p. 7 | President Wilson and the Lord’s Day Congress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 30, 1914

President Wilson and the Lord’s Day Congress

By F. M. W.

RECENTLY, as announced in these columns, President Wilson accepted the honorary chairmanship of the honorary council of the International Lord’s Day Congress. Of the work which this congress proposes to do the Providence (R. I.) Journal of July 13, 1914, says:—

Representatives of various Lord’s day and Sabbath organizations met in New York on January 22, and made preliminary arrangements for the holding of such a convention. Plans are already well advanced. A general committee of arrangements has been organized, and an executive committee elected, to which has been committed the principal work of perfecting the plans of the congress.

On July 4, Dr. Henry Collin Minton, chairman of the committee of arrangements, sailed for Europe to make the work of the congress known abroad, and to select speakers. It is hoped that many distinguished men will be secured to address the congress.

The platform of principles has been prepared, setting forth the meaning of the Sabbath, and pointing out the unity of all the great historic branches of the Christian church in its regular observance of the Lord’s day as the day of rest and worship. It states the aim of the congress, and shows the relation of the state to Sunday, and holds that “the weekly rest day has become a civil institution, embodied in law and custom, thus safeguarding the physical, social, economic, and spiritual privileges of all citizens.”

The Sunday question in all its world-wide aspects will be considered. There will first be a world’s survey, country by country, of all the conditions in every land. In addition the congress will deal with the religious and moral, the industrial and economic, the hygienic and social, and the legal and governmental aspects of the Sunday problem. There will also be an attempt to formulate a program for a concerted advance and for the direction of the immediate activities of those who are interested in promoting the due observance of Sunday.

Already a number of the leading religious denominations have indorsed the movement, and all kinds of associations, both religious and civic, are urged to enroll among those promoting the congress, and to send delegates to its meetings.

Whether President Wilson is in full sympathy with the principles and aims of this organization matters little. The fact that he has willingly accepted the position of honorary chairman, and that this action on his part has been heralded to the world, places his influence strongly on the side of the work which the congress is seeking to do. Well would it be indeed if our government officials could keep free from alliances and affiliations which place them in actual antagonism with the principles of liberty which they are set to maintain.

All the world today is being wheeled into line in the promotion and carrying out of these great schemes of federation. What we have believed for many years would take place, what prophecy has declared would come, we see fulfilling before our very eyes today. If one at the present time desires convincing proof that we are living in the last days, let him find it in the world-wide advancement of the message of God for this day and generation, and in the combinations and confederacies which are being formed against that message. Well might we fear for the outcome if we did not know that truth will triumph in the end. While a power from beneath is springing up and taking fast hold of satanic agencies, marshalling them for the last great conflict, power from on high is descending on the people of God; and this power, if received into the life, will enable every believer in this movement to stand in the hour of crisis which is just before us.

Even though we may stand alone as far as our fellows are concerned, we may stand with God and with heaven.

In the casting up of accounts, and in the numbering of opposing forces, let us remember that we must take account not only of the little flock of God in this earth, but of the whole family in heaven and in earth. The problems being worked out in this world belong not alone to the race of man. The reign of sin and God’s dealings with sinful man form an object lesson to the whole universe. Hence, in standing for the right we stand with God, with all the heavenly hosts, with the multitudes of the unfallen worlds. In such a company as this we need not feel lonely. Recognizing the identification of our interest with the interests of God’s great universe, may we be strengthened to endure to the end.

F. M. W.