Sunday in California by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 5, 1882

Sunday in California.

By Editor

MANY of the secular papers and politicians fail to see why we should take so much interest in the political campaign in this State, seeing that our paper has been kept entirely aloof from politics heretofore. They look at the matter with the eyes of politicians, and yet they know that we are conscientious observers of the seventh day of the week, which is the Sabbath of the Lord, and that political editors and speakers are demanding a Sunday Law so rigorous, enforced by penalties so heavy, that no one will dare to transact any business on Sunday. This is a direct infringement on our rights as citizens and Christians. These editors and speakers largely admit that it is not a matter of conscience with them, and ministers, as A. J. Nelson for instance, openly declare that conscience must be subordinated to civil law! Others advocate the Sunday Law professedly on "sanitary" grounds alone, and preach stirring sermons on "police regulations." We do not object to their taking such a questionable course, if they see fit to act so inconsistently with the true position of ministers and Christians; we recognize their "free agency," and let them take their own course. But we do object to their efforts to subordinate our consciences to matters of worldly policy. We do object to any party, for the sake of gaining votes, announcing its intention to restrain us in the exercise of our constitutional rights in matters of religion. Ministers, acting as politicians, may subordinate their consciences as much as they please. We will give them the credit of knowing how little their consciences are worth, but will not admit that ours are equally valueless. We shall make known our principles and our rights as far as we possibly can.

Another important point they entirely overlook. This religio-political campaign is in the direct interest of a counterfeit Sabbath, an illegitimate substitute for the Sabbath—the rest day—of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. We love the Bible, and its Author, and its institutions. God has never acted without a reason. His institutions are not the result of chance or caprice. He gave his Sabbath as a memorial of creation, that people might know that he is God, the Creator of all. Eze. 20:11, 12, 19, 20; Acts 17:22-29; Rev. 14:6, 7, and others. This memorial is set aside without a particle of Scripture proof or warrant, and a relic of superstition exalted in its place, and a great party in California stands pledged to make all men bow to the act of usurpation. And then politicians, whose vision has no wider range than to take in votes, rise up in wonder that we should take any interest in the matter! Of all people we should be most deeply interested. Who was more deeply interested in the law of Persia than Daniel, seeing that the law struck directly against his worship of the true God?

We have an important truth for these last days. See Rev. 14:9-14. But we have not received it for ourselves alone. We owe a duty to God and to the world. The commandments of God, fourth commandment included, and the faith of Jesus, are the "present truth," and must be proclaimed to the world. Great events are near to come, and all nations and people must receive the warning. And shall we see the commandment of God assailed, despised, subordinated to human policy and to party politics, and sit still and say nothing? God forbid. Our prayer is that we may be yet more faithful, and give the warning with yet greater zeal for the honor of God and his truth.