorts of amuSementS and
recreations conducted for commercial
purposes Mr.. Mcleod also asked
about the number Of Jews in the Dis
trict who do not observe Sunday as
their Sabbath. Mr. Livingston replied
that this bill would not interfere with
their religion.
Mr.. Mcleod asked what right the
committee has to legislate against anv
class. and Mr.. Livingston argued that
the bin was not class legislation.
Mr.. Mcleod next asked what it was
on Sunday. and Mr.. Livingston
answered that they should not break
the Sabbath day, but should observe
II as did their ancestors.
Objects to Fees.
In reply to another question by Mr..
Mcleod as to what constitutes com
,nercial amusement as prohibited by
the bill. Mr.. Livingston said only that
Sor which an entrance fee is charged.
Mr.. Mcleod brought out that it would
not prohobit amateur base ball, but
that it would close every theater on
Sunday.
DIR. Charles Wood, pastor of the
Church of the Covenant. argued that
the Sabbath should not be commercial
1zed
George NJ. Cummings of the legisla-
tive committee of the Ministerial Con
ference OF the District stated that A
States have laws similar to this one.
Mr.. Mcleod interjected that this COM
ynittee would like to have some dem
mite facts and was unwilling to legls-
late on generalities.
Church Attendance Not Aim.
Mr.. Cummings said that amusement
Il Il is not commercialized, is ques-
zion between each man and his con-
science, and Is not religious ques-
ton, and therefore not dealt with in
the pending bill. He called attention
20 what he termed hysteria and said
that the enemies of the bill claim II
IS designed to force church attend
ance. There is nothing Of that sort
IN the measure, he insisted. The man
who works for a halliday on Satur-
day for the laboring man is called a
philanthropist, Mr.. Cummings said,
but ne who works for a full day o.
rest on the Sabbath is called blue
nose and Puritan"
Mr., Houston asked whether actors,
base ball players and others favor
this measure. Mr.. Cummings de-
clared that they do.
Mr. Mel cod quest toned Mr.. Lank-
FORD regarding class legislation in per-
v1itting certain businesses to operate
while closing others.
Renresontative Gilbert, Democrat
OF Kentucky. declar red that the pend
ing bill works an Injustice agains+
The laborins man. who. because OF
coil can not get any amusement ex-
cent on SUNDAY.
Representative Rlanton, Democrat
Of Texas claimed that eevrv spoken
drama threa'er in Now York wa
closed on Sunday. This statement
was CHALLENGED nv Representative
Bloom, Democrat, New York.
Students Attend Hearing.
Glasses at the Washington Mission
ary College, in Takoma Park, were
dismissed in order to allow the stu.
dents TO attend the hearing today
so that they might get a clearer idea
how TO oppose such legislation wht n
they become active church workers.
Several leaders from the General Con-
ference Of the Seventh-day Adventists
were in attendance, because If this
proposed legislation should be adopt
ed IL would very materially affect the
work OF the entire denomination.
In behalf Of the SO local members
Of the Ministerial Association OF Sew.
enth-day Adventists serving in the
District OF Columbia, l.. e. Froom, the
associate secretary, filed with the sub.
committee a resolution Of protest
against the Lankford compulsory, OBJ.
servance bill. under which. they said
full religious freedom would pass
trom the headquarters of the Nation
ara bigotry would usurp its place.