League that every form of commercialism should be closed on the day of rest and worship, whether the particular trade involved was either of pleasure or business. On this ground, eleven bills, introduced into the Massachusetts Legislature of 1908, which sought changes in the Lord's day laws were opposed, and ultimately defeated, or so amended. as to practically eliminate the commercial features. Several bills of the same nature are now before that body, and we trust they will be reported against by the Committee on Legal Affairs, to which they were referred.

'The

New Sunday

ment Law.

On petition of the League and its friends in Massachusetts a Bill was introduced Entertain- seeking such an amendment to the Lord's day laws as should remove the charity clause which had become extremely objectionable. Fake charitable entertainments of a demoralizing nature were the rule, while worthy concerts were practically excluded. As a result of the legislative campaign a new law was passed by the Legislature, cutting out the charity clause, but adding other features which were not generally acceptable to the friends of the Lord's day. The League, however, has used every effort to make the new law efficient and restrictive along wise, conservative lines. The clause repeated five times in different places which was put in at the request of the League, maintains a standard of judgment, which adhered to by Mayors, Selectmen, and the Chief of the State Police, would make the secularities and illegalities of "Wonderland," and of certain theaters impossible on the Lord's day. It

The Duty of

reads: "IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE DAY AND NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ITS DUE OBSERVANCE." A further awakening of public sentiment to the danOfficials. gers of the wide open Sunday and a conscientious enforcement of the letter and spirit of the above standard by officials who are made responsible for the same, or else their removal from their official position, should be sought. Great trusts have been committed into their hands affecting thousands of people throughout the state. The Legislature appointed them to guard these

against caterers of public entertainments, whose chief concern, very often is not the public good, but the money they can make out of their moving pictures, vaudeville and other shows. When questionable entertainments seek a license, the benefit of the doubt should be on the side of that which is "in keeping with the character of the day and not inconsistent with its due observance."

We notice that 2,815 licenses were issued last year for public entertainments on the Lord's Day in the state of Massachusetts.

We are convinced that if there should be a consensus of public opinion, a fair majority of the citizens of the state of Massachusetts would demand a conservative interpretation of the above standard. The Mayor of Boston has commended himself to the better element of New England by the enforcement of certain regulations which define the character of all Sunday Entertainments, charitable or otherwise.

Rev. A. Z. Conrad, D.D., Director.

The Congregationalist, commenting upon the refusal of the authorities to license certain Sunday theatrical performances for the earthquake sufferers, said truly:

"The managers knew the performances would break the law, but hoped Mayor Hibbard and Chief Whitney would connive at the lawlessness and even would issue a

permit approving what they called 'nonenforcement' of law because the proceeds would be devoted to a greatly-needed char

ity. Of course such permission to set the

Sunday law aside would be a precedent for its practical annulment, using for excuse the worthy charities which are constantly making appeals for help. This custom of theatrical managers of using calamities as a means of making void laws for the moral and physical health of the community is only a shade less vicious than that of grafters to whose fingers money sticks when put into their hands to be transmitted to sufferers from sickness and disaster."

Senator William P. Frye, Vice-President for Maine.

of

Actors

Catholic

The demand of a strong Attitude public sentiment in New York City recently led to and the closing of a large number Societies. of vaudeville and moving picture shows on the Lord's day. The actors themselves have frequently made the same demand. The National Society passed the following resolutions at their Annual Meeting: "Resolved, as a society that we object to theatrical performances at any hour of the day on Sunday; and will always use whatever legal influence we may have to suppress the same."

The federation of Catholic societies recently held in Boston passed the following:

"Resolved, that this federation earnestly appeals to all Catholics and to all our fellow-citizens without distinction, not only to take no part in any movement tending toward the relaxation of the observance of the

N. H. and

Threatened Dangers from both pleasDangers ure and commercial schemes in Maine, are now threatening the Connecticut. Sunday laws of Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Local organizations are watching the situa

The past year has emphasized the danger of the much-attacked and little-defended Lord's day. It has shown to the unprejudiced observer that the trend of the twentieth century is in the direction of a secularized Sunday. While there are counter-currents and hopeful signs, the tendency is away from the SACRED day. Whether this is a temporary reaction,-a tidal wave, which will soon subside, as we trust and believe, or a permanent condition, there seems little doubt that the Sabbath of our fathers has gone, and that we are now passing through a reactionary period.

The Continental Sunday

Out- has come to America and Continen- has been carried to a wild talizing the Continent. extreme in many places, as is the temptation and danger of our more strenuous methods of living. A Continental Sunday is much more dangerous when Americanized than on the other side of the water.

An eminent American who lived in the midst of the Continental Sunday for several years, on his return home, spoke of the "paganizing" influence of the American prototype. Another, of its "heathenizing" effect, especially in our rural communities.

We might mention as a few samples out of many, the wide open Coney-Islands, Wonderlands and Rocky Points,-the Sunday saloons, dance halls, gambling places, racetracks, balloon ascensions, baseball games and pugilistic exhibitions,the hawking newsboys, open stores, shops, factories, and places of trade and business, the Sunday Nickelodeon, theatre and vaudeville shows, Sunday receptions. functions. banquets,

William Shaw, Director and Chairman of Legislative Committee.

journeyings, pleasure automobiling, and political gatherings, and saddest of all, the silence, if not the indulgence in these Sunday secularities and illegalities by reputable citizens, if not by church members themselves, and finally the many instances in which churches have been decimated, while Sabbath desecrating resorts are overcrowded and the sacred evening church service has given way to the secular hall or theatre, or to the so-called "sacred concert" or moving picture substitute for preacher and sermon.

The LEGISLATIVE trend is Legislative toward a weakening of our Trend. present laws, opening in several instances which might be mentioned, in different states to COMMERCIAL Schemes and lax indulgences on the Lord's day, and still worse the yielding of officers of the law and even of courts of justice to a popular clamor

by self-seeking aliens or degenerate natives, to lower the standard of the fathers or wink at the indulgencies of a hoodlum and lawless element.

While we are obliged to refer to these demoralizing conditions, we do not forget that there are in these days very strong defenders of the faith, men and women of God, who by private and organized methods, are standing guard on the besieged fortifications. They have gained victories in several instances in different localities throughout the country, and they deserve great credit.

We have seen during the The past year, Our National National Government officially ap

Government

a Sabbath proving and commending Breaker. the noisy and demoralizing

sports and ball games of its soldiers and sailors on the Lord's day in several states, and also the Congress of the United States failing to insert a Sunday-closing clause in the grant to the Seattle Exposition, as requested last year by this body and other bodies, representing in all some 3,000,000 people.

It is true that these things occurred in the same city where President Roosevelt listened to the statements of a local committee, including one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and then greatly to his credit issued. an order forbidding any other than emergency work on the Lord's day in government offices and by government officials.