duce their drastic Sunday bill, it is cated private property, and even meted stated that he told them in plain lan- out capital punishment, because indi. guage that he would “have nothing to viduals dared to assert the freedom of do with the proposed 'blue' Sunday their consciences in matters of religious act.” concern. Some prohibitionists put the prohibi- Unless a clarion note of protest is tion measure on a religious basis; these, sounded by the citizens of America of course, will favor any other religious against this proposed religious legislameasure, like a compulsory Sunday ob- tion, America may lose her cherished servance act. But those prohibitionists liberty of conscience. Religious legiswho favored the prohibition amendment lation knows no bounds and no mercy; on economic, and if America scientific, and is going to recivil grounds, pudiate her liband not as a re erties and tramligious measure, ple upon the are opposed to inalienable the Sunday rights of man, blu e laws be as other nations cause of the did in ages past, religious nature the world is of such legisla doomed. Amertion. One is a ica is still the civil question political hope of INTIMIDATION that relates to the world as the man's physical guardian of libwelfare and erty and indisafety, and the vidual rights other is a purely concerning relireligious ques gious questions tion that relates and obligations, to man's duty to and when this God and his last bulwark of soul's welfare. freedom has A failure to been removed, distinguish the world's hope between the du of a better day ties we owe to A REIGN OF TERROR has perished, our fellow men, and the time and the duties has come for the we owe to God, final judgment has been the in the “ Signs of the Times," Nov. 27, 1907. primary cause L. of all the religious persecutions in all past ages. The proposed Sunday CIVIL government is purely a human blue law is as blue as any we have yet government, and should assume an imseen, and if it is enacted into law, it will partial attitude toward the religions of certainly usher in the days of renewed all of its subjects. Civil government Inquisition. These so-called "reform” should not establish any religion. Chrisleaders are unmistakably manifesting the tianity needs no civil support, and false spirit of those times when the church religion will not endure even with the dignitaries issued interdicts and confis- best of human indorsement. “ We purpose to organize a Sunday Rest League and to erect a guillotine in the United States, in view of which every politician will recognize the fact that he is destined to political beheadal if he does not give us the legislation we de mand."— Rev. W. F. Ireland, of Los Angeles, Calif., reported Baltimore “Sun” on Compulsory Sunday Observance Bills N editorial in the Baltimore Sun “ As abstract doctrine something may be said of Nov. 28, 1920, deals with the for this point of view. But considering the application which Dr. Kelly was making of it Sunday bills now pending be - he was discussing such matters as moving fore Congress, and with the harmful pictures, Sabbath observance, gambling, and policies of the sponsors of this danger the use of tobacco — how monstrous it is! He ous kind of legislation, and is very illu- is defending the right of a minority to dictato to the majority in matters of conscience. It minating upon this much agitated re- is by such logic that the Inquisition was deligious controversy. We recommend a fended. It is the logic of the witch burners. careful reading of It is the logic which this fine, logical makes a mockery of religious toleration. editorial upon Dr. Kelly and his al"The Uplifter :" lies would throw us "The illuminating back to the Middle interview with Dr. Ages. Howard A. Kelly, “ It is a doctrine printed in the Sun yeg which, when carried terday, brings out with into effect, makes lawvivid distinctness some breakers of millions of the characteristics of our citizens. The of those individuals object of the uplifters who are popularly is to make people good known as "uplifters.' by law. But no man Dr. Kelly is an indi upon whom such laws vidual, but he is also are imposed by the a type. There are activities of a minorprobably hundreds of ity regards them as thousands, if not mil binding in conscience. lions, of men of like A law to be effective mind with him in the must be regarded by country. We know the people generally as them as men of zeal something embodying and good works, and principles to which all for that reason it right-minded people seems ungracious to adhere. Such are the apply to them terms laws against theft and which their beliefs and arson and murder. All their actions thor. right-minded individoughly justify — such © Harris & Ewing uals agree that these terms as 'narrow C. H. RANDALL things are crimes and minded.' 'self-right- Congressman from California, a Friend of Prohibition should be prohibited. eous,' 'intolerant.' The value of the Kelly in. But when the attempt is made to classify as terview is that it proves the utter justification crimes actions which the mass of the people of such criticism. do not regard as crimes, the thing becomes pre"Consider this statement [from Dr. Kelly]: posterous. Laws against such offenses will "It is not always what the majority wants never be generally observed. that is best for it. License unlimited and un- “Consider Dr. Kelly's profound elucidation bridled is not good for men any more than it of the theory of representative government. is for children. There never was anything Consider it in the light of the facts. Even as more false than the expression, “ Vox populi, abstract doctrine it is faulty; for while it makes VOZ Dei." It is a heathen doctrine. The voice due recognition of the fact that this is a of the people is not the voice of God. Our representative government, it does not suffipeople in the mass do not govern. We have a ciently consider the fact that it is a representarepresentative government. We elect men to tive democracy. But admitting that it is true represent definite masses of men, and these that we elect representatives who are supposed representatives are supposed to determine what to determine what is best by reflection and is best by reflection and sober thinking, not by sober judgment, not by what the mass wants,' what they think the mass wants.'” will any one contend that the action of the rep able. resentatives of the people on the class of questions that Dr. Kelly is interested in, has been determined by reflection and sober thinking Doesn't every one know that it has been determined purely by the political pressure put upon these representatives by the class which Dr. Kelly represents, and that reflection and sober thinking have had nothing to do with it! Dr. Kelly denies that he is a hypocrite. We gladly concede the fact; he is essentially honest and sincere. But there is something hypocritical about this kind of reasoning. “ What is the explanation of this phenomenon of the uplifter? Is it the one suggested by Macaulay when he said that the Puritan hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectator Or is it to be explained on the theory of religious mania! The growth of the species in this country demands a more complete scientific study of it than has yet been made. “If Dr. Kelly and his associates are sincere, as we gladly concede the mass of them to be, then one fact should have weight with them. That is the fact that their fundamental assumption that men can be made moral by law is false. They cannot be. The man who is for bidden to go to a symphony concert on Sunday afternoon, will not go to a Sunday school in stead. The man prohibited from getting liquor, will not get religion in its place. On the contrary, individuals treated as are these, will develop a resentment which will make them more hostile to the reforms beloved by the uplifters than they otherwise would be. Dr. Kelly showed that he is not wholly insensible to this truth when he talked of this being 'a matter for persuasion, for friendly discussion,' for bringing the other fellow around to his way of thinking. What he fails to see is that this method is utterly antagonistic to the other method of legal prohibition. The one defeats the other. Persuasion and compulsion do not go together. There is a great deal of truth in many of the contentions of the uplifters. Men can be persuaded and convinced by friendly discussion and by education. But the day of persuasion and conviction can only be delayed by strong-arm methods. “ There is also a great deal that is fallacious in the contentions of the uplifters. It isn't conceivable that any tremendous proportion of the American people will ever again be brought to believe that there is anything sinful in listening to a symphony concert on Sunday — or watching a ball game or playing in one. The whole trend of modern thought is for greater instead of less liberality in this direction. To be effective, the reformers must learn to distinguish between what is sound and what unsound in their program. « This brings us to a question which is agitat. ing a great many people at the present time, in view of the large policies being proposed by the more extreme and more obsessed element among the uplifters. How far can they go in the direction of restoring the blue laws and making rational enjoyment legally prohibitivet Unquestionably they can do a great deal in specific communities — in the District of Columbia, for instance, where the Congressmen who have the power to impose restrictions are not responsible to the citizens of the District, and who may see in rigid laws for that territory an opportunity to gain support of the uplifting element at home. For this reason the nature of their program. its unreas ness and its harmfulness, should be clearly exposed. “But we do not believe that that program, generally, will ever be put into effect. All the fears expressed that it may be are predicated upon the analogy between this new movement and the prohibition movement. But there is a vital difference between them. Although a majority of the people of many communities were opposed to prohibition, a majority of the whole people was unquestionably in favor of it. It was supported, not by the uplifters alone, but by many other classes, particularly by manufacturers and operators of large industries who felt that prohibition would benefit them in their businesses. Without this support, prohibition could never have been enacted into law. There is no apparent reason to believe that the support of these classes can ever be secured for the blue law movement, or any similar movement; and it is probable, therefore, that these movements will not have the easy sailing that prohibition had. It is too early then, for lovers of personal liberty to despair. But that is no reason why they should not fight this new movement energetically." ile te te The Blue Law Reformers NIGHT years ago we heard a good R deal about the “invisible govern ment.” At the same time there was another extraconstitutional power in the country not hidden exactly, but of low visibility. It was exercised by a group of terrorists, who played upon the fears of Congressmen. And now it is in the open. The International Reform Bureau, which for more than twenty years has been a meddler in the affairs of state at Washington, no longer “pussyfoots.” Members of it boldly announce the determination to take over, in part at least, the police power and exercise it; to assist in obtaining re strictive legislation, like compulsory urrection, they are planning new activSunday observance, and generally to ities for the moral rejuvenation of this perform the work which in the primitive wicked old universe, and incidentally state of society familiar to the fathers, making a good living by coaxing conwas done by designated persons who tributions from well-meaning people. were held responsible. There is some ground for the fear that To this bureau of reform belong many Congress may yield to the demands of Senators and Representatives, but its reform organizations that are advocating most active agents are zealots who would a Puritanical Sunday and may enact leg. compel the suspension of all secular ac- islation which will put a quietus upon all tivities on Sunday. Of course, the next kinds of Sabbath diversions and recrestep would be enforced church attend. ations. Those persons who do not recogance and perhaps later on the adoption nize Sunday as their day of worship may - by Constitutional amendment — of a find their religious freedom somewhat state creed. curtailed. The suggestion may cause some of our There always looms the possibility of readers to smile incredulously, but is it a Constitutional amendment to compel an extravagant thought in the light of Sunday observance. The basic law has recent happenings ? — New York Tele been amended twice recently, and the graph. process has become so easy that a Con stitutional change is not taken seriously. Another Crusade Consequently the twentieth amendment may be on its way, providing for comLTHOUGH it is generally under- pulsory religious observance and worstood that no legislation of im- ship. portance is to be undertaken at The modern crusaders are in the sadthe forthcoming short session of Con dle and riding hard, with lances poised gress aside from passage of the necessary and banners flung to the breeze. Perappropriation bills, representatives of haps Congress will muster courage to revarious reform organizations are fram sist their onslaught and stand firmly for ing a program to be submitted immedi individual liberty. Perhaps Senators ately, looking to the purging of the world and Representatives will not scurry to of sin and making a very substantial ad the safety of the cloakrooms when the invance toward the millennium. Some of vaders come clattering through the corthe objects they seek are most praise ridors. Perhaps they will take a broad, worthy, such as the elimination of gam sane, reasonable view of the questions bling and of the traffic in narcotic drugs. raised. Let the nation cherish the hope But at least one of these reform soci in spite of the record.- Washington, eties is intent also upon the enactment of D. C., Post, Nov. 29, 1920. a law which would make it unlawful to engage in athletic sports, such as base te the e ball and golf, to open the picture shows or theaters, or to give picnics, dances, or The town of Nyssa, Oreg., submitted entertainments of any kind on Sunday. the question whether the town should In short, they aim to make effective have a compulsory Sunday observance throughout the nation the Puritanical ordinance, to the people on the referblue laws of a former period. endum. The people of Nyssa voted the This, in brief, is the program of the compulsory Sunday observance down, “ restless sects” that aim to reform the Nov. 2, 1920, by a majority vote of two world by force. Sitting upon the grave to one. The people still believe in reof Old John Barleycorn in a ceaseless ligious liberty. The referendum so far vigil to keep him from a premature res- has contributed to the cause of freedom. The State Purely Secular; the Church Entirely Spiritual By H. G. Thurston MONG the greatest crimes of all this language is plain; it needs no intertime is the disregard of the inher- pretation. The best possible comment ent rights of man. Of all such upon this utterance is the Word itself: rights, the right to think and act in reli- “Knowing therefore the terror of the gious concerns is the most sacred. No Lord, we persuade men.” “My kingdom other is dearer to man than this one. is not of this world.” “In the world ye The right to choose according to the dic- shall have tribulation.” “We ought to tates of conscience is the one right above obey God rather than men.” “Whosoall others given to man by his Creator, ever will ” may come. “If any man hear which no one has any authority to My words, and believe not, I judge him abridge. Not only has no one the right not: for I came not to judge the world, to dictate in the choice of religion an in- but to save the world.” dividual shall make, but even the largest When any power enforces its religion possible major or religious docity has been trine or institugiven no such tions upon men, power by the that power is a Author of the usurper and a gospel. His destroyer. The holy word is a spiritual princistanding invita ples of the gostion to all to pel are beyond come — “who and above the soever will." realm of civil The mighty law. power of the Civil governgospel is re ment is ordained vealed in per of God in things CHRIST AND THE TRIBUTE MONEY suasion only. temporal and The cospel earthly Every has never been spiritual institustrengthened by the power of a sword tion is supported by its great spiritual of steel. It has gained all its victories Author who never authorized the use of by the use of the sword of the Spirit. worldly weapons in promulgating His The Holy Ghost and the “still small gospel. voice” do not ask the power of the The Sabbath of the Lord is God's inpoliceman's club. We read, “ The weap- stitution. It is spiritual, and needs no ons of our warfare are not carnal ;” and support from civil government. Its when Peter drew his sword to defend cause is not advanced by human law enhis Master, Jesus commanded him to put forced by physical pains. Such weapons it up again into its sheath. have always been a hindrance rather The complete separation of the church than a blessing to true Sabbath keeping. and civil government was a decree of the Therefore, every earthly law made by Author of religion. He commanded, man to enforce Sabbath observance has “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things been contrary to the true spirit of the which are Cæsar's; and unto God the gospel, whether the first Sunday law, things that are God's." The meaning of 321 A. D., or the latest theater-closing or “ Show me the tribute money. ... Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God." |