Advocates Calendar Reform, Saying Change No Bar to Religious Liberty

That freedom remains regardless of any change of the calendar. Economic hardship which the practice of a particular creed imposed upon a believer is another matter. The Constitution does not guarantee freedom from economic hardship.

“The United States is a Christian nation, and such Sunday laws and observance thereof as exist in this and other Christian nations simply bespeak the religious interests and beliefs of the great majority. It is obviously impossible to legislate to suit the religious convictions of all sects, otherwise the atheist or others might require that the seven-day week and the observance of all Sabbaths be abolished.

“Accordingly, under a fixed calendar, no laws would prohibit a Sabbatarian or a Jew from voting, should election day happen to coincide with the day he chooses to call his Sabbath. The alleged economic hardships and civil disabilities are not civil abridgements of his rights, but are altogether inconveniences he must experience simply because of his particular religious creed and convictions.

“The Jews and Sabbatarians already sufter economic hardship through the exercise of religious convictions which require them to refrain from business pursuits on Saturdays. They are free to exercise their religion in this way, but neither the Constitution nor the laws protect them from the economic consequences.”

Pointing out that others than Jews are opposed to the new calendar, Rabbi Schwefel said, “Protestants and Catholics will not want their day of worship shifted every year. I could mention the names of leading Bishops and church dignitaries who told me personally that they will be ready to fight calendar reform, tooth and nail, just as soon as it really looks serious.”