WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     Special  — There are a number of reasons that we subscribe to Daylight Saving Time in this country, and many other countries around the world.

    Benjamin Franklin is given credit for the concept in this country. The basic idea was to make better use of daylight hours  by shifting the clock forward in the Spring and backward in the fall.

    Even though Franklin was given credit for Daylight Saving Time (not Daylight Savings Time — the word Saving rather than Savings is the correct usage), he only proposed rising earlier to reduce the use of candles, rather than changing the time.



    The credit for that goes to Englishman William Willet who led the first campaign  to implement Daylight Saving Time in 1905. He proposed the United Kingdom move   its clocks forward  by 80 minutes between April and  October.

    Germany was the first to enact Daylight Saving Time in 1916 in an effort to save electricity during World War I.

    In the United States it was first implemented in 1918. It incorrectly was thought the move was made to benefit farmers. In reality the agriculture industry was deeply opposed to it. The sun, not the clock, dictated farmer’s schedules, and it was very disruptive for them. The urban areas were more in favor of it,  because it helped retail outlets and recreational businesses.

    For many years Daylight Saving Time was a mish mosh of local practices of citys, states, and counties. In 1966 Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, standardizing daylight saving time from the last Sunday in April to the Last Sunday in October. Although states had the option to stay on standard time throughout the year. In 2007 Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. was lengthened, it now starts on the second weekend in March, and ends the first weekend in November.

    Arizona,  Hawaii, and several U.S.Territories do not observe daylight saving time. Around the world about one quarter of the world’s population observe daylight saving time in 70 countries. Countries near the equator do not observe daylight saving, as there is little change in the  amount of daylight in those areas.

    The  bottom line is, if you don’t want to be late for church, you will have to set your clocks ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning or before you go to bed Saturday night.

    Some information according to history.com.