p. 4 | Incidents That Mean Much by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 27, 1909

Incidents That Mean Much

By C. M. S.

THE boycott originated in Ireland in the year 1880, only twenty-nine years ago. The prediction that a time would come when a universal boycott would be proclaimed was made in Holy Scripture more than eighteen hundred years ago. Another matter of interest in this connection is the fact that this universal boycott has to do with religious things. When the divine prediction was made, there was no such method known in either temporal or religious affairs, and men have wondered how such a prophecy could be fulfilled, having seen nothing like it in either the temporal or the spiritual realm.

But the boycott came, teaching men its power and effectiveness by touching their temporal affairs. When that lesson was learned, it was not surprising that a power-loving church should see in it attractive features, and have a drawing toward it. Thus one eminent divine, Rev. Dr. Bascom Robins, approaches the subject in this manner:—

In the Christian decalogue the first day was made the sabbath by divine appointment. But there is a class of people who will not keep the Christian sabbath unless they are forced to do so; but that can easily be done. If we would say we will not sell anything to them, we will not buy anything from them, we will not work for them, nor hire them to work for us, the thing could be wiped out, and all the world would keep the Christian sabbath. . . .

The purpose is plainly stated—to wipe out all opposition to a state-enforced sabbath by starving out those who oppose it. That is the boycott in ecclesiastical garb, a close copy of that papal instrument of spiritual tyranny known as “major excommunication.” It is not strange that when professed Protestantism goes out after power to compel obedience to her dogmas, she should go armed with weapons forged in the arsenal of the Vatican. The papal system has attained to the very apex of success in manipulating human power to her own advantage. When she was unable to meet argument by argument, she has silenced opposition by means of physical force. So long as the Protestant sects were seeking the salvation of needy and the perishing souls, they looked with abhorrence upon the weapons of the papacy; but as fast as the love of power displaces the power of love, those weapons will come into play again. Then professed Protestantism will find it not repugnant to her taste to do as Dr. Bascom Robins says, and force compliance not only with the church’s edict concerning Sunday, but with many other religious requirements as well.

Where Rome has been the dominating force, she has boycotted and burned all books of which she did not approve—even to the Bible. Professed Protestants, who have in the past criticized her methods in this regard, are beginning to look at that instrument now with a kind of wondering admiration, and are testing its edge. An incident that bears upon this attitude has recently come to our attention. It relates to the action recently taken by the Sunday-law advocates of four California cities against the literature of Seventh-day Adventists. Concerning this a correspondent writes us:—

Here in Southern California, I am informed, the advocates of Sunday laws at Santa Ana, Riverside, High Grove, and San Bernardino have instituted a boycott against our literature, some even having bound themselves to pay fifty dollars if found reading any of it.

This reads very much like an incident which has come down to us in the records of the book of Acts (twenty-third chapter), wherein a band of Paul’s enemies bound themselves under a great curse neither to eat nor sleep until they had slain Paul. Such methods are necessary only to the cause of error. Truth has been able to get on without them and in spite of them. It is certainly a long way from following the admonition of the apostle to “prove all things” and “hold fast that which is good.” There is power in a little seed to break iron bands. The seed of the Word is backed by the same power.

The “Index Expurgatorius” was not enough for the Roman Church. She went further, and burned the books; and then she burned those who wrote them and those who read them. Will a dying Protestantism, coveting power, and starting with the instruments Rome used to get it, stop short of the goal, when Rome has so plainly marked out the path? These are straws that tell plainly how the wind is veering. Need we expect that such examples will not be followed? We can see in these incidents how it will be made difficult for the faithful colporteur and canvasser in the near future to place God’s last warning message in the hands of the people by means of the printed page; and they should serve as forceful admonitions to us to labor zealously while still there are open doors and unwarned souls. C. M. S.