Rome’s Challenge to Protestants

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 30, 1915

Rome’s Challenge to Protestants

ROMAN CATHOLICS never weary of confronting Protestants with the fact that in the Scriptures of Truth there is no authority or foundation for Sunday sacredness, and that its observance rests solely upon the tradition and authority of the Catholic Church, and that if on this basis they observe as holy the first day of the week, they should observe other fast days and church days which come from the same authority. This challenge is repeated in the Catholic Review (Baltimore), August 28. Referring to a sermon by Dr. Hugh Johnston, as reported in the Sun of August 23, the editor of the Catholic Review says:—

We have no difference with Dr. Johnston except on the point that he should on his own arguments labor for the observance of the exact Sabbath of old, which is not the first day of the week, but the seventh. Therefore he should try to get Saturday observed as the Lord’s day to be kept holy.

Secondly, Dr. Johnston gives as his third reason the following: “... As Lord of the Sabbath, he claimed the prerogative to modify it, and moved it a day forward in honor of his resurrection. Rev. Dr. Johnston will have a hard time to prove this. We should like to have him so prove it.