aw? Does it rest with the churches and the
preachers to see that the few Sunday laws we have are enforced by them,
while the business men and the police lazily dodge the issue and care
not how the matter goes, saying it is none of their business?

"But suppose you say the saloons are beyond your power. That does not
release you from doing what is in your power, easily, to prevent this
day from being trampled under foot and made like every other day in its
scramble after money and pleasure. Who own these fruit stands and cigar
stores and meat markets, and who patronize them? Is it not true that
church members encourage all these places by purchasing of them on the
Lord's Day? I have been told by one of these fruit dealers with whom I
have talked lately that among his best customers on Sunday are some of
the most respected members of this church. It has also been told me that
in the summer time the heaviest patronage of the Sunday ice-cream
business is from the church members of Milton. Of what value is it that
we place on our ordinance rules forbidding the sale of these things
covered by the law? How far are we responsible by our example for
encouraging the breaking of the day on the part of those who would find
it unprofitable to keep their business going if we did not purchase of
them on this day?

"It is possible there are very many persons here in this house this
morning who are ready to exclaim: 'This is intolerable bigotry and
puritanical narrowness! This is not the attitude Christ would take on
this question. He was too large-minded. He was too far advanced in
thought to make the day to mean anything of that sort.'

"But let us consider what is meant by the Sunday of our modern life as
Christ would view it. There is no disputing the fact that the age is
material, mercantile, money-making. For six eager, rushing days it is
absorbed in the pursuit of money or fame or pleasure. Then God
strikes the note of his silence in among the clashing sounds of earth's
Babel and calls mankind to make a day unlike the other days. It is his
merciful thoughtfulness for the race which has created this special day
for men. Is it too much to ask that on this one day men think of
something else besides politics, stocks, business, amusement? Is God
grudging the man the pleasure of life when here He gives the man six
days for labor and then asks for only one day specially set apart for
him? The objection to very many things commonly me