Evening star., 1927-09-19
Sunday Law Attacked
By Minister.EditOr

i ne HDeTdI space set apart III Il hc
Evening Star of September ], and
again in the Sunday issue of Septem'
ber IL, devoted to a prospective Sun
day law in the District of Columbia,
raises a religious argument in which
the issue is joined between a certain
class of clergymen and the Congress
of the United States
The articles published breathe a
spirit of intolerance that Is not very
becoming in the Capital City OF
Protestant country where religious
liberty has contributed to the building
of a great Nation and the protection
of the conscientious scruples of its
citizens.
Working in conjunction with the
Lords Day Alliance as the aggressive
party. these clergymen have turned
aside from their high and holy call
ing to political issue in which re-
ligion is attempting tn dominate the
Government, in violation of every vir-
tue that lies at the foundation of our
civil and religious rights.
First Amendment Cited.
The first amendment to the Consti-
tuition says:
Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment of religion.
or prohibiting the free exercise there
of; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble and to
petition the Government for redress
Of grievances"
immediate tely following July 4, 1875,
Americans had an experience which
has not been forgotten, and it was
recognized by the administration as
AN attempt to control religion by
civil law. The violation of the spirit
and principles of the Constitution was
considered by the founding fathers of
our country as good and sufficient
reason for adding the above amend
ment to the Constitution, that they
might nip in the bud any possibility
of religious pei secution ever crowding
its way into this Nation.
Al that time there was a Baptist
Church of Saba tn Keepers in Eph-
raCa, Pa. and a number of their mem
hers were arrested for working on
| Sunday. \ letter was addressed TO
George Washington, asking him if he
considered that the new Constitution
justified any interference with the
conscientious scruples of Christians
living in the United States.
Reply of Washington.
To this letter President Washington
replied as follows:
IF I had had the least idea of any
difficulty resulting. from the Constitu-
ton adopted by the convention of
which 1 had the honor to be presi-
dent when it was formed so as to en-
danger the rights of any religious
denomination. then [ never should
have attached my name to that in
strument. If / had any idea that the
General Government was so admin
istered that liberty of conscience was
endangered, l pray you be assured
that no man would he more willing
than myself to revise and alter that
part of it so as to avoid religious per-
secution. You can without doubt re-
member that / have often expressed
my opinion that every man who con-
ducts himself as a good citizen is ac-
countabe alone to God for his reli-
gious faith, and should be protected in
worshiping God according to the die
tates of his own conscience.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Aug. 4. 1889"
This experience led to a further ex-
animation of the Constitution and
the extent to which it had failed to
protect the inalienab BILE rights of citi-
zens as declared in the Declaration of
Independence. AS the authority OF
our constitutional form of govern
ment is vested in the people, at once
the franchise was brought under revi-
sion and by it the powers of Congress
were limited. 1t was decided that
/. Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise there
of. First amendment.
2. The enumeration in the Consti-
tuition of certain rights shall not be
construed to- deny or disparage others
retained by the people, Ninth
amendment.
3. The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution. nor
prohibited by it to the States, are re-
served to the States respectively or to
the people. Tenth amendment.
4. Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude ton Sunday or any other
day.. except as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted. shall exist within
the United States or any place sub.
ject to their jurisdiction. ."-Thirteenth
amendment.
Questions Legal Right.
With the powers of Congress linn
tied by the people;
With their religious rights exempted
from congressional autborit,r.